COOK ED PUR EES 23

o.:.'
A B O U T A S E RV IN G S

pear puree

Wonderfully sweet, pear is a low-allergenic first food for your baby. Choose pears that are at optimum ripeness, as these will be richest in nutrients and flavor. If you need to thicken this puree, use Baby's Rice (see p.20) during the first two to four weeks, then once you have stopped introducing foods to your baby one at a time, use a little mashed banana. !u. ripe pears, peeled,Baby's Rice (see p.20) or
quartered, cored and evenlymashed banana, to thicken (op tiona l) chopped

t Stea m the p ear s for 8 -10 m inute s un til soft.

2 P ut the pea rs in a blen der or foo d pr oce sso r an d or oce ss u ntil sm ooth . Thic ken with a little Ba by's R ice o r w ell-m ash ed b ana na, if ne ces sar y. PREPARATION + COOKING 5 + 12 minutes + making the rice S T O R AG E Let cool, then cover and refrigerate for up to 2 days, or freeze for up to 1 month. HEALTH BENEFITS Pears are a low-glycemic index fruit, which means they release energy into your baby's bloodstream slowly, helping keep his blood-sugar levels balanced. Pears also contain pectin, a form of soluble fiber, which helps your baby's digestive system function optimally, as well as the antioxidant vitamins A, C and E: and potassium and copper. The iodine in pears helps optimize thyroid function to ensure your baby's metabolism svorks efficiently.