Turkey is a great ingredient for babies. Baby Food With Turkey It’s a lean meat with tons of protein, it’s easy to digest and full of vitamins and minerals. Baby Food With Turkey is packed with 100% organic turkey, sweet potatoes and carrots combined with spinach and kale to add antioxidants. Plus it’s gluten-free to prevent allergies before they start. Feeding your baby foods they love makes them love eating! Baby Food With Turkey is allergy friendly.
Baby Food With Turkey
Freshly cooked turkey may be offered as soon as your baby is ready for solid foods, around the age of 6 months. This does not apply to processed turkey.
Make sure you prepare your turkey in an age-appropriate manner. At the age of 6 months, the turkey should be offered in a smooth and runny puree.
How to prepare turkey for baby food?
Make sure the turkey you offer to your baby is freshly cooked. See the video below for instructions on how to roast your first turkey (for beginners)
Use the freshly cooked turkey in a runny puree. Or, if your baby is a bit older, in a chunky puree or mashed.
If you’re just starting out with solid foods, start with 1-ingredient purees before offering purees with multiple ingredients.
Recipe 1: Turkey, sweet potato, and carrots (age 6 months+)
A sweet and healthy diner recipe, perfect for Christmas.
Ingredients:
- 2 oz of turkey
- 1 small sweet potato
- 2 carrots
Instructions:
Step 1 – Shred the freshly cooked turkey.
Step 2 – Peel the sweet potato, using a vegetable peeler, and chop into cubes.
Step 3 – Peel the carrots and remove the greens. Chop the carrots into pieces.
Step 4 – Bring a saucepan with water to a boil.
Step 5 – Cook both the sweet potato and the carrots for about 15-20 minutes. You can add them to the same pan.
Step 6 – Pour off the water and let the sweet potato and carrot cool off for a few minutes.
Step 7 – All the ingredients to a bowl and use a hand mixer to mix them into a smooth puree.
You can add a little bit of water if the puree is too thick or dry.
Recipe 2: Turkey and corn (6 months+)
Easy, sweet, and tasty.
Ingredients:
- 2 o.z. of turkey
- 1 small can of corn
Instructions:
Step 1 – Shred the freshly cooked turkey.
Step 2 – Warm the canned corn in a saucepan for a few minutes.
Step 3 – If you used canned corn with added sugar or salt, rinse the corn with hot water after it’s warm.
Step 4 – Add the turkey and corn together and blend them into a smooth puree, using a hand mixer.
Recipe 3: Turkey and apple (6 months+)
Another great recipe that your baby will love!
Ingredients:
- 2 oz of turkey
- 1 small apple
Instructions:
Step 1 – Shred the freshly cooked turkey.
Step 2 – Peel the apple. Slice it into halves and remove the core.
Step 3 – Cut the apple into slices.
Step 4 – You can choose to cook the apple for a few minutes, this will make it taste sweeter. You can also use it raw.
Step 5 – Merge the ingredients and mix them into a smooth or chunky puree, depending on the age of your little one.
Recipe 4: Turkey, bell pepper, and zucchini (8-10 months+)
Savory, healthy, and packed with nutritions.
Ingredients:
- 2 oz of turkey
- ½ bell pepper
- ½ zucchini
Instructions:
Step 1 – Shred the freshly cooked turkey.
Step 2 – Rinse the bell pepper, remove the core, and slice it up.
Step 3 – Peel the zucchini and chop it into cubes.
Step 4 – Steam it for a few minutes or cook it for a few minutes.
Step 5 – Add all the ingredients to a bowl and mix them into a chunky puree.
Recipe 5: Turkey, broccoli, and rice (8 months+)
Ingredients:
- 2 oz of turkey
- 1 oz of rice
- 5 broccoli florets
Instructions:
Step 1 – Shred the freshly cooked turkey.
Step 2 – Bring a saucepan with water to a boil and cook the rice for about 15 minutes.
Step 3 – Rinse the broccoli florets and steam them or cook them for about 15-20 minutes.
Step 4 – Add all the ingredients to a bowl and mix them into a puree.
Turkey, Carrot and Apricot Puree
What you’ll need
- ½ lb. Ground turkey, cooked (steamed or simmered)
- 1 cup Peeled, chopped, and steamed carrot
- 1 teaspoon olive oil
- ½ cup dried apricots, cut in half
- 1/4 cup of chicken broth or water, as needed
How to make it:
- Fill a pot with 2 inches of water and bring to a boil over high heat. Distribute the carrots in a steamer basket and place in the pot. Cover and steam until tender, 8-10 minutes. Remove the steamer basket from the pot and let the carrots cool
- In a large frying pan over medium- high heat, warm the olive oil. Add the ground turkey and ¼ cup of broth or water. Cook, breaking up the meat with a wooden spoon and stirring constantly until the meat is opaque throughout and no longer pink, 5-6 minutes. Remove from the heat and let cool slightly
- Using a slotted spoon, transfer the turkey to a food processer or blender, reserving any meat juices remaining in the pan. Add the carrots, apricots, and ¼ cp of the reserved meat juices, adding broth if there are not enough reserved juices. Puree until smooth or until the desired consistency is achieved.
- Serve immediately. To store, refrigerate in an airtight container for up to 2 days, or freeze in individual portions for up to 3 months
This recipe is from our Happy Family Organic’s Cookbook, for more great recipes check out the cookbook here
Always check with your child’s doctor first if you have any questions about introducing new foods and textures.
How to Serve Turkey to Babies and Toddlers
Navigating the 2020-2025 Dietary Guidelines for Americans
In December 2020, the 2020-2025 Dietary Guidelines for Americans (DGA) was published, citing specific nutrition recommendations for babies and toddlers through 24 months, including the importance of incorporating lean protein into the diet. Previously, guidance for children under two years had not been included in these federal recommendations in a substantial way. However, the report indicates that this period of development is critical to establish nutritious eating habits that can last a lifetime.
The guidelines specifically highlight two nutrients that should be included for babies over 6 months old: iron and zinc.
At about 6 months old, introduce infants to nutrient-dense complementary foods…Encourage infants and toddlers to consume a variety of foods from all food groups. Include foods rich in iron and zinc, particularly for infants fed human milk.
Excerpt from the 2020-2025 Dietary Guidelines for Americans
And guess what lean protein has both? Turkey!
According to food blogger and nutrition specialist Emily Dingmann of My Everyday Table, the best way to do this is by preparing “one family meal” that can be easily adapted to satisfy the whole family. Dingmann prepares Turkey Stir-Fry for the whole family and answers some frequently asked questions about the best ways to adapt turkey for babies and toddlers below.
What does the DGA say about feeding babies and toddlers?
According to the DGA, the period between six months and two years of age is an important time to encourage babies and toddlers to try a variety of nutrient-dense foods: veggies, fruits, grains and lean proteins like turkey.
The idea of babies eating what everyone else is eating is not new. It is part of the baby-led-weaning approach, but it is a shift from the standard baby purees and puffs.
It is also recommended to avoid added sugars and foods higher in sodium.
Note: According to the DGA, it may take up to 8-10 exposures for an infant to accept new textures and flavors for the first time.
Can babies have turkey?
Yes. Once babies are six months old and eating solids, they can eat turkey. However, it is important to make sure portions are appropriate for their eating stage and not a choking risk.
How do you introduce turkey to a baby?
There are a few ways to do this. If going with a pureed approach, simply cook the turkey and puree it with some rice and veggies. When babies develop more hand control, they can start eating finger foods. Offer pea-sized pieces of soft foods like ground turkey and cooked veggies.
Try this Turkey Stir-Fry recipe for step-by-step instructions on adapting the dish for babies and toddlers.
Note: Toddlers and young children don’t always do well with food touching, so you may want to serve the meal components separate.
Should I choose one feeding method for babies?
Before you get caught up in a feeding method, don’t feel like you have to decide on one OR the other. It is reasonable to do a blend of purees and baby-led-weaning. There are a lot of strong opinions on these methods, but ultimately, decide what works best for you and your family. A mix of both is totally fine.
What matters is that you are feeding and exposing babies and toddlers to a variety of nutrient-dense foods and flavors.
When can I begin serving “one family meal?”
The DGA recommends babies and toddlers are exposed to a variety of nutrient-dense foods, similarly to what the entire family should be eating.
Regardless of the age of your children, my answer is always…NOW! The only exception is that your baby needs to be ready for solid food. So, bring them to the table and serve them what everyone is eating – one family meal!