Cherries for Baby Food and Feeding Your Baby Cherries -

Age for Introducing Cherries to Baby: 8-10 Months Old

 

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The Goodness of Cherries

 

Cherries, tiny, sweet & yummy and oh so nutritious. These little fruits are packing a lot of important nutrients.

 

Cherries: (one cup - raw)

 

VITAMINS:
Vitamin A - 74 IU
Vitamin C - 8.2 mg
Vitamin K - 2.5 mcg
Folate (important during pregnancy) - 4.7 mcg
Niacin - 1.01 mg


MINERALS:
Potassium - 260 mg
Phosphorus - 24 mg
Magnesium - 12.9 mg
Calcium - 15.2 mg
Sodium - 0 mg
Iron - 0.04 mg
Also contains trace amounts of zinc, manganese and copper.

 

When can my Baby eat Cherries

 

Babies may begin to eat Cherries from about 8 months of age. Cherries are not highly allergenic. Cherries do contain pits and a rather thick skin. Young babies may not be able to properly digest cherries earlier than 8 months of age. Please be sure to check with your pediatrician about introducing cherries (and other foods) as generalities may not apply to your baby.

 

Choosing and Storing Cherries for Homemade Baby Food

 

Cherries are very delicate. Always inspect cherries prior to purchasing them; little indents and dull skins may be be signs of the beginning stages of rotting. Cherries should be bright, smooth, unblemished and shiny. The rule of thumb is the darker the cherry, the sweeter the taste.

 

Cherries need to be stored in the refrigerator. They are very sensitive to temperature changes.

You may freeze cherries but they must be pitted first. Un pitted cherries take on a flavor like almond when frozen. You may freeze them cut in half, diced or stewed. As with any other fruit, the fruit may remain in the freezer longer if it is frozen in it's near original state. Freezing changes the cellular structure of fruits as does cutting peeling etc. Frozen whole or halved cherries will last longer than stewed or diced cherries.

 

How do I prepare Cherries for Baby Food?

 

Pit cherries by inserting the tip of a vegetable peeler in the stem-end of the fruit; rotate around the pit

Buy Organic Cherries Whenever Possible.   Cherries are on the EWG's "Dirty Dozen" List.   This list contains fruits and veggies that are most likely to accumulate pesticides; most accumulation occurs in the skin.   View the list on our Organic Baby Food Page

and scoop it out. You may then cut the cherries into small dices or blend them up in a food processor or blender. Be sure to carefully watch your older baby when offering cherries as finger food. You may want to squish the cherry dices to help baby mash and chew the cherries.

 

Cherries may be stewed by adding them to a saucepan and then simmering them in a bit of water.

 

Basic Cherry Baby Food Recipes:

 

Cherry Puree

1/2 pound fresh cherries
1 cup water

Wash, clean and pit the cherries. Be sure to remove the stems.

Drop the cherries into a saucepan with 1 cup of water.
Bring to a boil and simmer for 20 minutes until the juices run freely and the cherries become soft.
Allow to cool and then puree in a blender or food processor.

 

Cherry Apple Puree

1 cup pitted cherries
3 medium apples, peeled & cored and diced
dash of vanilla essence
1 cup of water

1. Add the fruits to a small saucepan
2. Add the water to the saucepan and the vanilla if using
3. Bring water to a boil and then steam gently until soft and cooked. Be sure to check on the water level

Puree or mash as needed for your baby.

 

 

Oatmeal & Cherry Surprise

1 1/2 cup cooked oatmeal cereal
1/4 cup cherry puree

 

Mix oatmeal and cherry puree together.
Stir thoroughly or blend if needed

 

 

Cherries Banana

1/4 cup cherry puree
2 small bananas

 

Mash 2 small bananas and add cherry puree
Mix thoroughly, blend if needed for your baby's texture preferences. Makes a yummy addition to baby's cereal or yogurt.

 

 

Cherries Cling to the Spoon

1/2 cup plain, yogurt
1/4 cup cherries (pureed or finely diced)
1/4 cup unsweetened applesauce
1 banana
2 tablespoons Wheat Germ

 

Combine all ingredients in a blender or food processor. Blend or process only until a thick consistency is created. Add extra wheat germ for even more cling.

 

Cherry Tofu Mush

 

Ingredients

1/2 cup Cherry Puree
1/2 packet of Firm Tofu

Directions

Combine all of the above ingredients - Add water if needed

Transfer to a blender or food processor. Puree or chop as needed for your baby's age and texture requirements. This makes a great finger food snack.

 

 

Cherry Cottage Cheese Drizzle

 

Ingredients

1/2 cup of fresh cherries (washed and picked through for stems and other debris)
1 cup of Cottage Cheese (use 2% with small curds)

 

Directions

In a glass bowl, warm the cherries in the microwave for about 30 seconds.  Wizz the cherries in a blender until smooth and juicy.  Drizzle the cherries over cottage cheese and serve.  If needed, mash the curds to a texture/size your baby can tolerate.

 

This makes a quick and easy finger food full of antioxidants, protein and calcium.  You can also offer baby her own bowl and hand her a spoon; this will cling to the spoon and is a good food for self-feeding practice.

 

 

Red Quinoa

 

Ingredients

1/2 cup of fresh cherries (washed and picked through for stems and other debris)
1 cup of cooked quinoa

 

Directions

Prepare quinoa according to package directions

(if you have lost the directions, it’s 1 cup quinoa to 2 cups water.  Boil water, add quinoa then simmer for 10-20 minutes)

In a glass bowl, warm the cherries in the microwave for about 30 seconds and then squish cherries with a fork.  Stir the cherries into the quinoa and add 3 tablespoons of mashed sweet potato.  Serve warm.  Very colorful and very nutritious.

 

Foods Good to Mix With Cherries:

Apples
Bananas
Blueberries
Peaches
Sweet Potato
Brown Rice
Couscous
Lentils
Chicken
Yogurt

 

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