As your baby slowly grows, many new mothers are wondering one thing: is taking calcium supplements the only way to supplement calcium for your child? Not necessarily. Experts say the best source of calcium comes from natural foods. So moms, don't be so rigid when it comes to supplementing calcium for your kids. Learning to make delicious calcium-rich dishes can help your baby get their calcium intake more easily.
Egg and Tofu Soup
Recommended Reason: Eggs and tofu are rich in calcium and are soft and tender. I started feeding my baby this soup when he was 6 months old, and he couldn't get enough of it, he loved it! However, be mindful of whether your baby is allergic to egg whites.
Ingredients: 1 egg, ½ block of tofu, 150g bone broth, a little chopped green onion
Instructions:
1. Beat the egg and mash the tofu.
2. Bring the bone broth to a boil, add the tofu, and simmer over low heat. Season appropriately, then pour in the beaten egg to form egg flakes.
3. Garnish with chopped green onions before serving.
Tofu and Egg Soup
Assorted Braised Pork Ribs
Recommended Reason: For calcium supplementation, my first choice for my baby is braised pork ribs. I usually use fresh shiitake mushrooms or chestnuts to cook with them! The key to braising ribs is to add a little vinegar, which helps the baby absorb more calcium. Adding more nutritious vegetables like konjac, carrots, enoki mushrooms, and tofu can make the rib stew more flavorful.
Ingredients: 600g pork ribs, 20g carrot, 50g onion, 10 chestnuts, 1 spring onion, 3 slices of ginger, 5 cloves of garlic, 3g salt, 15ml cooking wine, 5ml sesame oil, 1g pepper, 25ml soy sauce, 15g sugar
Instructions:
1. Cut the pork ribs into small pieces, then blanch them for later use.
2. Peel and wash the onion and carrot, then cut them into pieces. Shell the chestnuts, and peel the spring onion, cutting it into sections.
3. Place the ribs back in boiling water (not too much), and cook them with the onion until done. Scoop some of the cooking broth into a bowl and mix it with soy sauce, sugar, salt, cooking wine, pepper, and sesame oil to make a sauce.
4. Divide this sauce in half. Add half to the pot with the ribs, along with the spring onion, ginger, and garlic. Simmer over low heat.
5. When the liquid has reduced by half, add the remaining carrot, chestnuts, and the other half of the sauce. Turn the heat to medium and cook for over 20 minutes, or until the sauce has mostly reduced.
Braised Pork Ribs with Carrot
Eel Rice Bowl
Recommended Reason: The doctor said eel is rich in protein, calcium, phosphorus, vitamins, unsaturated fatty acids, and other nutrients. It can provide DHA, which is essential for a baby's brain development. So I often ate eel rice bowls when I was pregnant! I still make it for my baby often now, and he finishes a whole bowl every time!
Ingredients: 150g eel, 50g bamboo shoots, 100g green vegetables, 100g cooked rice
Instructions:
1. Season the eel with salt, cooking wine, and soy sauce, and let it marinate for a while.
2. Preheat the oven or grill to 180°C (350°F).
3. Place the marinated eel on a baking tray and roast it in the oven until cooked.
4. Briefly stir-fry the bamboo shoots and green vegetables in a little oil. Add the roasted eel, then add broth, soy sauce, and sugar to season. Cook until the liquid is reduced, then remove from the heat.
5. Pour the cooked eel and sauce over the rice.
Tip: You can also use pre-cooked, store-bought eel, which just needs to be heated in the microwave. It's delicious and very convenient!
Eel Rice Bowl
Quick Tips
Supplement Calcium Through Diet Too
Milk/Soy Products
Rich in calcium and high-quality protein, drinking a glass of milk or soy milk every day is a great choice.
Fish and Shellfish
The calcium in shrimp is mainly concentrated in the shell. So, no matter how you cook it, it's best to eat the shell. (Little Dian Dian: Moms, don't be "filial" and peel all the shrimp meat for your kids; that's where the nutrients are! Let them chew it themselves; it can also help with their teething!) Small dried shrimp are also rich in calcium and can be stir-fried with other calcium-rich vegetables. Large shrimp and fish bones are also good sources of calcium. When fried, they become crispy and delicious.
Sesame Paste
This is another excellent choice you shouldn't overlook. A slice of bread or a steamed bun with sesame paste drizzled on top, and a little sugar for dipping, can make getting your calcium intake almost effortless.