Some foods that have key nutrients to fuel your baby's growth and development

Are you struggling and thinking of what to feed your vegatarian baby? What are some foods that have key nutrients to fuel your baby's growth and development, especially his brain and eyes?

These foods are Carrot, Broccoli, Spinach and egg yolk. You can feed him every day, with slight variation in the combination of other foods to make it look different every time. For instance, you can add a little brown rice, small rice, flaxseed powder etc.

Carrot is rich in beta-carotene (an antioxidant) which turns into vitamin A in your baby's body.
Broccoli is packed with antioxidants and nutrients such as folate, potassium and choline.
Spinach contains an abundance of nutrients including iron, folate and lutein.
Egg yolk is a good source of nutrients such as proteins, choline, lutein, vitamins A, D, E, B12 and phosphorous.

Do you know..The Breastfeeding Diet?

Welcome to the business of milking and breastfeeding! It certainly isn't going to be easy, but here's some tips on the type of diet to take to help you get on the right track in this moo-moo journey.

Milk production burns 500 calories a day, which means that when you're breastfeeding, you'll get to eat an extra 500 calories a day (up from your pre-pregnancy numbers) to meet that need.


Quality matters as much as quantity, especially if you expect to stay vertical during those long postpartum days (and even longer nights). It's not difficult now that you're an old pro at eating well — what with all the practice you've had for the past nine months during your pregnancy.

Moreover, eating well while breastfeeding is very much like eating well during pregnancy, with slightly more relaxed rules. Go for plenty of healthy foods and steer clear of the less healthy ones.

Lastly, while calories definitely count, you still won't need to count them:

What to eat. Like eating well during pregnancy, eating well while breastfeeding entails getting the right balance of good food. The following is highly recommended for daily intake:

    Protein: three servings
    Calcium: five servings (that's an increase from your pregnancy requirement of four)
    Iron-rich foods: one or more servings
    Vitamin C: two servings
    Green leafy and yellow vegetables, yellow fruits: three to four servings
    Other fruits and veggies: one or more servings
    Whole-grain and other concentrated complex carbohydrates: three or more servings
    High-fat foods: eat sparingly — you don't need as much as you did during pregnancy
    Eight cups of water, juice, or other noncaffeinated, nonalcoholic beverages
    DHA-rich foods to promote baby's brain growth (look for it in wild salmon and sardines, as well as DHA-enriched eggs)
    Prenatal vitamin daily

Is a vegetarian diet suitable for my babies?

Myth: Babies/young children taking vegetarian food will be lacking in certain nutrients.

Fact:
Vegetarian food for babies can be very nutritious. If you are bringing up your baby as a vegetarian, it means that you probably won't give him any meat, fish, seafood or animal by-products, such as gelatine. Most vegetarians, however, eat some animal products, such as milk, cheese (there're some made with vegetarian rennet) and eggs.

To help your baby enjoy his food and get the nutrients he needs, offer him a variety of foods from the four main food groups:

• bread, rice, potatoes, pasta and other starchy foods (carbohydrates)
• fruits and vegetables (green leafy vegetables are great source of iron)
• milk and dairy foods (some vegetables such as 黄花、香菜、油菜、洋白菜 contain 463g, 170, 140 and 100 of calcium respectively for every 100g of vegetables and walnuts are a great source of calcium as well)
• cooked-through eggs (including the egg yolk which is a great source of fats, Vitamin A and iron), beans and other non-dairy sources of protein, including soya, pulses, nuts and seeds

Some vegetarian food may have too much fibre and not enough energy (calories) for babies. So make sure your baby gets plenty of energy-rich foods, such as avocado and hummus.

It's also fine to give your baby white bread, pasta and rice as well as wholegrain versions. This is because too many high-fibre foods can stop him from absorbing important nutrients, such as calcium and iron.

Your baby will also need a source of milk. Oat, rice and soya milks (even if they are calcium-enriched) do not provide the same amount of energy, protein or essential nutrients that breastmilk and formula milk provide. Find out what some experts have to say about soya formula milk.

If you need advice on which milk is suitable for your baby, talk to your health visitor, practice nurse or a dietitian. They may suggest you continue to breastfeed or give your baby formula milk for longer than you were initially planning.

素食妈妈月子进补

要每日多吃几餐，以4-5餐较为合适。两餐之间最好饮水或果汁，以促进乳汁的分泌。
注意营养的均衡吸收。
可以食用麻油泡姜加素鸡或素肉。
麻油有杀菌之功效，并含有多种必需氨基酸，有助于产后气血流失的恢复补充。

另外，多吃高蛋白的海带`发菜`豆腐类。由于乳汁分泌越多，钙的需要量越大，所以膳食中多补充豆类 及豆制品`芝麻酱等。膳食摄入钙不足时可用钙制剂等。适当吃一些粗粮`蘑菇`紫菜等，以补充维生素B。

蔬菜类选用苋菜`西兰花`菠菜`玉米`红萝卜`黄瓜`豆类，可用麻油炒。
水果类可吃猕猴桃`鲜枣`山里红`樱桃等。
汤水类可食用`青菜汤`红糖莲藕汤等。

产妇应尽量到户外多晒晒太阳，这是补充维生素D最佳途径，可帮助体内钙的吸收。

Some of the Tropical Crops you find at the Zoo

We had alot of fun finding out how some of the leaves or plants of the some of the tropical crops we consume look like.

Here at the Singapore Zoo, there's this place called the Tropical Crops

and below are some of them:

It is rich in vitamin C. British sailors were given this when at sea to prevent scurvy, a Vitamin C deficiency disease.

It is lime.

This is Sweet Basil, Daun Selasih.

This is what the plant of the Sweet Basil looks like.

Snake Gourd or Petola Ular,

also known as

Trichosanthes anguina is a tropical or subtropical

vine, raised for its strikingly long fruit, used as a vegetable, medicine, and, a lesser known use, crafting didgeridoos.

This is how Snake Gourd plant looks like.

Basella alba, or Malabar spinach 

(also Phooi leaf, Red vine spinach, Creeping spinach, Climbing spinach)

is a perennial vine found in the tropics

where it is widely used

as a leaf vegetable.

Basella alba is a fast-growing, soft-stemmed vine, reaching 10 m in length.

Its thick, semi-succulent, heart-shaped leaves have a mild flavour and mucilaginous texture.

The stem of the cultivar Basella alba 'Rubra' is reddish-purple.

This is how the Ceylon Spinach plant looks like.

Do you know that

Ceylon Spinach or Malabar Greens

is an easily grown vine

from tropical Asia and Africa.

It grows as a warm season annual in most parts of Australia.

In summer,

when regular spinach turn bitter, Ceylon Spinach is at its best.

The leaves and shoots

taste similar to ordinary spinach and

they can be harvested regularly

to be eaten raw or cooked.

 This is asparagus.

Only the tender tips of young stalks are eaten.

White asparagus is produced by growing the plant without light

to inhibit the development of chlorophyll.

It is very tender and highly priced.

 This is how the leaves look like.

Do you know that

Asparagus is a useful companion plant for tomatoes.
The tomato plant repels the asparagus beetle,
as do several other common companion plants of tomatoes.

Meanwhile, asparagus may repel some harmful root nematodes
that affect tomato plants.

 This is brinjal and also known as eggplant.

 This is tapioca.
Do you know that
Tapioca root can also be used to manufacture biodegradable plastic bags.
A polymer resin produced from the plant
is a viable plastic substitute that is not only biodegradable, but is also
compostable, renewable, and recyclable.
The resulting product biodegrades in less than 1 year, as opposed to thousands of years for traditional plastics.

 This is tumeric. An underground stem (rhizome) is used to make curry powder.

It is also used as a yellow fabric dye and colouring for ceremonies.

The leaves are used for flavouring meat dishes.

Do you know that

Turmeric
is considered highly auspicious in India and

has been used extensively in various Indian ceremonies for millennia.
Even today it is used

in every part of India during wedding ceremonies and religious ceremonies.

This is laksa leaf.

Do you know that

There are two basic types of laksa: curry laksa and asam laksa.
Curry laksa is a coconut curry soup with noodles, while asam laksa is a sour fish soup with noodles.

Laksa is simply referred to or ordered at a restaurant as laksa (curry laksa) or asam laksa.
By default,
laksa means the standard curry laksa while asam laksa refers to the standard Penang version.

 Guess what tree is this?

 You should have seen this before.

 Aloe belongs to the lily family.

The gel in the leaves is applied to wounds and burns to help the healing process.

It is also added to skin and hair products.

Aloe pulp is used in drinks and desserts.

 Pandan is often referred to as the 'Vanilla of the East'.
It is used for flavouring dishes, desserts and also as a green food colouring agent.

 This is cocoa.
It originated in the Amazon and
the tree is today found growing wild in the low foothills of the Andes in the Amazon and orinoco river basins.
The name 'Theobroma' in Greek simply means 'food of the gods'.
Its seeds are used to make cocoa powder and chocolate.

This is rubber tree.
Before rubber trees were cultivated in South East Asia,
the demand for rubber was met by tapping
wild trees in Brazil.

Most of the trees in Singapore and Malaysia originate from the 22 rubber saplings sent over
from Kew Gardens, England in 1876.

Do you know?
Bees harvest nectar from the leaf stalks to make honey.

Menu for confinement period for health conscious people

8am Breakfast

 chee cheong fun

fried veg beehoon

 oats bread w strawberry jam & olive spread for breakfast

fried noodles w carrots and mushroom & warm soy drink

poh chai mee soup w egg

chee cheong fun & warm soy drink

12nn Lunch

steamed tofu w carrots, fried ginger & veg soup

po cai, fried ginger & veg meat & soup

multigrain porridge & cabbage w veg chicken, mushrooms & herbal soup w veg dumplings

xiao bai cai w carrots, veg chicken &

herbal soup w veg mutton balls

cabbage w carrots, veg chicken & veg soup (carrots, quail eggs, potatoes, sweet corn w veg mutton balls)

 red leaf vegetables & fried egg w old ginger &

 black bean soup

xiao bai cai w carrots & veg soup w sweet corn, pearl beans

Click Here for more.

TK second foods

For infants 6 - 9 months, diet is thicker in consistency than First Foods

Grains	Vegetables	Meats	Fruits	Dairy
Multi-Grain Cereals. Pasta or Rice in combination with a Vegetable.	Two or more vegetables such as Spinach and Potatoes.	Combinations of a vegetable and meat.	Fruit in combination with yogurt or cereal.	Yogurt in combination with fruit. Cheese in combination with grains or legumes.

At 7m, TK is eating 2 tsp porridge w green vegetables, cabbage, broccoli, pumpkin, carrots, potatoes etc.

TK is taking vegetarian diet and so far, he accepted all foods given with open hands and mouth. Aaarmm!

TK will try the dairy food maybe in 2months' time at 9m with Dardy & Marmy. We'd be digging into our favourite blueberry yogurt.

TK first foods & fruits at Infant Care

TK had his first foods & fruits after he turned 6m.
At 6m 2 days old, TK had 1 scoop of cereals fed by spoon followed by 5.75oz of milk (previously only added 0.5 scoop of cereals to milk at 5m 2w 4d old)

At 6m 2w minus 2days old, TK tried organic pureed apricot w pear at home for the first time.
At 6m 2w old, TK had 1 tbsp of porridge w carrots, potatoes & pumpkins (yes, it's vegetarian diet).

At 6m 2w 1 day old, TK had porridge w carrots, potatoes, pumpkins & green vegetables.
Thereafter, TK had porridge daily, besides milk and cereals.

At 6m 2w plus 2days old, TK had watermelon puree and 1pc of bb biscuit added to his milk (weekly as Dardy is afraid it's too heaty for TK since TK had difficulty pooing after the first attempt 8 days ago at Grandmum's place).

TK first foods & fruits

 At 6m 2 days old, cereals are fed with spoon and TK LOVES it..He finishes all. YUMMY yummy.

 At 6m 1w 5 days old, Dardy feeding Bb TK the fruit pear & apricot puree

Bb TK loves it and finishes in no time..thanks to Marmy's persistence..

Organic Cereals	Organic Vegetables	Organic Fruits
Rice	Pureed Carrots	Applesauce
Oatmeal	Creamed Corn	Pureed Apricots
Barley	Pureed Green Beans	Mashed Bananas
	Pureed Peas	Pureed Peaches
	Pureed Squash	Pureed Pears
	Pureed Sweet Potatoes	Pureed Prunes

the foods tried so far:
Rice w milk cereal, Oatmeal w prunes cereal, Brown rice cereal, Pureed Apricots and Pears

16th week of motherhood

20dec - 26dec

- napped for about 30min & was awaken by TK at 630p
- had 2 slices of wholemeal bread w olive spread & strawberry jam for breakfast
- had a slice of wholemeal bread w veg niang doufu - bittergourd
- had brinjal, veg niang doufu for lunch
- Dad & Mum went to poly to get blood test results while we stayed at home (TK napped for more than 2h)

- pooed after 2 days
- made carrot cake w bee tai mak for breakfast
- went groceries shopping with Dad & Mum w TK in stroller
-

- Darling came over for dinner - Dad & Mum did the marketing with the vouchers from my colleagues upon TK's arrival, I did the rest eg.planning what to buy and cook, help to prepare some of the food, most of the washing, mopping and cleaning the kitchen after cooking etc while Bro made 6-course dinner before his 630pm appt:

broccoli w cauliflower, mushroom, carrot, black fungus, red & green chilli pepper;
potatoes salad w mixed veg & lettuce, veg duck meat; w red & green chilli pepper;
braised dow ghee w mushroom, carrot, veg meat balls & chestnut spring rolls w lettuce;
di huang miao w fried egg, mushroom;
bazhen soup w hard-boiled eggs &
glutinous balls for dessert
- 2 guests are joininged us for dinner while TK slept after feeding

Daily Menu for postpartum by confinement lady

8am Breakfast
chee cheong fun
fried veg beehoon
oats bread w strawberry jam & olive spread for breakfast
fried noodles w carrots and mushroom & warm soy drink
poh chai mee soup w egg
chee cheong fun & warm soy drink


12nn Lunch
steamed tofu w carrots, fried ginger & veg soup
po cai, fried ginger & veg meat & soup
multigrain porridge & cabbage w veg chicken, mushrooms & herbal soup w veg dumplings
xiao bai cai w carrots, veg chicken & herbal soup w veg mutton balls
cabbage w carrots, veg chicken & veg soup (carrots, quail eggs, potatoes, sweet corn w veg mutton balls)
red leaf vegetables & fried egg w old ginger & black bean soup
xiao bai cai w carrots & veg soup w sweet corn, pearl beans

Healthy diet for a young junior

- provide a wide variety of wholegrains such as oats, brown rice, corn and wholemeal bread and pasta
- young children should consume at least 2 servings of fresh fruits and vegetables daily, esp those high in vitamin C like broccoli, citrus fruits and strawberries

- introduce protein-rich foods such as eggs, legumes, nuts and seeds, red meat and chicken
- olive oil and oily fish contain healthy fats
- supplements should not replace a healthy balanced diet and should be given after consulting your doc

Wasabi and its cultivation

- Sendai Japan is located in Miyagi prefecture
- largest city in the Tohoku (northeast) region and the pace is not as hectic as Tokyo's
- a back garden that even the Japanese adore

- February is the best season to have oysters and strawberries in Sendai
- Wasabi and shitake mushrooms also flourish there
- few people have seen what wasabi looks like
- Mt. Yakurai is famous for wasabi farming
- wasabi is a unique plant initially grew wild by the streams
- more than 350 years ago, the Japanese began cultivating it

- the tents at the farm are filled with wasabi
- the spring water of Mt. Yakurai filled the floor up to the ankles is running water, not stagnant water
- water running at a temperature of 9-13 deg C thus it won't turn into ice and is crystal clear
- water helps to keep the place warm in winter and cool in summer
- wasabi is extremely fragile and the water sprinklers are on 24 hours daily

- they must be covered in winter
- the shield protects the wasabi from the cold and hot sun
- after summer, the cover will be replaced by a net which covers the entire place
- this stops the temperature from rising too much

Chinese cabbage and its cultivation

- cultivated by hand at cameron Highlands, chinese cabbage seeds come from Taiwan
- using a planting tool from South Korea, pour a little bit of seeds into the tool, sliding back and forth and let the seeds drop into every hole
- insert the tray of shredded coconut husk and align the pipes to the outlets
- press the white panel and the seeds will drop into every pod

- put another layer of shredded coconut husk to cover them
- add water-based fertiliser which is gaining popularity as it has a higher absorption rate and can distribute nutrients evenly to plants
- water once daily as germination rate is fairly high & transfer to land after 15 days

- chinese cabbage loves water but once it's about a week old, it's watered only once every 2-3 days
- as the soil in Cameron Highlands is relatively dense, the soil must be turned twice
- first to loosen the soil, then the fertiliser is added and the soil is turned again to distribute the fertiliser evenly

- each sapling is then planted 6" apart and inserted just deep enough to cover the roots
- water regularly after planting and spray organic insect repellent every 3-4 days (contains chrysanthemum, lemon grass and other similar ingredients) after 2 days
- ready for harvest after 20 days

- farm harvests an ave of 200 kg of chinese cabbage daily using a special tool
- grab it by the base and uproot it, and slice off the roots
- not all agricultural chores can be done by machines