Baby Green Machine Baby Food Recipe

Baby Green Machine Baby Food Recipe

Many parents would love their baby to reap the nutritional benefits of kale, but many are unsure how to prepare it and entice their little one to eat it! This Baby Green Machine baby food recipe blends powerhouse kale with the natural sweetness of apple and hint of lemon. As your baby transitions into toddler-hood and becomes too old for purees, try adding more water to make this recipe a delicious juice! This yields quite a few servings so that you can store in small containers, freeze, and defrost as needed, or, consider setting aside a portion and creating a juice for you!

“I love this recipe for combining an iron-rich green (kale) with the Vitamin C of the lemon juice to make the iron more bioavailable. While eating excessive amounts of dark leafy greens can contribute to thyroid problems, normal portion sizes several times per week should not be an issue for healthy infants and children.”  Dr. Elissa Levine, Pediatrician

Baby Green Machine Baby food Recipe

Age: 8 months+
Yield: approximately 3-4 cups
Food storage: refrigerator-friendly for up to 5-7 days, freezer-friendly
Prep time: 10 minutes
Cook time: 10 minutes
Serving options: puree, spoon-feed, family-friendly

  •  Approximately 1 cup of water, divided
  • 1 medium-size bunch of organic kale*, rinsed with stems removed (approx. 4 cups)
  • 2 medium-size apples, seeds and core removed, cut into chunks (about 2 cups)
  • Juice from 1 fresh-squeeze lemon, seeds removed (about 1/3 cup)

Place a medium saucepan on the stove and fill with about ½ cup of water. Bring water to a boil, then add the kale leaves. Allow the kale to soften and deflate for about 2 minutes. Gently stir with tongs, then place the lid on the pot and allow the kale to steam and soften for 3-5 minutes. Allow the kale to cool slightly, then transfer to a blender or food processor. Add apple, lemon juice, approximately ½ cup of water or more if needed, and puree to achieve desired consistency. Serve to your baby!

*Note: Younger babies tend to favor a smoother consistency.

*Quick Tip: To easily de-stem kale, plug a clean sink and fill about 1/3 with water, or fill a large bowl with 1/3 water. Place kale leaves in the water and “swoosh” them around to loosen and remove any dirt. Then, holding the leaf upside-down by the tip of the rib with one hand, use your other hand to pull the leaf away from the rib. Discard the ribs.

See the What a Good Eater! Cookbook

Did you like this recipe? Check out our cookbook What a Good Eater! for baby & toddler recipes with healthy herbs and spices to add flavor and broaden your baby’s palette, now available on Amazon! If you enjoyed this post, sign up to receive our newsletter for other great ideas on feeding your baby, toddler, and family.

About Amy Godiwalla

Amy Godiwalla is co-author of the What a Good Eater! cookbook, available on Amazon. Amy and her husband, Shaun, live in Denver, Colorado, with their two little boys. When Amy is not feeding little mouths or inventing recipes, she enjoys hiking, yoga, snowboarding, cooking, entertaining, traveling to the mountains, sipping hot chocolate at ski resorts, and wine tasting.

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