Healthy Fats: Using Coconut and Olive Oil in Baby Food
Time for another chat with Little City Kitchen Co’s favorite guest blogger, Dr. Julia Getzelman, founder of GetzWell Pediatrics. Today we’re going to tackle a topic that’s near and dear to my heart: using healthy fats such at olive and coconut oil in baby food, and some alternative breakfast foods for baby.
A reminder to readers – submit your baby food-related questions by posting a comment on our Great Baby Food Giveaway blog, and if we feature your question on our blog, you win a free pack of baby food from Little City Kitchen Co., just like Penny and Julie did this month – congratulations guys!
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Question from Julie P: I hear that healthy fats like olive oil and coconut oil are good for babies and can be used in baby food. Is this true? Do I need to worry about the calories or fat content?
Dr. Getzelman: Yes! Fats are good for babies. Their developing brains and immune systems need lots of fats and olive and coconut oils provide distinct fatty acids to the body. Organic butter is fair game too. Be sure that babies’ food isn’t too lean by drizzling first press olive oil over prepared foods or allowing raw coconut butter or oil to melt on warm purees. They will love it!
Jill’s note: for those familiar with Little City Kitchen Co. baby food, you already know that I use a lot of coconut milk and coconut oil in my recipes for this reason. Coconut has gotten a bad rap in the past, but we’ve started to see a shift in thinking as the great benefits of this healthy saturated fat are recognized.
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Question from Penny C: I wanted to ask for suggestions for breakfast for my 9 month old son. I’ve been feeding him pureed fruit and oatmeal from the box. I’m crunched for time in the morning and I would like to vary up his meal. Do you have suggestions?
Dr. Getzelman: What we think of as breakfast foods is shaped largely by culture. For example, we think of carbs (often empty!) and sweets (like muffins or toast and jam) while the Chinese eat meat and vegetable soups for breakfast.
It’s good to start the day with good fat and protein so pastured eggs make a wonderful breakfast food and can be scrambled up quickly and served as finger food for your 9 month old, if he is already participating in feeding himself.
If he’s still taking purees, quinoa flakes (which can be made into a hot cereal) can be served with coconut butter or oil, almond butter, and fresh berries or a little cinnamon. Alternatively, your son could have a puree (partly prepared the night before by using left-over steamed veggies) of mixed steamed or sauteed vegetables, chicken stock, a pinch of curry powder or some fresh or dried herbs. He doesn’t yet “know” that breakfast is different from dinner or lunch and in some countries there isn’t much distinction!
Upcoming Events
Lots going on in the Little City kitchen for the next couple of weeks!
Scoop on Starting Solids cooking demo
Wednesday, Sept 21, 6:30 – 7:45pm
Whole Foods Los Altos
See event details and RSVP here
Guest panelist “Farmageddon”
Local Chef’s Dinner and Conversation
Friday, Sept 23 from 6-9pm
Viewing at the Roxie and discussion following
View event details here
Scoop on Starting Solids cooking demo
Birth & Baby Fair
Sunday, Oct 2, 3pm
Fort Mason Pavilion
Details and register here
(Use code: LCK for 50% off registration)
How about avacado oil? Is it as good as olive oil and coconut oil for baby’s development or is harmfull althogether?
Hi Jill,
I had the joy of taking one of your cooking classes and am excited about trying out baby foodmaking.
I was about to purchase the Bronner coconut oil but was confused on whether to purchase the white label or the brown label. What is the difference?
Thanks, Christen
[...] with either olive oil or melted coconut oil, and add any herb or [...]
[...] it was a “nut”. (ps – it’s a fruit guys, not a nut). You guys know by now the value of healthy fats like coconut oil in baby [...]
My Asian friend uses a rice cooker and says she loves it for putting food up at night and then it’s ready in the morning for breakfast! If your kitchen counter has room, think about a rice cooker!