My twins are almost 1 and I'm wondering about giving them tofu. They're not being raised completely vegetarian, but we don't eat much meat, so I want to get protein in them. I've never been too successful cooking with tofu, but I know a lot of kids eat it. How do you serve it? Can you just give it in chunks straight from the container, or does it have to be cooked first?
We also don't eat much meat. When my children were babies, they loved lentils. They don't need much seasoning and get mushy when cooked.
Tofu, does NOT have to be cooked. It is typically served, right out of the container, cold.
For storing it, it MUST be stored in water (enough to cover it), & refrigerated, otherwise it will sour and not keep.
There are 3 kinds: silken, firm, or regular. The "firm" is the one that is used for cooking in stir-fries for example. Tofu is great in stir-fry... and you can make many vegetarian dishes using it, seasoning it Asian style with Shoyu (soy sauce) and sesame oil, a tad of ginger, or garlic etc.
Usually right out of the container, chilled, is how most Asians eat it.
Just cut it into chunks and drizzle Soy sauce or Ponzu Sauce over it... or sesame oil. All of which you can find ready made bottled, in the grocery store.
Tofu, is not something that is "raw" (like meat) and therefore it is not something you have to cook.
It is also yummy in Miso Soup- a Japanese soup. Just buy "Miso" and put about 1/4 to 1/2 cup Miso in about 4 cups of water.... the just heat it until hot, stirring it until it is well blended. You can then add in the cut up Tofu (usually in small cubes) into the soup.
All the best,
Susan
When my son was less than a year I started buying Tofu to get some protein. I would buy the seasoned tofu at trader joes since it had a nice flavor or you can heat up regular tofu with dipping sauce (peanut sauce, humas, tahini, BBQ).
I used to mash it up and mix it with baby food veggies (like sweet potatoes and carrots).
At that age, my son would eat tofu the following ways (now that he's 2, he won't eat it pretty much any way I make it!)
- mild tofu curry: cube up the tofu and simmer in a mild curry sauce with some peas or other veggies your kid likes
- baked tofu sticks: cut up extra firm tofu into stick shapes, toss in seasoned flour, bake on a greased cookie sheet for about 30 minutes turning every once in a while. serve with something to dip it in, like spaghetti sauce or ketchup.
- puree tofu and mix into oatmeal
- puree and add to smoothies
- puree and add to muffins or other baked goods depending on what your kids can handle at this point
I served the silken tofu mixed with other foods, like fruit and grains for breakfast. I bought soft for them to eat as finger foods, no flavoring, just wanted to get them used to the texture. Its so versatile you can mix it or include it in any dish for a toddler.
http://www.homemade-baby-food-recipes.com/tofu-baby-food....
My kids love Tofu and have been eating it since they were less than a year. I serve firm tofu right out of the package. I put the leftovers in an airtight conatiner with a little water. Change the water daily. I have trained my kids to eat most of their food at room temp b/c it is easier for me! Some other moms put it in the microwave for 15-20 seconds. When they are older you can fry it in olive oil until it is slightly brown. You can add silken for softer tofu to soup or mix with mashed veggies.
We don't eat much meat either, but the research on soy products increasing estrogen production concerns me. Instead of soy, I use a lot of legumes. There are so many things you can do with them, including 'butterbean spread." When the child is 2, we use almond flour and peanut butter and nuts on salad and in stir fry ect. We really like rice noodles in a peanut butter/coconut sauce!
