While our family is definitely not vegan or vegetarians (those of you who know: the hubster cannot live a day without his steak, bacon, ribs, pork, or SPAM), there are potential dangers in eating meat. When our boy was first born, I immersed myself in a recommended book entitled, Super Baby Food , which is filled with ideas on how to make food at home for baby and toddler. The Super Baby Food diet was also strongly against eating meat because of the numerous types of bacteria and food-borne illnesses. The chances of getting sick from eating meat is a lot more than eating other foods.
We also know that protein is essential for our bodies, especially for the body of a growing baby. The easiest whilst not the healthiest way of getting protein in our system is from eating meat. According to the literature, "your baby needs even more protein than an adult proportionate to his size, because along with all of this replacing of body cells, he also is growing at a rapid rate and adding new body cells each day. While the adult body needs about one-third gram of protein for each pound of body weight, your baby needs approximately a full gram of protein for each pound of body weight, or proportionately 3 times the adult amount." (Yaron, p. 512).
But what if we don't have to eat meat for every meal? What foods are good substitutes for the protein found in meat? I learned that legumes (beans) are a great source of protein. However, beans alone are still not considered a complete source of protein. When combined with another grain source containing protein, it will make up the complete protein needed. The SuperBaby Food book has a table provided in the amounts of legumes and grains combined to make up the complete protein needed. This type of protein obtained from legumes and grains is equal if not greater than the protein from meat which is combined together with all the fats and toxins that comes with it.
We also know that protein is essential for our bodies, especially for the body of a growing baby. The easiest whilst not the healthiest way of getting protein in our system is from eating meat. According to the literature, "your baby needs even more protein than an adult proportionate to his size, because along with all of this replacing of body cells, he also is growing at a rapid rate and adding new body cells each day. While the adult body needs about one-third gram of protein for each pound of body weight, your baby needs approximately a full gram of protein for each pound of body weight, or proportionately 3 times the adult amount." (Yaron, p. 512).
But what if we don't have to eat meat for every meal? What foods are good substitutes for the protein found in meat? I learned that legumes (beans) are a great source of protein. However, beans alone are still not considered a complete source of protein. When combined with another grain source containing protein, it will make up the complete protein needed. The SuperBaby Food book has a table provided in the amounts of legumes and grains combined to make up the complete protein needed. This type of protein obtained from legumes and grains is equal if not greater than the protein from meat which is combined together with all the fats and toxins that comes with it.
Wouldn't we feel much greater with what's going inside of our tummies if we eat less meat? I can't picture our family eating no meat at all, but perhaps someday. So what's my point here? I decided to try cooking lentil soup one day. I recall my old college roommate cooking lentils all the time to eat. I also remember always eating it together with another protein source, like yogurt. There was always this rich, grainy aroma coming from the kitchen when she cooked. She was Jewish and did not eat meat because of her religion and beliefs. She was still following the Old Testament rituals of keeping herself "pure" from the blood and fats of meat. She ate everything kosher.
After I cooked this soup, I was hoping that our little one would like it, but he spit out all the lentils and drank the soup instead. All that hard work to waste! But when the hubster and I tried the soup, it was deeeeelicious!! I didn't realize how tasty lentils can be! We made some modifications from the recipe found online. Try it, you and your little one may like it!
lentil soup
what you'll need:
- 1 small onion, chopped
- 1-2 carrots, diced
- 1 celery stalk, chopped
- 1-2 cloves of garlic, minced
- dried oregano to taste
- 1-2 bay leaves
- dried basil to taste
- 1 (14.5 oz.) canned crushed tomatoes
- 1 cup dried lentils
- 2 cups water
- 2 cups chicken (or beef) broth
- 1/3 cup spinach rinsed and thinly sliced
- vinegar
- salt to taste
- pepper to taste
- dash of curry
- 2 slices of turkey bacon (optional- fat drained) then cut in bite-size pieces
cookin' time!
1. In a large soup pot, heat oil over medium heat. Add onions, carrots, and celery; cook and stir until onion is tender. Stir in garlic, bay leaf, oregano, and basil; cook for 2 minutes.
2. Stir in lentils, and add water (and chicken/beef broth) and tomatoes. Bring to a boil. Reduce heat, and simmer for at least 1 hour. When ready to serve stir in spinach, and cook until it wilts. Stir in vinegar, and season to taste with salt and pepper, and more vinegar if desired.
(You can sneak in that bacon if you'd like! That way, the hubster will be sure to eat it! But just for the sake of enjoyment, he ate it anyway, without the MEAT!!) =P
lentil soup
what you'll need:
- 1 small onion, chopped
- 1-2 carrots, diced
- 1 celery stalk, chopped
- 1-2 cloves of garlic, minced
- dried oregano to taste
- 1-2 bay leaves
- dried basil to taste
- 1 (14.5 oz.) canned crushed tomatoes
- 1 cup dried lentils
- 2 cups water
- 2 cups chicken (or beef) broth
- 1/3 cup spinach rinsed and thinly sliced
- vinegar
- salt to taste
- pepper to taste
- dash of curry
- 2 slices of turkey bacon (optional- fat drained) then cut in bite-size pieces
cookin' time!
1. In a large soup pot, heat oil over medium heat. Add onions, carrots, and celery; cook and stir until onion is tender. Stir in garlic, bay leaf, oregano, and basil; cook for 2 minutes.
2. Stir in lentils, and add water (and chicken/beef broth) and tomatoes. Bring to a boil. Reduce heat, and simmer for at least 1 hour. When ready to serve stir in spinach, and cook until it wilts. Stir in vinegar, and season to taste with salt and pepper, and more vinegar if desired.
(You can sneak in that bacon if you'd like! That way, the hubster will be sure to eat it! But just for the sake of enjoyment, he ate it anyway, without the MEAT!!) =P
3 comments:
I LOVE the book Super Baby Food and used it for years with both my girls. I now give it as my go-to baby shower gift and everyone loves it. I myself quit eating meat over a year ago for health reasons and I never thought I'd feel so good about it. This is coming from a kid who grew up in red meat country and medium-rare steaks!
I also found Super Baby Food an invaluable resource, although I'm still a meat-eater. It just has such great info about all kinds of food and great toddler recipes too! Glad to see your blog again! Do you mind if I link to it on mine?
Yumm to lentil soup!
We eat grass-fed meat only which is so nitrient dense than reg meat u buy at the store. Also, being vegan is not that healthy. Be careful. Even being all raw is dangerous because there are vitamins in animal by products like meat, eggs, cheese etc that are essential for health but not found in plants. Just a food for thought. And of course, i am talking about grass fed meat, soy/corn free eggs and chickens and raw/unpasteurized dairy. Otherwise - hello allergies and health issues!
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