Feeding Your Baby Pasta – Nutritious and Delicious Pasta Baby Food Recipes

Learn all about Pasta for use in Baby Food Recipes – Introducing Pasta to Baby –

When can my Baby eat Pasta?

Pasta is typically introduced to baby from 8 months of age. As most pasta is made from wheat, it is recommended that those with a history of wheat allergy and/or gluten intolerance not eat pasta or introduce it until much later.

If your baby has been fine with eating oats, barley, or other products containing wheat and/or gluten, the odds are great that there is not a gluten intolerance in your baby. However, you should discuss the introduction of pasta with your baby’s pediatrician.

The Goodness of Pasta for Babies

Pasta is highly nutritious and most pastas on the market are enriched with vitamins and minerals. Pasta is also loaded with carbohydrates and while carbs. get a bad rap, they do help our bodies to produce energy.

Pasta has often been given a bad rap due to these carbohydrates however the truth is, pasta is not a refined carbohydrate when it is a whole grain pasta. Pasta is made from semolina, a durham wheat that is hearty and nutritious if it is whole grain; it is not refined in the process of making pasta. Refined carbohydrates (think white flour, white bread, candy, potato chips) are not as readily processed by the body as non-refined carbohydrates.

How to select and store pasta for homemade baby food

The EWG does not rank grains in its “dirty dozen” food list but buying organic pasta is a smart choice whenever possible.

Pasta has a very long shelf life as long as it is uncooked. Store boxed or packaged pasta in the original package. For extra protection, add the package to an airtight bag or container. Some pasta may take on an “old” taste the longer it is stored.

Fresh or Homemade pasta should always be refrigerated and frozen within 3 days of purchase if you will not be fixing it right away.

The best way to cook Pasta for Baby Food

Toss pasta into a boiling pot of water and boil for anywhere between 6-14 minutes. You have to love this – boiling pasta is not only simple, it’s quick and easy too!

Easy & Nutritious Pasta Baby Food Recipes:

Pastina Cereal (make it Organic by using Organic Pasta.)

Ingredients:

• 1 box Pastina style pasta
• fruit or vegetable – pureed or mashed

Directions:

Step 1: Cook pastina according to package directions

Step 2: Stir in mashed or pureed banana, peaches, applesauce or even sweet potato or butternut squash.

Step 3: Add any pureed fruits and vegetables to baby’s homemade Pastina cereal. You may even add small dices or shreds of soft tender cooked meats. Ensure that you have followed the 4 day wait rule.

 Cheezy Orange Pasta

Ingredients:

• 1 cup cooked pasta
• 1/2 cup pureed or chopped soft cooked carrots
• grated cheese

Step 1: Mix carrots with the cooked pasta and then sprinkle with cheese

Pasta Chicken Stew

Ingredients:

• 2 cups sodium-free chicken broth (try a homemade stock)
• 1/2 cup elbow or ditalini pasta
• 1/2 cubed chicken breast
• 1/4 cup of frozen peas
• 3 tablespoons chopped onion

Directions:

Step 1: Add chicken broth to a medium sized saucepan and bring to a boil.

Step 2: Add pasta, chicken, peas and onion

Step 3: Turn heat to low and simmer until the chicken is cooked and tender – approximately 20 minutes

Puree or mash the stew as needed for your baby’s texture preference.

Serve warm, adding a sprinkle of cheese if desired

 Sweet Potato Pasta & Apples

Ingredients:

• 1 cup sweet potato puree
• 1/2 cup elbow or ditalini pasta (you can also use spaghetti if desired)
• 1 small apple – peeled, cored and diced

Directions:

Step 1: Cook pasta according to package directions then drain

Step 2: Steam apple dices until tender in a small saucepan with a bit of water or in a glass dish in the microwave – for both methods, use just enough water to cover the apples

Step 3: Mix the pasta and the sweet potato puree together then toss in the apple dices and mix again. Mash the apples down if needed

Serve warm

Good Foods to Mix With Pasta for Baby Food

• Broccoli
• Carrots
• Cauliflower
• Green Beans
• Peas
• Summer Squash
• Bananas
• Peaches
• Applesauce

Wheat Pasta Alternatives

Rice Pasta – very yummy with a nice texture that is difficult to overcook and make mushy (I suggest the Tinkyada brand that comes in 18 different types & shapes. Even our toddlers couldn’t tell the difference.)

Quinoa Pasta – Quinoa combined with corn flour makes a soft and light pasta. Try the Ancient Harvest brand!

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