Pulp Fiction: Homemade Juicing & "Juice Fasts"

Don't be fooled, adding a whole
apple to any juicer is going to
taste pretty gnarly... It's possible,
just not tasty or practical.

Okay, so recently the husbo and I acquired a juicer from Walmart.  We wanted to go with something that was mid-grade in price so a.) if it didn't work we wouldn't feel as bad about the purchase and b.) a lot of the more expensive juicers have that hefty price tag because of the brand name --or because they're commercial juicers and don't belong in your kitchen (though I have to say the hand-cranking wheatgrass juicer looks pretty sweet...  But not $75 sweet for a unitasker) We went with the Hamilton Beach Stainless Steel "Big Mouth Juice Extractor".  It was found at our local store which barely carries anything, so I'm assuming it's easy to find, but you can follow that link to order online or see if it's available in your store.

"Juice Fasting" & Why? That sounds really unhealthy
On the contrary!  It's actually really healthy as long as you're getting a good variety of juices into your system.  The whole idea behind "juice fasting" (the recommended time for beginners being 7-10 days) is to give your already-ill body a rest and let the juicer assist you in absorbing nutrients straight from the fruit.  "But I'm not sick?" Technically if you follow the diet that most busy moms, Americans, or just hard-working people follow, your body isn't going to be in the greatest condition.  Even if you're the healthiest person you know, this is a good way to begin a new diet regimen because you're clearing out all the bad stuff and just holding on to the good stuff.  The question I had was "Why not just eat a whole bunch of fruits and vegetables and forego the juicing?" Well the first answer to that is that we just don't do that. I don't know a lot of people who actually sit down to 10 pounds of fruit and vegetables a day. However, if you do actually do that, here's another reason: it takes our stomachs about 30 minutes-2 hours to digest plant-based foods.  In that time you're losing valuable nutrients from your stomach acids and enzymes breaking down the food.  Also, for people who are ill it takes their bodies even longer to break down those fruits and vegetables and it can add to fatigue (I'm talking people with autoimmune diseases, diabetes, Cancer, anything that has stunted your normal bodily functions)  When you drink juice it empties from your stomach in about 15 minutes.  That means the juice --and all those awesome nutrients-- enter your small intestine faster.  Your small intestine, covered in millions of finger-like extensions called "villi" to create more surface area for maximum nutrient absorption, is where our bodies begin to obtain the nutrients from what we eat whether it's fruits, vegetables, animal, or breads.  So the faster your small intestine gets a hold of this juice, the faster your body will get nutrients.  It's also broken down in a way that your body will end up absorbing more than if you just sat down to a giant plate of fruits and veggies.  This isn't hype, this is actual science.

        Stay Close to a Bathroom!  Yay!

Don't be embarrassed!  If you ever notice
a stark change in your bowel habits or just
don't feel comfortable with them, tell your M.D.!

Since you're digesting these plant-based foods at such a faster rate than normal, it stands to reason these fibers and juices are going to be hitting your large intestine faster as well.  Someone asked me recently "Well does it give you diarrhea?"and I said "Well no, but we're all so used to going once a day --or, God forbid, once a week-- that if we end up going to the bathroom once, twice, or even three times more than usual, we think there's something wrong.  As long as you're not passing watery stools each time it's totally normal.  You're clearing yourself out!" Yes, that's incredibly graphic, but when you're going to go on a drastic diet change, no matter what kind it is, you'll expect to have changes in your bathroom habits! It's all normal, we're all human, we've been doing this since even before we came out of our mom's bellies.  That's just another benefit to juice fasting.  I'm not personally going to talk about my bathroom habits on here, but anyone who is going to be doing nothing but drinking juice is going to clear out, but not in a crampy, painful way like taking a laxative (those cramps are caused by stimulants in laxatives and gas.  Unless you're using fruits or vegetables that you are sensitive to, you shouldn't experience gas or cramps.)  You've heard it here, you've heard it from Oprah, you've heard it from Oz, you've heard it from that weird, pencil-mustachioed guy who does infomercials: overall bodily health begins in the colon.  If you have an unhealthy lower digestive system your immune system is probably compromised, you may be more susceptible to allergies or hay fever, you may have an overall feeling of tiredness and sluggishness, etc.  It's all because that part of our body is an all-natural septic system and if it's not taken care of, you can become septic.  In the worst cases you can even end up in the hospital with painful problems like impaction, infection, and if you have a diet that consists mostly of animal tissue and you're not going often enough, you could even end up with a perforated colon, septic shock, and maybe even death.  Who knew the part of the body we laughed about so much as kids could kill you??  I had a friend who ended up in the hospital from impaction and it was scary as all get-out.  In the end, it's what you put in there that counts.  Colon health from not eating animal flesh is for another article, but you'd be surprised how much better you feel if you cut out meat. I digress...

So is it a true fasting?
Some people can handle a 100% juice fast.  That means replacing any meal and snack, or even any pang of hunger, with a juice drink.  You'll be very surprised how quickly you'll be satiated with a big glass of juice.  It's not like drinking even the best store-bought bottled juice.  There's so many pulpy bits of goodness in there that your stomach becomes full of the fiber and you're not hungry anymore!  I was just thirsty for orange juice the other day and it was the first time I had orange juice that actually made me feel FULL.  I'm not drinking these huge glasses of juice either, just a normal 6-8oz. serving.  The only thing I can say is do not ever start a juice fast if you have any doubts on how it will impact your health.  Especially if you are diabetic.  If you feel you are healthy enough to start the regimen, by all means go ahead, but a friend of mine is diabetic and I'm urging him to talk to his doctor first.  I do not want to be responsible for anyone's blood sugar spiking because they drank too much fruit juice and not enough vegetable juice, or the opposite.  Not because I'm afraid of a lawsuit, no one gives a crap enough about this blog to sue me, but because I don't want anyone to get sick because of advice I gave.

Who will probably feel a little crappy the first few days of the fast
*Coffee/tea/caffeinated beverage drinkers: for obvious reasons you're going to feel a little sluggish. This is why I didn't totally cut out caffeinated soda (which is terrible for you, I know) but I'm slowly weaning as I go along with juicing.
*High-sugar, high-fat eaters: Let's face it, fatty foods and sugars are addictive.  It's a fact.  Even something as innocuous as a slice of cheese releases Casomorphins in the brain to give you a "high" after eating it. (Does Casomorphins sound familiar?  Well, "Caso" is like "Queso" ie. cheese.  "-morphins" are like "endorphins" and "morphine."  A-ha!  These hormones attach to the morphine receptors in our brains to create that "food high.")  Processed sugar has a high all its own so even if you're drinking high-sugar/high-carb juices throughout the day (there should always be a balance) refined sugar is very addictive and your body WILL crave it.  I know mine has!  Where the hell are my donuts???
*Dairy-lovers: for the same reason mentioned above about the Casomorphins.  Good news though, you can actually make your own alternatives to milk with a juicer!  Soy milk, coconut milk, almond milk, rice milk, they have the recipes!  These will probably be the most complicated things you make with the juicer, but they're still pretty darn easy!

Same goes for any refined, processed food-lovers.  White breads, fried potatoes, etc.  However, if you're a meat-addict, you'll probably feel better than you have in a long time! :)  We just have to accept that even though we're not on the street corner begging for spare change for a Coca-Cola, we're still caffeine, sugar, fat, processed-food junkies.  Some of us all the time, some of us just a little bit of the time, but once it's gone your body will feel withdrawals.  Food is a powerful thing!  It's our body's gasoline, and with an organism as complex as a human being, even slight changes in its normal routine are going to be felt.

What do you recommend I put together for a juice?
The best part of juicing is that you can put anything together that you think will taste good.  Do you love grapes, apples, oranges and cantaloupe?  Throw them all in there!  While you're at it, throw in a big 'ol fistful of spinach and you won't notice a thing!  Or, do what Drew and I do, take a big 'ol bunch of spinach and make "spinach shots" in the morning.  We bought small plastic shot glasses (Actually bought for the Ballard Center at first, but then we got some for ourselves once we started this.  Good idea!) and we'll take shots of straight spinach juice in the morning.  Does it taste good?  Well, it doesn't taste terrible!  We use baby spinach too, so the flavor is a lot milder.  It does take a LOT of leaves to make juice though.  It also takes a lot of leaves to make one serving of cooked spinach, so that's why you always see greens in these ginormous bags at your produce section.  Throw carrots into fruit juice and you definitely won't notice a thing. I actually made a drink strictly for its high-volume of vitamin A and the carrots cut the sweetness so it tasted a lot better.  It had cantaloupe in it, very ripe I might add, so the carrots made it less cloying.

Also, some things aren't going to taste awesome.  Like if you're trying to get in your vegetable fix and you're not used to eating a lot of veggies raw, just chug the crap out of it.  Those kinds of recipes I just call them "chuggers" because it doesn't matter if they're not super-delicious, they're there to get you through the next juice serving and they make sure you get those vegetables in.  You can't just drink fruit juices.  Sorry, it's just not good for you!  Too much sugar, not enough iron and B vitamins, yadda yadda.  Even if you just stick to berry juices (berries have the lowest levels of sugar of all fruits) it's still not enough to maintain a balanced juice diet.  Remember to use the most colorful fruits and vegetables possible, because just living off of apple or pear juice isn't going to help you at all!  This is your chance to get in all those fruits and vegetables you don't have the time to eat all day long, so make it a good one :)

Holy crap, she's finally about to stop talking...
So, in summation, it's a really good idea to either get you back into shape, clear you out before a major diet change, make you feel healthier and happier, and hey, it might even cure diseases you've been fighting for years! Some hard-core juice fasters have lost so much weight they are no longer dependent on insulin or they've not had flare-ups of certain autoimmune disorders like psoriasis or even Lyme disease.  Some no longer need to take pain medications... I've torn my stomach to shreds with NSAIDs like Ibuprofen, Naproxen, Mobic, all to alleviate my daily joint/muscle/back pain.  Even when I used to go to the chiropractor 3 times a week.  Plus, it will give you more energy to actually exercise those creaky muscles and joints. I thought I was getting enough exercise chasing after a toddler, but just because someone is losing weight doesn't mean they're getting enough exercise or are in shape.  I really, really want as many people to try this as possible.  Healthy or not, it can benefit a variety of people.  You don't even have to fast and you'll see results.  Elias loves it.  He thinks it's the coolest thing in the world to make his own juice and he'll drink down that juice before you can even ask if he wants a straw.  He'll throw strawberries, watermelon, spinach, cantaloupe, carrots, anything he can get his hands on into the machine and he gets so excited he jumps up and down when he switches the "on" button.  So if your kids don't like to eat anything (like my son) here's a good way to get them involved.  A kid will always eat more if he made it himself, period.

Any questions leave in the comments and I'll answer them!  I'm planning on making another blog full of recipes once I actually write them down. Until then I've just been tossing things in the juicer and seeing what happens haha.  They've all gone great so far!

Happy juicing!
-Alli

P.s. If you're not enjoying the taste of your juice as much, ADD ICE.  It makes 
a world of difference!

*Note: I'm not a nutritionist, I'm not a doctor, I'm just overly-enthusiastic when it comes to health products and whatnot so, once again, consult a doctor if you feel like this may hurt you in any way.  If your doctor is hesitant, do your own research beforehand so you can show him/her the statistics because a lot of doctors aren't trained in holistic therapies, they're trained to write prescriptions (Not all doctors!  I repeat: not all doctors!) If you have Netflix, check out "Fat, Sick, and Nearly-Dead" for what I believe is the most dramatic change in two peoples' lives as far as juice-fasting goes.  It's incredible and will also answer a lot of questions I may not have addressed.  It's really very interesting!  If you're on a Netflix kick while doing chores, may I also suggest "Vegucated" by a documentarian who was born and raised in Evansville, Indiana!  Awesome!

The Rainbow Connection: A Nutritional Color Chart

source: Learning ZoneXPress

A few years ago the CDC thought of a new tactic to encourage all of us to eat more fruits and vegetables.  The old “5 a day” apparently wasn’t enough, so they came up with a colorful new campaign of “eating your colors” to get more of a variety in our consumption of fruits and vegetables.  Generally-speaking, the brighter, more vibrant the fruit or vegetable shade, the more nutritious it is.  It’s funny because when Elias starts turning a yellowish-orange hue, I know he’s had too many foods loaded with Carotenoids and we need to switch it up with a different-colored fruit or vegetable.  No, that’s not a myth, kids can turn orange a lot quicker than adults if they eat a lot of orange/red/yellow fruits and vegetables in close succession! 

As tempting as it is to give baby what he/she favors the most so he/she will eat, it’s healthier and safer to give a variety. Period.  “Too much of a good thing” really does exist, even with the most nutritious of foods. Had too many dark green vegetables?  Your baby might become constipated from the great dose of iron, especially if your baby drinks formula.  Too many carrots or other foods containing vitamin A?  Your baby may turn harmlessly orange, but too much vitamin A can cause developmental problems in children and liver problems in children and adults alike (just like all of the problems caused the acne drug Accutane or “isotrenoin,” a derivative of vitamin A).  Too many nitrates from certain vegetables can cause anemia (see article) However, don’t get scared to death.  As long as your child maintains a healthy diet with a wide range of foods you won’t experience these problems.

So what about this color chart?

Since color isn’t always an indication of nutrition, the color chart is not intended to be seen as the only nutrients your child needs, but it is a great tool to make produce shopping easier if you’re not sure what to get.  Some days the produce section seems daunting, especially if I feel like we’ve tried everything, so a color chart has been especially helpful:

Red
Why? Foods are red from the pigment called “lycopene,” a powerful antioxidant which has been shown to reduce the risk of certain cancers and in some studies have diminished the effects of prostate cancer, even if the person already has it.	Food sources: strawberries, raspberries, beets, cherries, cranberries, tomatoes (when cooked have the highest amount of Lycopene!) red grapes, red apples, watermelon, red pears (with skin), blood oranges, red bell peppers, pomegranates.
Green
Why? Green fruits and vegetables contain lutein (a vital nutrient for ocular health) vitamin C, beta-carotene.	Food sources: Green apple (with skin), green grapes, kiwi, avocado, green pears (with skin), honeydew melon, lettuce, limes, etc.
Dark Green
Why dark green? Dark green vegetables & “green leafies” possess the same nutrients as other green vegetables, but they are an even greater source for calcium and iron.	Food sources: Spinach and baby spinach, broccoli, kale, turnip greens, mustard greens, green bell peppers, asparagus, arugula or “rocket,” green beans.
Yellow & Orange
Why? Yellow and orange fruits/vegetables contain Carotenoids, substances that include alpha-carotene and the better-known beta-carotene which, when metabolized, turns to vitamin A. They also contain vitamin C, and Lycopene, but in lower doses than in red fruits/vegetables.	Food sources: Winter squashes (butternut, acorn, pumpkin) oranges, mangoes, peaches, nectarines, sweet potatoes, tangerines, yellow summer squash, yellow watermelon, pineapples, carrots, cantaloupe, yellow bell peppers, apricots, golden raisins, yellow pears (with skin.)
Blue & Purple
Why? Blue and purple fruits/vegetables contain lutein, vitamin C.  They also contain flavonoids, a polyphenol (antioxidant) that has been shown to have anti-inflammatory properties and may also prevent certain kinds of cancers.	Food sources: Concord grapes, blackberries, blueberries, plums, grapes, pomegranates, raisins, prunes, red grapes, purple figs, purple potatoes, blue corn, purple cabbage, Belgian endive, eggplant.

Since there is such a wide array of fruits and vegetables in this world, I can't imagine any chart being all-inclusive, but I did try to make this as varied as possible.  These are all items I usually come across at the local supermarkets or farmers' markets.  Speaking of which, since it's the summertime, take a look at your local farmers' markets!  Organic, pesticide-free fruits and vegetables lovingly grown on a small scale and sometimes less expensive than the produce at the grocery store.  Even if you're paying a few cents more, remember these fruits and veggies traveled a lot less to make it to your table!  Most produce found at large chain stores was manufactured, not grown.  They were bred and altered so they could withstand the long trip to the store in one piece.  Don't even get me started on store-bought tomatoes!

Once again, I apologize for the large gap in between articles.  My son is very mobile right now, we've moved, and I've also fallen ill recently and I'm keeping my fingers crossed I get better soon!  It's no biggie, I just mentioned it for a few extra prayers here and there :)  I'm already working on my next article: the FIRST BIRTHDAY CAKE!  Can you believe my son is almost a year old???  It's going to be wheat and egg free.  Don't forget to share!

-Elias's mommy

Breast Milk Ice Cream & Other Healthy Baby Desserts!

Yes, it’s a cheap title to lure people in considering all of the insanity surrounding breast milk ice cream.  Honestly, I see no problem with it.  I do think it’s kind of strange there are women out there who are producing breast milk for adults to consume instead of donating it, but hey, it’s your breast milk, use it as you choose.  I just know it must take a rather large quantity (or just a large “tity” yuk yuk yuk) and it almost seems wasteful to make it for some English pub.  THAT’S JUST ME.  So read the article and you’ll get to the breast milk ice cream recipe!

 

I’ve always dreaded the thought of what’s going to happen when Elias has his first birthday party or when he goes to what seems like one party a week when he gets older.  What will he eat?  Can I allow him to have one piece of birthday cake?  What if that gives him too much of a sweet tooth?  Will he want to eat healthy foods anymore??  Obviously these are things brought on by super-paranoia of a mother who doesn’t want her child to end up a “junk food junkie,” but there are some times when those sometimes-irrational fears can be put to good use.

Here are a few desserts I came up with that aren’t just limited to a giant slice of not-so-healthy carrot cake:

Monster Pudding (6 months-whenever!)

1 ripe avocado

½ ripe banana

Tiny bit of citrus juice (to prevent browning)

           1 T heavy cream (optional and for children over 1 year)

Place avocado, banana, small bit of juice and optional cream into food processor.  Blend until smooth, refrigerate if desired, and serve in decorative cups.  I call it “monster pudding” because it has a lovely green hue that kids love.  You can even call it “dragon pudding,” whatever you like!  Garnish with fruit if desired, but only for kids able to eat that fruit safely.  Recipe makes 2 generous servings. Nutritional perks: A huge load of potassium, vitamin E, and healthy monounsaturated fats as well as essential amino acids.  For an even bigger nutritional boost –this may not be desired by all—throw in a few baby spinach leaves.  They’ll appear to be tiny green flecks in the “pudding.”  My son has never objected.

Faux-Nanna Pudding (8 months-whenever!)

1 ripe banana

½ package “yo baby” plain yogurt

½ crushed organic graham cracker

    (the other ½ used on top as garnish)

1 T heavy cream (optional and for children over 1 year)

Place banana, yogurt, and fine-crushed cracker in food processor and blend until smooth.  For a thicker texture be sure to drain off any excess liquid from the yogurt before placing it in the processor.  You can even substitute the graham cracker for oatmeal cereal if desired.  Recipe makes 1-2 generous servings.  Nutritional perks: Lots of potassium, protein, fiber, and low in fat.  The culture in the yogurt is also great for regulating the digestive system.  Yogurt always makes my little man’s tummy happy!

Mango/Peach “Sorbet” (6 months-whenever!)

¼ cup frozen mangoes, slightly thawed

¼ cup frozen peaches, slightly thawed

4 T apple juice or other sweet juice

Place fruit and juice in food processor and puree until smooth.  If you’d like to make it more like a “sherbet” you can add a couple of tablespoons of breast milk or formula –but not if you’re feeding someone else’s kid, obviously!  In the case of other children eating the “sherbet,” try adding 1 T heavy cream.  If a firmer product is desired, thaw for a shorter amount of time.  Recipe makes about two ¼ cup servings.  Nutritional perks: Vitamin A from beta carotene, alpha carotene, vitamin C, fiber, and no fat! (in the “sorbet” form)

Sweet Potato “Cheesecake” (8 months-whenever!)

1 small sweet potato, baked & pureed (or ½ can plain pumpkin puree)

1 egg yolk (no egg whites until after 12 months!)

2T YoBaby Plain Yogurt

2T crushed melba toasts or graham crackers

Blend together puree, egg yolk, and yogurt then set aside.  Take a small ramekin or mini springform pan and “grease” it with a tiny bit of olive oil or parchment paper (to get it out later).  Use unsalted melted butter to moisten crushed crackers just enough to where it feels like damp sand, then press mixture into bottom of the baking dish and bake at 350F for 10 minutes.  Once cooled, add in puree mixture and bake for 15-20 minutes or until the mixture isn’t “jiggly” anymore –it should look like a finished pumpkin pie!  The reason I call this “cheesecake” is because of the cracker crust and the YoBaby yogurt tastes faintly like cream cheese.  This makes 1 generous serving. Nutritional perks: Vitamin A from beta carotene and other carotenoids, fiber, protein, and low in fat!

Breast Milk "Ice Cream" (No ice cream freezer required!)

Sounds nutty, but think about it: do you let your kid drink cow’s milk yet? Maybe not.  Do you want your child to enjoy ice cream like the rest of the world?  Yes!  It’s not that crazy.  May be a lot less fatty and be a little icier, but come on, it’s MILK.  How many other ice creams would you actually feel good about giving your child?  So it may not have the same exact nutritional contents as milk straight from the breast, but at least it’s not made from suckling an entirely different species.  Also, “ice cream” is in quotations because ice cream can’t legally be called “ice cream” unless it has a certain amount of butterfat and since there is no butterfat in breast milk, it’s faux.  We can call it “frozen mother-dairy dessert.”  So here goes:

1 cup (8oz) breast milk (I’d love to have that much just lying around!)

½-1 T raw sugar

1 tsp. vanilla (optional)

3 cups ice

¼ cup rock salt (or kosher salt if you absolutely have to)

Mix together milk, sugar, and vanilla, place in a quart-sized ziptop baggie and make sure it is closed securely.  Fill a gallon-sized ziptop bag with the rock salt and ice.  Next place milk-filled bag inside the ice-filled bag and shake/massage the bags until a soft-serve “ice cream” is made.  It’s just like the “ice cream” you made back in elementary school!  It really only takes about 5-10 minutes to make this ice cream and the recipe can certainly be doubled if you’ve got a LOT of breast milk to spare.  However, all super low fat dairy recipes will freeze nearly rock-solid if you put them back in the freezer because of their high water content.  Nutritional perks: It’s your BREAST MILK.  Nothing more nutritious than that!  It’s made to suit your baby perfectly.  Can you imagine a better way to cool down a fussy child in the summertime??  In my experience, my son doesn’t like cold things, but once your child is older I’m sure he/she will enjoy this treat :)

Conclusion

That headline is a little misleading because I plan to do another article on the same subject because I’ve still got more ideas in the ‘ol noodle!  I just thought it would be a painfully-long blog if I put all of them in one post.  So be sure to keep your eyes open for more recipes in the next few days!  I have been a lot busier these days so I apologize for the long waits.  In fact, I have to move again.  This will be the second time in just under 3 months!  With a child who will be 8 months old May 2^nd, it’s quite a feat to finish important tasks, to say the least.  I love writing for people who are actually interested so I promise I’ll try my best not to let you all down.  Happy eating, as always!

-Elias’s mommy

TIPS & NOTES:

JA handful of chopped baby spinach can pretty much be added to anything and still be undetected by your child’s palette. 

=NEVER feed someone else’s child your breast milk-laden goodies (I never thought I’d have to say that!)

<ALWAYS talk to parents before parties to see if any of the children attending have food allergies or are fed a special diet so they aren’t alienated from the rest of the group. 

=NEVER sweeten with honey until child is older than 12 months to prevent possible botulism poisoning. 

=DO NOT feed egg whites until after 12 months of age unless recommended by your pediatrician.  By all means, have fun!

Elias & the Average-Sized Peach

So today when browsing the produce section for new “specimens” I saw some gorgeous peaches and knew right away this was the fruit for us.  Elias has never tried peaches before & I didn’t want him to be like his father & hate peaches.  I honestly have no idea why, but Drew hates all “stone fruits,” not just peaches.  “Stone fruits” of course being any fruit with a super-hard central pit like plums, peaches, nectarines, etc.  Elias just turned 6 months old today so I thought it would be good to start slowly introducing him to fruits.  You have to be careful with peaches because when they’re not ripe they can be rather tart & of course you do not need to add sugar, salt, or seasonings to baby’s food.   It’s not the end of the world if they’re a little bit tart, but it won’t be as easy to get your baby to eat it.  Peaches can be given as early as 4 months, but if you’ve read any of my previous blogs, I don’t think any fruit should be “first foods” because it is better to get babies used to non-sweet foods like vegetables so they don’t refuse them later on.  This was recommended by our pediatrician, Dr. Rennan Quijano who is like the “baby whisperer.”  We absolutely love him!

Fuzzy Fruit Facts:

Varieties of peaches include cling peaches and freeform peaches.  The difference between the two is that cling peaches will “cling” to the inner stone, whereas freeform peaches readily separate from the peach flesh when twisted like an avocado.  The most common grocery variety is the cling peach.  Cling peaches can be found in both white and yellow varieties.  White peaches are considered sweeter and less acidic than yellow peaches, but both make great baby food.  All parts of the peach are edible except for its inner pit which contains hydrocyanic acid, a solution of hydrogen cyanide, which is extremely poisonous.   The signs of peach pit poisoning are overstimulation, gasping, etc.  BIG, FAT HOWEVER: you won’t be poisoning your child unless you let her eat a peach pit, and if you know anyone who can eat a peach pit, I’d like to see that.  Wait, no I wouldn’t, that would be bad.  Don’t listen to morons uninformed people who say peaches are unsafe to eat.  The benefits far outweigh the risks.  I tend to scrape out the flesh surrounding the pit anyway because it’s slightly bitter, so that will eliminate any possibility of harming your kid.

Did you know the only difference between peaches and nectarines is that nectarines tend to be slightly smaller when ripe and more fragrant?  The obvious difference is that nectarines don’t sport the same fuzzy skin as peaches & they have a little more red on their skin, but that’s it!  So consider this a blog on nectarines as well.  Peaches are great source of vitamin C, vitamin A, and have a considerable amount of fiber.  One medium peach packs over 10% of the recommended daily intake of vitamin C for adults!  Peaches are also a great “poop food” and are right up there with prunes when it comes to easing constipation.  That’s a good thing because not a lot of babies like the strong flavor of prunes.

Buying:

When possible, do try to find organic peaches.  Peaches are #2 on the Environmental Working Group’s “Dirty Dozen” list of fruits and vegetables that tend to contain the most pesticides.  With peaches being so sweet and tender, they are a magnet for fruit flies and other pests.  However, the pesticides only accumulate on the skin of the fruit and I definitely do not recommend peach skin at this age, even if processed very fine.  Even if you’re going to skin the fruit, you should always wash your produce.  I read in Cook’s Illustrated Magazine a recommendation on washing fruits by washing them in cool water with a small amount of any kind of vinegar.  This will remove waxes, loose dirt, and the acidity will kill many germs.  You can read more about the EWG “Dirty Dozen” list at http://kitchenstewardship.com/ewg-dirty-dozen

Pretty much everyone has heard the old “put a peach in a paper bag and it will ripen” tale, but the truth to the matter is that no fruit or vegetable becomes “ripe” as it sits.  Ripening is a process which takes place on the plant, not on your counter or in a bag.  Peaches become softer and taste sweeter when left to age, but their sugar content does not change as it would if it were left on the tree to ripen.  To find a ripe peach in your store, find one that feels heavy for its size, firm but yields when squeezed, no squishy spots, and easily enough it will smell like a peach! It’s not very hard to find a good peach in the stores these days and if you’re lucky enough to live near an orchard you can pick your own.  Blammo!  Fresh peaches :D  Keep your eyes open for new blogs where I’ll feature more on the ripening process in various fruits and vegetables!

Preparation:

2 fresh peaches, makes about 

Fresh peach puree.

1. To easily remove the peach skin, cut an “x” on both ends of the fruit then place in your steamer basket (or a pot with about an inch of water) cover with a lid and let steam until tender.  The more ripe the peach, the less time it will take. 

2. Plunge into cold water to halt cooking (overcooking can result in loss of vitamins and minerals) and the skin should come off easily.

3. Cut peach in half around the pit then scoop out the pit and as much of the surrounding, reddish flesh as possible.  Place in food processor and process to a smooth consistency.  You should not need to add extra water as peaches are naturally very juicy.  Let baby enjoy!

-Elias's Mommy

Elias trying peaches for the first time!  His faces are priceless!

Sources: http://www.gapeaches.org/healthy-living/healthy-living peach nutrition facts; http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Peach peaches, nectarines; http://www.ewg.org Environmental Working Group official website; http://www.babycenter.com/0_age-by-age-guide-to-feeding-your-baby_1400680.bc Age by age baby food feeding guidethis website