Harvest Time: Healthy Fall Recipes with Seasonal Produce for Your Little One

October 01, 2024

As we move into the season of Fall, why not try out seasonal produce to spruce up mealtimes for your little one? There are so many advantages to shopping in season produce and using it to whip up new recipes. Whether your baby has just started solids, or is a toddler who is accustomed to eating textured foods by now, adding new foods to their diet with each seasonal change is an exciting way to encourage lifelong healthy eating habits as they grow.

Benefits of Eating In Season Produce

There are an array of benefits when it comes to enjoying in season produce, for both babies and adults. Those benefits include:

• More nutrients! When produce is harvested in season, it will be packed with essential vitamins and nutrients which will benefit your body. 
• It will often taste better. When picking seasonal produce at the peak of freshness, chances are it is going to taste delicious!  
• More cost effective. When shopping in season produce, the price is often much more affordable as it is more readily available than fruits and veggies that may have to be shipped in or grown in a different season to thrive. 
• It is better for the environment. Seasonal eating, meaning eating in season produce with each seasonal change, encourages less food waste and less reliance on artificial resources to grow that food.

Seasonal Produce List

Here is a list of fruits and veggies that are considered Fall produce. Keep an eye out for these food items in specific the next time you visit the local farmer's market or grocery store:

• Apples
• Bananas
• Figs
• Pears 
• Oranges
• Pomegranates
• Cucumber
• Pumpkin
• Butternut Squash
• Acorn Squash
• Sweet Potatoes

Preparation

For a baby that can eat solids, pick a few of the above ingredients and whip them up for serving! Keep in mind that it is best to introduce foods one at a time at first to ensure there is no allergic reaction. Always be sure to consult your child's healthcare provider if you have any questions or concerns regarding introducing foods. Once that is out of the way however, you may want to try combining a couple of foods into one recipe for a unique taste that offers a whole lot of nutrition. Items such as bananas and pumpkins, for example, are a great choice when it comes to blending foods into recipes with other produce. You also may want to consider adding a little bit of formula such as HiPP Combiotic 1 Year & Up  or Holle Goat Milk Formula Stage 3  to recipes if you would like to smooth out the consistency of purees and boost the nutritional benefits of the recipes even more! 

Before you begin, you will likely want to gather a few items to use while cooking. Those include a peeler, chopping knife, pot, baking pan and blender or food processor. Additionally, some of these recipes call for pureed pumpkin. If you are using canned pumpkin, be sure to look for an organic version. If you would like to puree it yourself, follow the directions here:

1. Cut the pumpkin in half, remove the seeds, stem and the skin
2. Cut the remainder of the pumpkin pieces into cubes and steam them on the stove until softened
3. Place the steamed pumpkin into a blender or food processor along with the banana and formula or breastmilk 
4. Puree until smooth

Recipes

Homemade Applesauce Puree

This a Fall staple that is sure to please pallets from babies to adults! Whip some up and enjoy this seasonal favorite all Fall long. One extra benefit of making this recipe is it will make your kitchen smell so yummy!

Ingredients:

• 4-6 organic apples, peeled with cores removed
• 1 1/2 cup water
• 1 tsp lemon juice
• Spices: cinnamon or nutmeg (optional)

Directions:

1. Peel and core apples
2. Chop apples into small cubes
3. Place apple chunks into a pot on the stove and add the water
4. Cook over medium heat, stirring throughout until softened
5. Remove from the stove and transfer apples into a blender or food processor
6. Add remaining ingredients and pulse until desired consistency is achieved 

Butternut Squash Pumpkin Puree for Babies

Ingredients:

• 1 cup pureed butternut squash
• 1 cup pureed pumpkin
• 1/2 cup formula or breastmilk
• Spices to add: a pinch of cinnamon, ground ginger or pumpkin pie spice (optional)

Steps to puree the butternut squash:

1. Peel the squash and remove the seeds
2. Chop into small cubes and line them on a baking pan with a sprinkle of olive oil, just a drizzle over the top of the cubes will do
3. Bake at 350 degrees in the oven until softened
4. Transfer cubes into the blender and pulse until smooth

Directions:

1. Combine all ingredients in a blender or food processor until smooth
2. Serve immediately or transfer into airtight container to store in the fridge for up to three days 

Pumpkin Banana Bread for Toddlers

Ingredients:

• 2 ripe bananas, peeled and mashed
• 1 cup pureed pumpkin
• 3 tablespoons organic coconut oil
• 2 eggs
• 1 tsp vanilla extract
• 2 cups whole wheat flour
• 2 tsp baking powder
• 1/2 tsp baking soda 
• 1/2 tsp salt

Directions:

1. Preheat the oven to 350 degrees and grease a loaf pan
2. Mix wet ingredients in one bowl
3. Mix dry ingredients in a separate bowl
4. Combine wet and dry ingredients and mix until combined
5. Bake for about 30 minutes or until the center is done
6. Allow to cool and then serve and enjoy!

Learn More

Whether you would like to try a recipe that combines a few different produce items, or a recipe that calls for just one, we hope these recipes and food lists give you some inspiration! Interested in a yummy treat for parents to enjoy?! Be sure to checkout some ideas in this post: Fall Treats Especially for Mamas

Checkout these related posts as well:

Fall Foods For Baby's Taste Palate - Organicbabyfood.shop

Fall Fun With Little Ones - Family Bucket List

 

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