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    Dirty Dozen Clean 15 | Clean and Mean 18 | When to buy organic

    Dirty Dozen Clean 15 | Clean and Mean 18 | When to buy organic

    I'm often asked which non-organic produce is ok to eat and which to avoid at all costs.


    Ready to hear the answer?

    As you know, we strive to only offer you organic foods at Tanya’s, but the process to become certified is insanely long, so legally we aren’t allowed to go on shouting the word Organic until we have The Soil Association stamp of approval.

    At times I feel like giving up. Why bother paying almost double on organic produce if we can’t even say ‘organic’ on our labels yet? 

    But I know my own values and it’s simply out of the question to start offering you anything less than pure natural food without anything sneaky. Or worse, anything poisonous.

    Lake Maher

    When you get a Tanya’s 'salad bowl with dressing and nuts’, I want you to feel confident that you aren’t getting a ‘salad bowl with dressing, nuts, pesticides, fungicides, a dash of herbicides and a sprinkling of artificial chemicals’.

    Then, there’s the expense of getting certified. 

    This makes me wonder how many farmers out there don’t have a spare £850 to spend on maintaining certification every single year…

    Perhaps their produce is sold in the conventional produce isles even though they use no chemicals or only natural insect repellents. 

    Or perhaps their produce is so attractive to all the insects of the world, that it must be drenched in something to explode the stomachs of those bugs from first lick in order to keep them away.

    (Btw, the main difference between our stomachs and the stomachs of those insects is the size. If we continue consuming mostly conventionally grown produce, it is only a matter of time until we too pay with serious consequences.)

    THAT is the produce you want to avoid at all costs.

    So, how do you know what THAT produce is? 

    The EWG’s Shopper’s Guide to Pesticides in Produce™. Dirty Dozen and Clean 15

    In the US, there’s a handy list produced annually by The Environmental Working Group (EWG) called The EWG’s Shopper’s Guide to Pesticides in Produce™.  

    Aka Dirty Dozen and Clean 15.  

    The guide ranks pesticide contamination on 48 popular fruits and vegetables and is based on results of more than 35,200 samples tested by the U.S. Department of Agriculture and the Food and Drug Administration.

    The top 15 foods with the least pesticides are called the Clean 15, while the 12 foods with the most pesticides are called the Dirty Dozen. 


    CLEAN FIFTEEN (ok to buy if non-organic)

    Sweet Corn*
    Avocado
    Pineapple
    Cabbage
    Onions
    Sweet peas frozen
    Papaya•
    Asparagus
    Mango
    Eggplant (aubergine)
    Honeydew Melon
    Kiwi
    Cantaloupe
    Cauliflower
    Grapefruit

    DIRTY DOZEN (only buy these if organic)

    Strawberries
    Spinach
    Nectarines
    Apples
    Peaches
    Pears
    Cherries
    Grapes
    Celery
    Tomato
    Sweet bell peppers
    Potato

    *A small amount of sweet corn, papaya and summer squash sold in the United States is produced from genetically modified seeds. Buy organic varieties of these crops if you want to avoid genetically modified produce.

    The Expert Committee on Pesticide Residues in Food (PRiF)

    In the UKThe Expert Committee on Pesticide Residues in Food (PRiF) survey the pesticide residues in food every quarter.

    Not all produce is tested every time, so I’ve taken the summary from (a rather outdated 2005 report by) the Pesticide Action Network UK (PAN) and pulled the data together myself from 2015 and 2016 files for the most current list -

    aka The Clean and Mean 18.

    PRiF monitors popular home-produced and imported food to check for any pesticide residues.  This is done in order to check that:

    -No unexpected residues are occurring in crops (this backs up the statutory approvals process for pesticides)
    -Residues do not exceed the statutory Maximum Residue Level (MRL)
    -Human dietary intakes of residues in foods are within acceptable levels

    The top 18 foods with the least pesticides are called the Clean 18, while the 18 foods with the most pesticides are called the Mean 18. 

    CLEAN 18 (ok to buy if non-organic)

    Apples*
    Aubergine (eggplant)
    Banana
    Broccoli
    Brussels sprouts
    Celery
    Courgette
    Kiwis
    Leak
    Mango
    Nectarine
    Onion
    Pears
    Peas without pods
    Plantain
    Potato
    Radish
    Sweetcorn

    MEAN 18 (only buy these if organic)

    Bean Sprouts
    Beans with pods
    Berries: Blueberries
    Berries: Blackberries
    Berries: Strawberries
    Chilli peppers
    Citrus: oranges, grapefruit and lemon if peel is consumed
    Cucumber
    Exotic fruit
    Ginger
    Grapes
    Lettuce
    Melon
    Okra
    Peppers
    Pineapple
    Prepared fresh fruit
    Tomatoes

    *This varies due to season significantly so personally I will always stick to organic.

    These lists are super handy to take with you on your shopping trips or while travelling to know when to buy organic and when it’s ok to buy conventional.

    I hope that in the future, Organic Certification will be Government funded and that the poisons used to grow our crops will need to be listed in the ingredients list of every label by law.

    Why my child isn't vegan (What I feed my 16 months old in a day VIDEO)

    Why my child isn't vegan (What I feed my 16 months old in a day VIDEO)

    Thank you soooo much for coming out to support us during the opening of the brand new Tanya's store! Tennis fans will appreciate this picture of one of our guests: [caption id="attachment_2499" align="aligncenter" width="768"]Novak Djokovic raw vegan diet Novak Djokovic at Tanya's[/caption]   Not gonna lie and tell you the feedback has aaaall been jolly good, as a few of you really miss the 'restaurant service' (as you know - we are now a store WITH a restaurant, not the other way around), but overall, it's been super well received and I'm so happy you're happy that your favourites are on the menu again! Today I'm posting what I planned to post when Lake was ACTUALLY 16 months (she is almost 18 months now)... The new video "Healthy toddler diaries- What I feed my 16 months old in a day" is LIVE at last! Weeeeeee! I kept trying to edit it so many times but something (like opening a new store haha) would always stand in my way. For. Six. Weeks. Straight! Lake Maher _ Tanya's Then a few days ago it hit me- there's more to the reason why I had so many obstacles...I simply didn't know how you would take the fact that MY child is not vegan. Not that I ever tried to hide it, I simply never stated that Lake is being brought up without animal food, but there are so many of you praising her vegan upbringing online, that naturally I thought I'd be letting you down. I hope not! Please watch to see what her day of eating as a 16 months old looks like and why I've made these choices for my greatest little love. lake maher In this video you will discover: -What Lake has for breakfast, lunch, dinner and as snacks -Why I don’t cook fruit -What vegetable mylk (yep not nut or seed) has all the minerals for strong teeth and bones -Why she’s not vegan and what animal food I choose for her -Which probiotics have my pick -Which is the best oil to cook with -Why tomatoes are better cooked than raw -Why it’s best to avoid egg white -The behind-the-scenes of Tanya’s retail space just before we opened on 19th June! If the video doesn't play, watch it on YouTube: https://youtu.be/gCvyNJ9YYoE Feel free to comment and ask questions x

    Raw Chocolate Masterclass with Pana and Tanya

    Raw Chocolate Masterclass with Pana and Tanya

    If you think raw food is awesome and you like chocolate, you would've probably, most definitely, certainly, absolutely heard of Pana Chocolate!

    Screen Shot 2017-03-24 at 11.18.01

    No matter where I am in the world, I always make sure I sample the raw chocolate on offer and although I’ve tasted some pretty incredible treats, Pana Chocolate is still heading the leaderboard for their perfect combination of taste, texture, flavour, values and love marks.

    pana barbounis

    Can you imagine my excitement when I heard that Pana himself (I didn’t know it was a person’s name either- ‘Pana’ sounds like the best raw chocolate in the world to me) is releasing a book AND he’s coming to London from Oz AND he wants to teach us his top recipe secrets AND he wants to do it at Tanya’s!!

    Well if that’s not enough good news, how about that he is going to run this workshop for you next week, so that you have plenty of time to learn the techniques right in time for the healthiest most delicious Easter!

    Screen Shot 2017-03-24 at 11.30.43

    The recipes Pana will demonstrate are:

    Chai filled chocolates
    Strawberry Basil tart
    Mini Lamingtons (very Aussie for you)
    Bloom breakfast bars

    And if all THAT is not enough, you will be the first to get an exclusive sneak peek into how we are progressing for the re-opening of Tanya’s Reinvented, sample everything we demonstrate, be able to purchase a copy of the book for only £15 (or bring yours) and have it signed by the master himself, and go home with 2 x Pana Chocolate bars!

    Book your ticket now>>

    Screen Shot 2017-03-24 at 11.28.20

    When: Saturday 1st April
    Time: 3pm-5pm
    Where: Tanya’s inside MY Chelsea, 35 Ixworth Place, SW3 3QX
    Fee: £45pp
    What’s included: Step-by-step raw chocolate demo, tasters of our favourites from the book, Q&A with Pana Barbounis, book signing (bring your own or buy a £15 copy on the day) and 2 x Pana Chocolate bars.
    How to book: via Eventbrite here>>

    See you there, I hope!
    It’s my first workshop in over a year and numbers are super limited, so we’ll have full house in no time (don’t say I didn’t warn ya!)
    Happy Friday!

    Screen Shot 2017-03-24 at 11.19.27

    What a day of alkaline cleansing looks like

    What a day of alkaline cleansing looks like

    As you might know, we offer our Alkaline Cleanse packages only three months per year. Since we put a limit to how many we're able to offer, they usually sell out pretty quickly.

    We send these detoxes all across the UK, which is amazing as we are now able to produce more than just enough to service London.

    But, I still receive messages from many of you not residing in the UK as well as requests for tips from those that can't afford my Alkaline Cleanse, so I decided to take a day to document what the detox involves, what ingredients we put into it and how I recommend everything to be taken, so you can do your own cleanse at home :)

    Here we go...

    Processed with Snapseed.

    Today, I'm doing my own #AlkalineDetox #TanyasCleanse. FUN!

    'Fun', because not only have I done it before but I designed it my way. I've tried many juice cleanses and noticed that long term they weren't right for me. I needed some solids to make it through; and because I felt so lethargic and starved, I noticed the pH of my body going from slightly acidic to very acidic! I played around with food combinations, added probiotics, fibre, more chlorophyll, calcium and other nutrients and minerals to the mix, spaced out all the 'snacks' strategically and BAM!... Alkaline result!

    My alkaline cleanse comes complete with your own set of pH Strips so you can also monitor your own #AcidAlkaline levels through the day (or buy your own litmus paper from a Pharmacy). 💚

    tanya's cafe alkaline cleanse

    [7:30AM] SPICY CHIA

    Here is my first 'meal' of the day on #TanyasCleanse #AlkalineDetox. I say 'meal' because it is complete nutritionally. The chia provides protein and cleansing fibre, the lime is the most alkalising food of all and the cayenne is there to fire up your digestion.

    If chewing it, you'll receive extra benefits- this meal will be able to mix with your saliva, which is the first step of digestion within your system.

     

    tanya's cafe alkaline cleanse

    [9:00AM] ALKALISER JUICE & PROBIOTICS

    This is our signature organic cold-pressed juice at Tanya's. It's made of kale, spinach, cucumber, lemon & green apple. Greens contain high levels of alkaline minerals, including magnesium & calcium, but they won't digest well if the juice is gulped down. Sip slowly & focus on it making you shine from within.

    Either empty the OptiBac probiotic sachet into the juice or dilute in water to have as a shot, but try to have the probiotics at the same time as sipping on the juice. Optibac offer an amazing line of live cultures for every one of your needs & this one in particular is 'for a flat stomach', because it helps against bloating during the cleanse. I recommend taking probiotics every single day for healthy intestinal flora. 💚

     

    tanya's cafe alkaline cleanse

    [10:00AM] DETOX DUST SEEDS

    Enjoyed crunching on these super delicious activated sunflower, sesame and pumpkin seeds. They have been soaked to make them easier on the digestion, then sprouted to boost the nutrient value and their pH, then coated in spices which promote detoxification (cinnamon, ginger, cardamom, rosemary, turmeric, cumin, cayenne, pink salt) while strengthening the immune system. Finally they’ve been dehydrated below 47degrees C to keep them raw and full of enzymes.

    Please chew lots and do not mix these seeds with any liquid. If you are thirsty, let them digest first, then drink after 30 minutes. 💚

     

    tanya's cafe alkaline cleanse

    [12:00 PM] DOCTOR JUICE

    This organic cold-pressed juice contains beetroot, carrots, celery, green apple, lemon and ginger. The root vegetables are helping to keep me grounded and balanced, while lowering the discomfort of toxin release from my body during my #AlkalineDetox #TanyasCleanse today. The antioxidants and electrolytes within the juice will provide you with energy and mental focus, while looking after your immune system too!

     

    tanya's cafe alkaline cleanse

    [2:00 PM] KALE WHEATGRASS CRACKERS

    These crackers are packed with fibre to scrub your insides clean. They contain sprouted oats (all gluten free), hulled flaxseeds, chia seeds, kale, sunflower seeds, ginger, cracked pepper, pink salt and lots of wheatgrass powder.

    Please do not flush them down with any liquids, chew them slowly on their own. Your body is designed to provide you with enough fluids for ideal digestion and it is possible to restore this memory within it in as little as three meals. Solids are not to be eaten with liquids and you will get great health benefits following this alkalising principle. 💚

     

    tanya's cafe alkaline cleanse

    [4:00 PM] VISION JUICE

    This organic cold-pressed juice is the healthiest afternoon treat. It contains organic carrot, orange, mango and fresh turmeric root. The anti-inflammatory properties within the juice will help settle any bloating or joint issues, while the sweetness from the fruit will take care of unhealthy cravings in a healthy way.

    Although citrus fruits are often mistaken for being acid, they actually leave an alkaline ash in your body after they are burned into energy. That’s true only and specifically for cold-pressed, non-processed and non-pasteurized juices, like the organic hand-squeezed juice I had at 4pm during #AlkalineDetox #TanyasCleanse.

    Try sipping yours with closed eyes and visualise how your cells are waking up and guiding the acids to leave your system. 💚

     

    tanya's cafe alkaline cleanse

    [6:00 PM] ALKALINE SOUP 💚

    This soup contains whole blended vegetables for you to get all the fibre. It, like the entire #TanyasCleanse, is also free from nuts and mushrooms, which can be acidifying for the body.

    I prefer a warm soup, but would like to keep it raw, so I simply transfer mine into a bowl and add boiling water, then stir. As you are not microwaving it or keeping it over a burning stove, this won’t ‘cook’ the soup or kill any enzymes.

    Ingredients: cucumber, spinach, celery, lemon, mint, peas, avocado, basil, mixed herbs, cumin, pepper, pink salt.

     

    tanya's cafe alkaline cleanse

    [7:00PM] VEGGIE STICKS & TURMERIC TAHINI DIP

    Crunching on raw vegetables has been found to release serotonin and aid digestion. That’s an ideal combination for boosting your body’s pH also. Sesame seeds provide the highest form of calcium, which together with the lemon are the most alkaline way to end your day. The turmeric is high in anti-inflammatory properties, perfect for calming any uncomfortable toxin release.

    Remember to chew plenty and enjoy every bite consciously. Ingredients: carrots, celery, raw tahini, lemon, cayenne, pepper, pink salt.

    (I decided on a change of scenery and came out into the My Chelsea reception to have my dinner and just look at what I discovered in their guest book above!)

     

    tanya's cafe alkaline cleanse

    [ALL DAY] GREEN COMPLEX POWDER

    This 1 litre bottle includes 10g of Neal's Yard Remedies Green Complex Powder. Inside is a mix of spirulina, spinach, parsley, chlorella, seagreens ascophyllum nodosum, barley grass, wheat grass, green tea extract, acerola cherry extract (on manioc maltodextrin), oat grass.

    I simply add filtered water, shake shake shake and sip on it through the day while on the #TanyasCleanse. I also recommend that when you take a sip, imagine it flowing to your cells and purifying them, while you say ‘I love and respect every cell of my body. Being healthy is my divine right’.

     

    tanyasalkalinecleanse

    So there you have it!

    As you can see just a 1 Day Package includes more nutrients and minerals than many of us get in a whole week, but if you are after a nice internal scrub, glowing skin, weight-loss, mega energy boost, flatter stomach and serious improvement in your digestion, I'd really go for a minimum of 3 days, better yet- two lots of 3, so you get 6 consecutive days in total.

    1 Day - to give your digestion a break and boost pH levels - £69

    2 Days - for a system reboot and an all organ spring clean - £135

    3 Days - acid toxin release and a clean, slim, alkaline start - £199  

    Happy detoxing!

    Healthy baby weaning recipes with 3 ingredients or less

    Healthy baby weaning recipes with 3 ingredients or less


    Weaning can be so confusing.

    Even NHS seem confused.

    First they recommend weaning at five months, then at six months and now they suggest that four months is the ideal time to introduce your baby to solids to avoid possible food intolerances later in life.

    The food intolerance reason does make sense to me, but I had to go with my own motherly instincts here and follow baby led weaning (which I was soon to learn is an actual thing, though I’m yet to read the book)…

    I let Lake lick fruits and my green smoothies here and there when she was four months. I added probiotics to her breastmilk when she was just a week old (via my own diet and by coating nipple in it). I added spirulina to her bottle once a week when she was about two months. When I finally decided to try out with her first ‘meal’, it was a banana and she only had 1 or 2 tiny spoonfuls. I was so excited to see how she likes it, that I blended up an entire banana, only to realise that this is not something to rush.

    For her next few ‘meals’ instead of trying out different foods in a blender, only to see them wasted, I would chew them up in my own mouth like mama-bird and feed her from a spoon. We started this process at five months with just one solid ‘meal’ per day, which quickly escalated to two ‘meals’, that also became a little bigger each day. Then instead of fitting in food in-between her milk feeds, I took one milk feed away and then another and replaced them with watered-down ‘solid meals’.

    Now at 7 months, instead of five milk feeds over the course of 24 hours, she has three milk feeds and two to three solid feeds, which are usually a decent bowl-full. Hungry growing girl.

    I try not to offer any snacks, so she understands her routine. Only water, which she happily accepts especially after rolling around all over the grass in the park.

    Lake Maher _ Lady Lake _ baby weaning tips healthy raw food vegan

    I think it’s always best to introduce little ones to solids with a mono diet and slowly add extra ingredients.

    Here are the foods Lake enjoyed immediately when they were blended up till smooth for her to swallow:

    1. Avocado, flesh only
    2. Peas, slightly softened in hot water
    3. Apples or pears, cored and peeled
    4. Banana, peeled
    5. Sweet potato, boiled
    6. Watermelon, so juicy, no need to blend, just let them suck

    Lake Maher _ Lady Lake _ healthy baby weaning recipes

    When it comes to recipes, I’ve tried sooooo many varieties, many not even worth mentioning, because the little lady just turned up her nose to them, no matter how hungry she was. There’s been lots of trial and error, but the below recipes are absolute winners in our household.

    There are no quantities, because only you will know how much your baby eats. If you find that there’s way too much waste, store it in the fridge and try giving it the next day warmed only by some boiling water.

     

    CREAMY APPLE
    Apple, peeled

    Usual milk (try seed milk!)

     

    -I never cook fruit, so you can assume that whenever I use fruit in baby recipes (with the exception of tomatoes- see more below), it is always raw. As fruits are super sweet already, the moment you apply high heat to them, whether boiling, heating, microwaving (may this never be you), baking or whatever, the carbohydrates in fruits transform into sugars. If you were to leave fruit simmering for hours and hours, all the liquids would evaporate away and the remainder crystallise into sugar. Cooking has its place, but in my opinion- not with fruit.

    -Peel, core and chop up the apple into the blender, add milk and blend. Experiment with millet, sunflower seed, buckwheat, hemp and pumpkin seed milks or even a mix.

     

    LAKE’S FAVOURITE DINNER
    Amaranth, cooked

    Tomato, organic and canned without anything added

     

    – Cook amaranth as per packet instructions. I usually soak 1 cup overnight, rinse and add 2.5 cups water, bring to boil, then lower heat and simmer for 20 mins or until it’s cooked to softness.
    -Everything is important purchased organic, especially when any pesticides or herbicides are about to enter the little stomaches of our children (these chemicals erupt the stomaches of insects and bugs, so since size is the only major difference between us and them, the effect pesticide-coated produce will have on us will be in a matter of time. I mention ‘organic’ next to tomato, because it’s one of those fruits all the insects go crazy for, so if they are not ‘organic’, they are 99.99% sure to be coated in chemicals. Tomatoes are also one of those very few foods that are better for us when cooked – tomatoes are rich in lycopene (the phytochemical which makes them red) and this antioxidant can be boosted with heat.

    -Blend cooked amaranth and cooked tomatoes till smooth. I use a ratio of 3:1 of amaranth to tomatoes.

     

    LIKE CHRISTMAS
    Oats, soaked in hot water
    Apple/pear, peeled and cored

    Cinnamon, a pinch

     

    -This blend is so so tasty, but just a little cinnamon would do. Try wipe it off the baby’s face as soon as eating is finished so it doesn’t aggravate the skin. (We made face masks with cinnamon as one of the ingredients at my Lush Escapes retreats some years ago and while most people had the loveliest subtle skin after the treatment, others swelled up for hours. My skin can tolerate it, but I noticed that Lake’s skin looks slightly red unless I wipe it off immediately after feeding.) Taken internally, cinnamon does wonders to balance out blood sugar levels so it’s key for sweets intake, including fruits.

    -Blend all the ingredients till smooth. As your baby grows and starts to chew, you can grate the apples instead of blending.

    -I also buy ready sprouted gluten-free oats from Planet Organic and Rude Health. They are a bit tougher than porridge or smoothie oats, so need longer soaking time in water.

     

    LAKE’S FAVOURITE LUNCH
    Avocado, flesh only

    Ripe Mango, peeled and chopped

     

    -I can’t even tell you how much mine loves this combo. She will open her mouth for more before even swallowing each spoonful! Avocado is such a versatile food and so good for everything. At 6 months, Lake could easily eat 1/2 a large avocado, which worried me at first, but babies are pretty clever and they will soon tell you if their system’s had enough. Now at 7 months, she is only excited if I give it to her every few days, not every day.

    -As both fruits are soft, I just mash them together with a fork.

     

    IRONKID
    Avocado, flesh only
    Ripe Pear, peeled and cored

    Spirulina, pinch

     

    -Spirulina is more than a superfood, it’s a wonder food! It has the highest amount of protein than any other food. Period. There is over 60g of essential amino acids that make up a perfect protein in every 100g of spirulina powder. It also has lots of chlorophyll for healthy cells and blood and it has masses of iron! You only need a sprinkling of this algae, so don’t let the price tag put you off.

    -Mash up all the ingredients together with a fork.

     

    BERRY BREAKFAST
    Banana, peeled
    Blackberry, organic
    or
    Pear, peeled and cored

    Mixed berries, organic

     

    -Tangy sweet berries go so well with creamy kind of fruits (‘creamy’ because you can easily blend these fruits and they won’t separate).
    -All berries (especially strawberries) fall into the Dirty Dozen category. These are the fruits and veggies that must always be purchased ‘organic’ or not purchased at all, because they are so heavily sprayed. (See my note about tomatoes under ‘Lake’s favourite dinner’).

    -Mash up the ingredients with a fork and that’s it.

     

    COCOQUINOA
    Quinoa

    Coconut yogurt

     

    -Quinoa, like millet, buckwheat and amaranth, is a seed not a grain. This immediately earns this wholefood more stars in my books. I don’t know why so much baby food contains rice, when quinoa is what has 3 times more protein, 10 times more minerals and only a fraction of the starches that are in rice. It’s the cost no doubt, although this is quickly changing as the demand and therefore production of quinoa seed continues to grow.

    -Cook quinoa according to packet instruction. I usually soak 1/2 cup overnight, rinse, add 1 cup water, bring to boil, then lower heat and cook for approx 10 minutes or until soft and fluffy. Transfer 4:1 quinoa to yogurt ration into a blender, add a little water if needed and blend till smooth. I kept trying to feed Lake quinoa without blending it up but she really didn’t like the texture and refused it till I tried to smooth it out.

     

    MASH
    Sweet potato, boiled

    Usual milk (try millet milk!)

     

    -Sweet potatoes are a wonderful -potato/not actually potato/ yam/ not actually yam- food for everyone. They are an excellent source of Vitamin A in the form of beta-carotin, amongst many other nutrients and minerals, without the starch content of potatoes. Simply peel, chop and boil till soft.

    -Blend the cooked sweet potato with expressed breastmilk or a seed milk from millet, buckwheat, hemp or sunflower seeds. (You can make your own by blending and straining seeds and water or you can buy a ready milk in Health Food stores, Planet Organic or Wholefoods Market).

     

    GROUNDING ROOTS
    Sweet potato
    Swede or turnip

    Carrot, raw

     

    -The carrots aren’t as starchy as other root vegetables and are perfectly fine raw. I actually try to avoid ever cooking carrots because they are already sweet enough and adding the heat, turns the carbohydrates into sugars, making them even sweeter and of course less nutritious. Peel the carrots and grate them into the blender.
    -Starchy veggies are best cooked, as the starches break down and make it possible for your (or baby’s) body to digest the other goodness in those roots. Peel the sweet potatoes and swede or turnip, chop up and boil till soft. Add to blender with a little of the water and blend.

    -When your baby starts to chew, you may like to just mash everything up with a fork instead of blending.

     

    MEDICINALLY YUMMY
    Avocado

    Medicinal mushroom latte (a blend of cordyceps, chaga, reishi, dates and almond milk, just like in The Uncook Book or at Tanya’s)

     

    -I was enjoying a Medicinal Mushroom Latte at work (Tanya’s) when Lake opened her mouth asking for a taste, I gave her a spoonful and she wanted more. It was almost her feeding time and I already had a mashed up avocado ready to go, so I stirred in some of the latte. She gobbled it up like nothing I’ve seen before. Can only be a good thing especially since Cordyceps is amazing for energy, reishi for relaxation and chaga for immunity. Plus all those essential fats for growth and protein for strength, both in the avocado and almonds, only add to the goodness.

     

    APRICOT PORRIDGE
    Buckwheat, cooked

    Ripe Apricot, de-stoned

     

    -Buckwheat, unlike its name suggests, contains no wheat. This also means that there is no gluten and it isn’t a grain, rather a seed. Check out the tips in CocoQuinoa for more gluten-free porridge options. I grew up on buckwheat porridge in Russia, so for me this baby food has sentimental value. And I’m so glad… it contains protein, calcium, manganese, fibre, phosphorus, magnesium and so much more for healthy development!

    – Cook buckwheat to the instructions on the packet. I usually soak 1 cup of groats for 4 hours, rinse them really well (takes me 4-5 go’s to get rid of the gooeyness), sprout for 1 day and then cook in 2 cups of water. After about 10 minutes, they should be nice and soft and you can pour out excess water. Add the buckwheat and chopped apricot to a blender, blend to a smooth paste.

     

    GREEN & GROOVY
    Pear, raw organic, peeled and cored
    Peas, softened in hot water

    Broccoli or spinach, lightly steamed

     

    -This combo is such an easy way to get all those greens into your baby’s diet. The sweetness and creaminess of the pear will make anything palatable, but you can also try without it at all. Just remember my reason from above for keeping fruits raw.

    -Blend everything or if your baby is chewing already, then mash the ingredients with a fork.

      

    MY ABSOLUTE ESSENTIALS FOR WEANING


    Tribest-Personal-Blender-Food-shot-350-500x500
    This small personal blender from Tribest! It is small enough to produce perfectly sized baby meals so there is never any waste. It’s also super light and compact, that we travel with it and even make our own smoothies on the road (bonus!).
    bamboo feeding bowl and spoon
    This bamboo bowl and spoon set! I've got a few spoon variations and this is the one that's most ergonomic and enjoyable for my little one. It also looks and feels lovely for mama (or dada) to use. And the bowl! The bowl! It has the most clever suction base, so it always remains in place no matter how much Lake wants to smack the bowl full of dangerously staining foods.
    weaning bib
    These easy-to-clean bibs! At first, I was using Lake's milky fabric bibs, but they are now entirely stained in berry spills and even banana stains which I never realised could be so intense. Now I know. Hope it's not too late for you. These bibs have sleeves too, so even clothing stays protected.
    Lake Maher _ Lady Lake - Baby weaning essentials
    This fun feeder for teething and weaning! It was a gift from Lake's Kiwi grandparents, that already have two grandchildren and four kids of their own, so they know aaall the tricks. This one is extra handy, because you can put anything inside, like grapes, cucumber, apples or watermelon and not worry about choking or even preparing anything.