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Although unfamiliar to many, making wholesome and nutritious recipes with breast milk is possible. Breast Milk is packed with proteins, vitamins, fats, antibodies, minerals, probiotics, and everything a baby needs for optimal growth and development (1) (2). It is recommended for a mother to consider continuing breastfeeding even after initiating complementary feeding due to its benefits (3).
It is safe to add breastmilk into baby purees and other recipes. However, avoid boiling breastmilk since heat may destroy many nutrients.
Read on to learn some nourishing breast milk recipes that you can add to your weaning baby’s diet.
10 Nutritious Breast Milk Recipes
You can try these interesting breast milk recipes to feed babies and toddlers.
1. Breast milk and avocado puree
Image: IStock
You will need:
- ¼ cup avocado mash
- ½ cup breast milk
How to prepare:
- Put avocado mash and breast milk into a blender and blend into a smooth puree. Ensure the puree is lump-free and has a smooth consistency.
- Pour some amount in a feeding bowl and feed. Transfer the remaining puree into an airtight container and store in the refrigerator.
- You can add a teaspoon of dry fruit powder and different seasonal fruits to this puree.
2. Breast milk butter
Image: Shutterstock
You will need:
- 1 cup breast milk
How to prepare:
- Add the breast milk into a clean, sterile jar (preferably a mason jar).
- Close the lid securely and shake vigorously (it might take around 30 minutes) until the milk turns into butter.
- Remove the extra milk by draining it, and then give it another good shake to ensure all the liquid is out.
- Transfer the butter from the jar to a strainer or cheesecloth to eliminate the liquid, or simply squeeze it by hand until no liquid remains.
- Refrigerate the butter to allow it to solidify.
3. Breast milk yogurt
Image: Shutterstock
You will need:
- breast milk
- 2tbsp plain yogurt
How to prepare:
- Warm the breast milk by placing the milk bottle or container in heated water. Ensure the water is warm and not boiled.
- Shake the bottle or container and pour the milk into a small bowl. Add plain yogurt and mix well until milk and yogurt are combined.
- Pour the mixture into a container and place it inside an insulated cooler. Pour warm water (120°F/50°C) around the container, inside the cooler. Let the mixture sit for four to eight hours.
- Once the yogurt sets, add fruit puree, dried fruit powder, and a pinch of cinnamon. You can replace fruit puree with vegetable puree to make nutritious yogurt recipes for your baby.
Quick tip4. Breast milk porridge
Image: Shutterstock
You will need:
- ¼ cup rolled oats powder
- 1 cup breast milk
- 4tbsp mango mash
- 2tbsp peach mash
- 1tsp dried fruit powder
- Pinch of cinnamon
How to prepare:
- Warm breast milk by placing the milk bottle or container in warm water.
- Pour the milk into a feeding bowl and stir in dried fruit powder, cinnamon, and oats. Mix well to ensure the mixture is lump-free.
- Add mango and peach mash and mix everything well. Feed right away.
- You can store the porridge in the refrigerator for about a day.
5. Walnut and banana ice cream
Image: Shutterstock
You will need:
- ½ cup breast milk
- ¼ cup banana puree
- 1tbsp sugar
- 1tbsp walnuts (finely chopped)
- ½tsp vanilla bean paste
- 4 cups crushed ice
How to prepare:
- Place all the ingredients (except walnuts) in a blender and blend until you get a smooth, lump-free, and semi-thick mixture.
- Pour the mixture into a bowl and add chopped walnuts. Freeze for at least two hours.
- Transfer a small amount of ice cream into a serving bowl and feed. Store the remaining ice cream in the refrigerator for up to two days.
6. Breast milk smoothie
Image: Shutterstock
You will need:
- 1 cup breast milk
- ½ cup plain yogurt
- ½ cup fresh carrot juice (homemade)
- 1tsp jaggery powder
- ½tsp cashew powder
- ½tsp almond powder
How to prepare:
- Blend all the ingredients into a lump-free, smooth-flowing liquid.
- Pour into a sippy cup or baby cup and feed your baby.
7. Breast milk pancakes
Image: Shutterstock
You will need:
- 1 cup breast milk
- 1 cup whole wheat flour
- 1 banana (mashed)
- 1 egg
- 2tsp coconut oil
- ½tsp baking powder
- ¼tsp baking soda
How to prepare:
- Put the mashed banana, breast milk, egg, and a teaspoon of coconut oil in a bowl and mix everything well using a fork. Once done, set aside to stand for some time.
- Meanwhile, whisk wheat flour, baking powder, and baking soda in another bowl using a whisker.
- Pour ingredients from both the bowls into a bigger bowl and mix well. Ensure the batter is smooth and lump-free.
- Warm some coconut oil on a skillet over medium heat. As the oil heats, pour a tablespoon of batter on it and spread it onto the skillet in a thin layer.
- Cook for two to three minutes until the pancake turns golden brown. Flip and cook the other side for two to three minutes.
- Transfer the pancake to a serving plate and serve warm with peanut butter.
8. Breast milk popsicle
Image: IStock
You will need:
- ½ cup breast milk
- ¼ cup strawberry puree
- 2tbsp blueberries (finely chopped)
- 1tsp dried fruits and nuts (coarsely powdered)
How to prepare:
- Put all the ingredients in a mixing bowl and mix well to get smooth, puree-like liquid.
- Pour this liquid into small popsicle molds, place a stick in each mold, and freeze the popsicles for at least two to four hours.
9. Breast milk sorbet (sherbet)
Image: IStock
You will need:
- 2 cup breast milk
- ½ cup jaggery powder
- 2 cup mango puree
- 1tbsp fresh lime juice
How to prepare:
- Blend all the ingredients, except lime juice, into a smooth-flowing liquid using a food processor or blender.
- Pour the liquid into a bowl, cover it, and refrigerate for at least seven to eight hours.
- Then, pour the liquid into a bowl and stir for ten to 12 minutes or until the liquid reaches the desired consistency.
- Quickly transfer the liquid into a feeding bowl and feed. Store the remaining in the refrigerator for no more than a day.
10. Breast milk gummies
Image: Shutterstock
You will need:
- ¼ cup breast milk
- ¼ cup water
- ½ cup apple juice
- 2tbsp gelatin
How to prepare:
- Heat apple juice and water in a saucepan over low heat. Stir in gelatin and mix until it dissolves completely.
- Remove the saucepan from the heat and set aside to cool until it reaches room temperature.
- Stir in breast milk and pour the liquid into gummy molds. Refrigerate for 15 to 20 minutes until the gummies are set.
- Once done, chop gummies into small pieces and serve them to your baby. Store the gummies in an airtight container in the refrigerator.
Tips For Cooking With Breast Milk
Just like any other food item, you need to observe precautions while using breast milk for cooking. Here are some tips that you should follow.
- Ensure that hands are properly cleaned. Also clean the containers that store the expressed breast milk, and devices used to express milk if it is not done manually.
- Only use freshly expressed or well-stored frozen breast milk for cooking purposes. To maintain hygiene and milk quality, store breast milk in storage bags or food-grade glass or plastic containers with tight-fitting lids.
- Assure the milk is stored at appropriate temperatures. Freshly expressed breast milk can be stored at room temperature (25°C or colder or colder) for up to four hours, in the fridge at (4°C) for up to four days, and in the freezer (-18°C) for upto six months (4).
- Thaw frozen breast milk before use. Remember, thawed breast milk should not be refrozen.
- Avoid heating breast milk directly on the stove or in a microwave. Heating breast milk can cause the loss of valuable nutritional compounds and may also burn the baby’s mouth due to hot spots within the milk.
- Heat or warm breast milk by keeping the milk bottle in a bowl or container of warm water. Shake the bottle well to mix the fat, which may have separated due to heat.
Do rememberFrequently Asked Questions
1. How do I heat up breast milk without losing nutrients?
Breast milk can start losing its nutritional value when heated at temperatures higher than 40°C (6). Therefore, to heat up the breast milk without losing its nutrient profile, you may place a tightly-sealed bottle of breast milk into a bowl of lukewarm water and stir it constantly for a few minutes.
2. How long is breast milk good for once warmed?
According to the CDC, breast milk that has been warmed should be used within two hours if stored at room temperature and within a day if stored in the refrigerator. Once heated, breast milk should not be refrigerated again (4).
3. How does breast milk compare to cow’s milk in terms of nutritional value?
The nutritional composition of cow and breast milk varies significantly. Cow milk contains high amounts of protein, minerals, such as sodium and calcium, and vitamin D. However, it has a low concentration of iron and vitamin C, which makes cow’s milk an unsuitable food for babies under 12 months. Breast milk, in contrast, contains all the nutrients in adequate amounts, which can facilitate an infant’s optimum growth and development. Besides, it contains antibodies, enzymes, and other immune factors that help strengthen a baby’s immune system.
4. What age is suitable to start using breast milk in recipes?
Breast milk recipes can be introduced once a baby starts solid foods, typically around six months of age. It’s important to introduce new foods one at a time and watch for any allergic reactions. As the baby grows and develops better eating skills, breast milk can be used in a wider range of dishes, such as smoothies and cereals.
Breast milk is packed with essential nutrients and is beneficial for babies even after they begin eating solids. You could utilize breastmilk to prepare several recipes and include them in your baby’s weaning diet. These simple and nutritious recipes with breast milk are great for preparing tasty meals while providing the exceptional health benefits of breastmilk to your infant. For example, try adding breastmilk to a fruit puree or smoothie, or make a delicious popsicle or ice cream to add taste and nutrition to your baby’s mealtime.
Infographic: Nutritious Purees With Breast Milk
Expressed breast milk can make for a great addition to several baby foods. Help your baby reap the several benefits of breast milk by adding it to various purees. Here is an infographic on using breast milk correctly to prepare easy yet delicious purees for your little one.
Illustration: Momjunction Design Team
Key Pointers
- Breastmilk recipes are healthy ways to add milk and solid foods to your weaning baby’s diet.
- It is essential to maintain optimum hygiene in storing and handling breast milk.
- You can make porridges, smoothies, pancakes, popsicles, and more using breastmilk
Illustration: Easy Breast Milk Recipes For Babies And Tips For Cooking
Image: Dall·E/MomJunction Design Team
References
1. Breastmilk Information; Infant Nutrition Council
2. Daphna K Dror and Lindsay H Allen; Overview of Nutrients in Human Milk; Oxford University Press
3. Breastfeeding; WHO
4. Proper Storage and Preparation of Breast Milk; CDC
5. Milk Issues; La Leche League International
6. Sharron Bransburg-Zabary et al.; Human Milk Warming Temperatures Using a Simulation of Currently Available Storage and Warming Methods; PLoS One; NCBI (2015)
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Norah Clark is an experienced chef and qualified nutritionist who has worked for numerous hotels and restaurants worldwide. She is now an editor for Boyd Hampers online magazine.Norah Clark is an experienced chef and qualified nutritionist who has worked for numerous hotels and restaurants worldwide. She is now an editor for Boyd Hampers online magazine.
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