Fresh Produce for Hannah

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Since Hannah came into our lives, I have been doing a lot of grocery shopping just to prepare her meals. There are certain types of veggies and fruits which I would usually go for when I do marketing.

Vegetables

  • Potatoes: Brastagi Hertha (NTUC) – flavourful for making mashed potatoes (Note: Brastagi mini potatoes were really really bland)
  • Sweet potatoes: Orange ones from Australia (NTUC & CS) – they have a higher moisture content as compared to local ones
  • Carrots: Australian (NTUC) – less than $1 per pack
  • Corn on cob: Malaysia (NTUC & CS) – cheap and sweet (Note: consume corn within 3 days of purchase as its sugars will turn to starch over time)
  • Pumpkin: Zenxin’s organic Japanese variety (CS) – very sweet and moist
  • Broccoli: Australian (NTUC)
  • Cauliflower: China (NTUC & CS) – the organic ones are either too expensive or not fresh
  • Spinach: local hydroponic farm (NTUC) – no pesticides!
  • Cherry tomatoes: Sakura (NTUC) – no pesticides!
  • Garden peas: frozen big pack (NTUC house brand)

Fruits

  • Apples: US organic Red Delicious (CS) – CS doesn’t carry it anymore :(
  • Pears: as long as it looks and smells sweet :) (NTUC & CS)
  • Oranges: Australian Navel (Citrus brand is very sweet when in season) (NTUC) – 1 year old onwards
  • Strawberries: Organic ones, seasonal (NTUC) – 1 year old onwards
  • Golden Kiwi: New Zealand (NTUC) – these are sweet and juicy
  • Banana: (NTUC & CS)
  • Watermelon: (NTUC, CS or parents’)
  • Rock melon: Australian (NTUC)
  • Hami melon: China (NTUC)
  • Mangoes: Thai yellow honey mangoes (NTUC)
  • Papaya: any variety as long as it is sweet :D

Meats

  • Fish: salmon, threadfin & cod (NTUC & CS)
  • Beef: tenderloin & minced (parents’, NTUC & CS)
  • Chicken breast: NTUC
  • Pork: fillet minced (NTUC & CS)

Dairy Products

  • UHT Fresh Milk: Marigold Plain (it has vitamin D added to its NZ fresh milk to help in absorption of calcium) (NTUC usually have discounts)
  • Cheese: Laughing Cow Plain party cubes (NTUC)
  • Yoghurt: Pauls original (NTUC) – the only plain version with the simplest, workable ingredients (includes live probiotic cultures)
  • Mamil Gold Milk Powder for 1-3 years (NTUC)
  • Eggs: Sakura Eggs (the yolks are very tasty!)
  • Tofu: Organic silken tofu (NTUC & CS)

I have yet introduce pasta in tomato sauce to Hannah. It is long overdue. Sigh, I must get down to it someday! :)

7 thoughts on “Fresh Produce for Hannah”

  1. Wow Ling, I think you’re doing great in giving Hannah a balanced and varied diet! Just a question- how do you puree hard fruits like pears and apples? We just started Gabrielle on solids.

  2. After trying out apples and pears on Hannah, she did not take to them very well most of the time. These are the ways I prepared the apple:

    1) slice thinly
    2) peels using a peeler
    3) minced
    4) scrapping
    5) apple sauce (by cooking fresh apples)
    6) Puree using a blender

    I found out that the type of apples used matter for her. She prefers the taste of organic Red Delicious from Cold Storage. But CS doesn’t carry this variety anymore. Apples don’t taste good after puree as they oxidise even faster when finely mashed up. You might want to consider adding a few drops of lemon juice to prevent the oxidation.

    As for pears (not the Chinese varieties), she was more receptive as it was easier to buy the softer and sweeter ones. But I try not to feed her pears as I could only find the non-organic ones around my place. BTW, pear puree is quite nice if the pears are sweet :) Pears oxidise when cut too. But their taste doesn’t change as much as apples.

    I find the following fruits are better starters for Hannah due to their softer texture and taste and also for the fact that she could taste them in their original flavour:
    1) Golden Kiwi (just scoop a bit of the flesh to feed, seeds can be eaten as well)
    2) Banana (use a spoon to feed thin slices. choose very ripe and sweet ones)
    3) Rock melon (again choose the very sweet ones)
    4) Honey mangoes (choose the yellow variety and feed when it is ripe)
    5) Papaya (this is probably the most baby-friendly fruit. Soft and sweet! Choose those Hawaii baby ones. Just scoop directly from the half-cut fruit)

    Have fun! :D The above info is based on my experience with Hannah :)

  3. One more thing, Lisa. Try to avoid feeding the fruits when they are cold. Babies may not like the coldness and reject the fruit. Let the fruit ‘warm up’ to nearly room temperature before feeding. When she gets older, it would be easier to accept cold stuff.

  4. Thanks alot for the detailed advice!! Will slowly try these various foods on her. Hope I’ll have time to introduce lots of new stuff to her diet! :)

  5. You’re welcomed, Lisa. Indeed, take your time and have fun! :D Oh ya, do you have a plan to intro a new food for at least 3 days to check on allergy?

  6. wow… good stuff… i must get my SIL to read this man…

    just one question: your parents grow watermelon??? hehe…

  7. Hi Ann,

    I think it is nothing uncommon amongst mothers who do grocery shopping too. The list gets longer over time. Hee hee :)

    Abt the watermelon, I meant to say that this fruit was usually bought by Yang’s parents. :)

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