DAIRY-FREE BABY LED WEANING BEVERAGE

BABY LED WEANING BEVERAGE

FOOD AS MEDICINE:

This weaning beverage is a great alternative to full fat cow’s milk when your milk production slows or your baby has weaned from breastfeeding but still wants a nourishing warm beverage. The composition is high in fat to support your babe sleeping through the night….your welcome! The egg yolks provide a rich source of omega-3s, fat soluble vitamins, and b-vitamins as well as choline a nutrient that support neurological and brain health. Adding a single date enhances mouth feel and provides minerals and electrolyte stability as well as a fiber rich carbohydrate source, this combination in recipe is still lower sugar than breastmilk.

Considering holding on cow’s milk may be supportive for reducing mucous, ear infections, and behavioral or mood disturbances.  This study found a strong trend of ottis media (ear infections) with cow’s milk allergy or irritation. Also, many little ones experience digestive distress from cow’s milk due to lactose intolerance (breastmilk as it is raw/unpasturized comes with active enzymes and probiotics to enhance acceptance and digestabilibty) and different proteins. Cow’s milk is significantly higher in casein than breastmilk which drives digestive distress creating curds in GI and in some individuals casein crosses the gut-blood barrier as large particles intact then crossing the blood-brain barrier causing emotional distress including anxiety and depression as well as behavior disturbances.

Personally I held dairy out of Stella’s diet until she was 17 months old and cutting molars to ensure her biome (gut bacteria) and gut lining were well established without driving distress. I made home made almond milk and coconut milk as a blend for her when she was weaning, but she is a strong willed little lady, she pushed the bottle out of her face and pointed at her crib like “momma, just put me in there so I can go to sleep”. She had weaned herself and was only doing an evening feed at 12 months…a little earlier then I had planned but, it was welcomed to be able to start some supplements including my Candida Cleanse which was much needed post c-section with all the dysbiosis drama I was experiencing! So I can’t personally vouch for this but I can say she ate high fat per likely my breastmilk composition and her paleo baby diet which had great impact on her mood, mellow nature, and sleep habits (2 hour nap + 9-12 hours at night from 3 months on). When she started solids we did 1/3-1/2 avocado every night about 45-60 min prior to the final evening breastfeed from 8 months for the sleep through the night knock out!

I hope this beverage is enjoyed by your baby and provides a nourishing dairy-free solution to a whole food weaning beverage!

INGREDIENTS:

4 pasture-raised egg yolks separated

1 cup coconut milk full fat (BPA and guar gum free like Native Forest Simple)

1 medjool date, pitted and soaked for 15 minutes

DIRECTIONS:

Heat the coconut milk on low heat until it just begins to simmer. Add the eggs and whisk until combined. Turn off the heat and transfer to a blender. Add the date and blend until thoroughly combined.

Yields 10 oz or 2 bottles

Nutrition per serving: 342 Calories, 16g Carbs, 7g Protein, 29g Fat

Want more info on breastfeeding and baby led weaning? Check out Naturally Nourished Podcast Episode 55: Breasfeeding!

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