Healthy Soup Recipes for Babies and Toddlers.

Two healthy soup recipes for babies and toddlers – these recipes are easy and made from whole foods. 

Lately it seems that I am either cooking something or eating something or feeding someone.  Which is of course very normal in the life of a mom…especially when you have young children.  So I thought I’d share two healthy soup recipes that I make all the time: two simple soups that are healthy and easy to make, and great for older babies and toddlers.

Disclaimer: I am not a doctor. You should always consult with your pediatrician about your child’s dietary needs. The American Academy of Pediatrics recommends starting solids once a baby is about six months old.

Baby Bee wasn’t really into solid foods until he was about a year old.  And he really never has been fond of fruit or sweet things yet, but he loves vegetables and beans.  I make these soups about once a week. These work well for babies that are ready for something a little bit more than the starter whole foods: banana, avocado, sweet potato, etc.

Disclosure: This post contains affiliate links. 

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Broccoli Soup for Babies and Toddlers

An easy and healthy broccoli soup for babies and toddlers.

Course Soup

Cuisine Dairy Free, gluten free

Prep Time 10 minutes

Cook Time 20 minutes

Total Time 30 minutes

Servings 8

Calories 49 kcal

Author Kelly Roenicke

Ingredients

• ½ medium onion chopped
• 1 cup baby carrots optional, chopped
• 1 Tablespoon olive oil
• 1 head broccoli florets only
• water
• ⅛ teaspoon garlic powder

Instructions

1. Saute onion and carrots (if using) in olive oil in a large pot until softened, about 5 minutes.
2. Add chopped broccoli florets and enough water to almost cover, about 2-2.5 cups. You don't want to over do it, or the soup will be too runny. The amount of water really depends on how large the head of broccoli is.
3. Cover pan and bring to a boil, then reduce to a simmer. Simmer until broccoli is tender, but still bright green. Keep an eye on it, you don't want it to lose all the nutrients!

4. Remove pan from heat, and puree until smooth with an immersion blender right in the pan. Add the garlic powder. 

5. Once cool, you can freeze it in an ice cube tray and then put the cubes in freezer bags for warming up later. I like to do this so I always have something healthy on hand for Baby Bee.

Nutrition Facts

Broccoli Soup for Babies and Toddlers

Amount per Serving

Calories

49

% Daily Value*

Fat

 

2

g

3

%

Sodium

 

183

mg

8

%

Potassium

 

288

mg

8

%

Carbohydrates

 

7

g

2

%

Fiber

 

2

g

8

%

Sugar

 

2

g

2

%

Protein

 

2

g

4

%

Vitamin A

 

2680

IU

54

%

Vitamin C

 

68.7

mg

83

%

Calcium

 

42

mg

4

%

Iron

 

0.7

mg

4

%

* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2000 calorie diet.

Now for the second soup of the day…

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Bean Soup for Babies and Toddlers.

A simple bean soup for babies over six months old and toddlers.

Course Soup

Cuisine Dairy Free, gluten free, vegan.

Prep Time 5 minutes

Cook Time 15 minutes

Total Time 20 minutes

Servings 8

Calories 177 kcal

Author Kelly Roenicke

Ingredients

• 30 ounces pinto beans drained and rinsed
• 1 Tablespoon olive oil
• ½ medium onion chopped
• 1 cup baby carrots chopped
• 2 stalks celery chopped
• ⅛ teaspoon pepper optional
• 2 cups water

Instructions

1. Saute onion, celery, and carrots in olive oil in a large pot until softened, about 5 minutes.
2. Add beans and water.  Cover, bring to a boil and then reduce heat and simmer for about 15 minutes.

3. Remove pan from heat, and puree until smooth with an immersion blender right in the pan.  Add pepper (if using).

4. Once cool, you can freeze it in an ice cube tray and then put the cubes in freezer bags for warming up later, just like with the broccoli soup.

Nutrition Facts

Bean Soup for Babies and Toddlers.

Amount per Serving

Calories

177

% Daily Value*

Fat

 

2

g

3

%

Sodium

 

170

mg

7

%

Potassium

 

537

mg

15

%

Carbohydrates

 

30

g

10

%

Fiber

 

10

g

42

%

Sugar

 

1

g

1

%

Protein

 

9

g

18

%

Vitamin A

 

2250

IU

45

%

Vitamin C

 

2.1

mg

3

%

Calcium

 

61

mg

6

%

Iron

 

2.4

mg

13

%

* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2000 calorie diet.

If you’re looking for more information on nutrition for babies and toddlers, two books I recommend are The Healthiest Kid in the Neighborhood and Super Baby Food. (affiliate links)

Both are really good if you are interested in the concept of metabolic programming, which is the idea that starting babies off with excellent nutrition will program their bodies to crave healthy food throughout their lives.

The lasting effects of metabolic programming include having children that will naturally gravitate towards good foods that make their bodies healthy and feel good, and stay away from the junk foods that make them feel bad. As Dr. Sears says in The Healthiest Kid in the Neighborhood, “These early good nutritional habits will become so imprinted on their sense of well-being that they are likely to hang on to them for life.”

So that’s what I try to do with the food my children eat, especially in the early years. Yes, now that my first born is older, he has some treats now and then.  But he doesn’t give me a hard time about eating vegetables or good food at all. We never do artificial colors or high fructose corn syrup. But even with other treats, there have even been occasions when he has had too much sugar, and even reported to me that he doesn’t feel good.  So I believe that metabolic programming works.

I hope you enjoy these healthy soup recipes for babies and children! They are a favorite in our family.

What were your babies and toddlers favorite first foods?  Have you tried metabolic programming in your family?