FISH

[janh]

Very useful article in the Guardian today here about how safe fish is (re mercury etc - apparently more comes from the environment than pollution!), what kind to eat, how much etc.

Doesn't touch on the issue of fish as an endangered species, though.

Does anyone have a good, easy recipe for fish (cod/flounder/catfish)for a 7-month old? I have tried baking it (no salt; no oil) and simmering it in milk sauce. No luck: ds just isn't interested in it. The only way he will eat it is if it is submerged in rice cereal. Any advice? Thanks in advance!

DS1 used to like salmon (simmered in milk) with mashed potato, spinach and a cheese sauce. I used to make all the individual bits up and freeze in ice cubes to be combined later. You can adjust the ratio of fish to potato as your DS dictates.

My dd wasn't that keen on the plain white fish I gave her either at first. But she has always adored the tastier salmon and mackerel - which is great because they're oily fish, so super healthy. Just poach them, or whatever your preferred method is, then mash up with some potato and veg, and maybe a bit of milk. She'll now eat leftovers of virtually any fish we have - and was on black bream at the weekend!

So I would try a naturally more flavoursome fish first.

Or you could try making a light cheese sauce to go with the white fish, if your ds eats dairy.

Or what about mixing mackerel into some tomato and veggie sauce and serving it with pasta?

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MumofLeo - why no oil? surely babies can have that (dd has tons of the stuff).

Anyway how about mashing the fish up with white sauce (flavoured with tarragon maybe) and /or mashed potato - just for s different texture and bit of interest?

janh - marvellous article. Sending dp out for some sardines now! (I especially liked the bit about New York selling out of salmon though - what is it with New Yorkers and moderation, or lack thereof? )

mmm...Spanish sardines...!

Both dss when babies loved AK's cod thing where you microwave 4oz of cod with 2 tbps milk and dotted with butter. Blend or mash though cooked 8oz cooked sweet potato and 4oz orange juice. Not what I would choose to eat but they gobbled it!

Lucy123: no oil because . . . well, I don't know, really. I guess I figured ds would prefer a dish as plain as possible. Also, a friend of my dh advised no oil. sounds like I should try for MORE flavor, not less. As we eat salmon all the time, I will try that next, simmered in milk sauce. I guess butter is okay to introduce at this point (7 mos)?

RE: potato. DS didn't like it the last time I offered it! Ever hear of such a thing? I figured he would gobble it up!

maybe the mash didn't have enough oil/butter? ( )

I think butter's fine - as they say cows milk is fine in cooking from 6 months. If in doubt use Olive oil instead (and get a gourmet baby).

I fry a little onion in butter, while simmering salmon in milk. Add flour or cornflour to the onion and butter then strain the milk into that to make a sauce. Check the salmon for bones, mix into the sauce and add grated cheese. Good with or without mash. You can add peas or broccoli for a complete heathy meal. Ds really likes this.

i mash potato with tuna and some peas.
We used to microwave small cod portion, then mash it in with some potato and cheese sauce.
dd would never touch it when cooked in milk.

littlerach: did you use canned tuna?

aloha: did you mix everything together (fish/veg/potato)?

many thanks to all of you for the marvelous suggestions!

Lucy123: potato didn't have either oil OR butter -- no doubt, that's why he refused it! I shall try again and add in the stuff I'm supposed to avoid!

Yes, mixed it all up and mashed more or less according to age. It's nice. I like it

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sb: thanks for the advice! I love canned tuna in water -- would live on it if not for the mercury warnings. Tho as the Guardian article (see below) points out, the jury is still out on its dangers. will try it on my ds!