I waited until Sky was 6 months old to start feeding her with real food. Introducing food to babies is an interesting experience and it can be a bit intimidating, so I consulted with a few experienced mommas, and poi was often mentioned.
Poi is great, and easy for babies to digest. Well, poi wasn’t the first thing I gave to her (avocado was!), but when she tried poi, it was love at first sight. And to this day, this Hawaiian food staple is one of her favorite carbohydrate options. It is also one of my favorites, because taro is a local root, truly farm-to-table, and is high in vitamins, phytonutrients, minerals and enzymes.
It’s also super easy to mix with other foods, or can just be eaten by itself. Here are the super simple ways we have been eating poi at our home:
It is also one of my favorites because taro is a local root, truly farm-to-table, and it’s high in vitamins, phytonutrients, minerals, and enzymes.
Poi with coconut oil
She loves coconut oil and she loves poi, so why not mix the two together? Voila! What a great combo of good carbohydrates and healthy fats! Because we keep our poi in the refrigerator, once we add the coconut oil, it solidifies and pieces of coconut oil add an interesting texture.
Tip: If you don’t have coconut oil, olive oil is also a delightful option.
Poi with Greek yogurt
I wanted to add some complex carbohydrates to Sky’s breakfast so I came up with the idea of adding some poi. She loved the rich, creamy consistency, and I am happy because just a few spoonfuls give her a protein-packed, complex-carbohydrate breakfast!
Tip: You can drizzle some honey if you like it!
Poi and tofu
My cousin saw me preparing this lunch for Sky and he said, “You are giving those foods to Sky, not because it’s healthy, but because you are lazy!”. Well, he is partially right. When I am running out of time and ideas, I cut some tofu, scoop some poi, and her lunch is ready in no time. Thank goodness she loves mommy’s lazy-lunch!
Not only is Tofu a great source of protein, but it is also packed with calcium, vitamins, and minerals.
Tip: Add black sesame seeds. These tiny super seeds contain Omega-6, fiber, iron, calcium, magnesium and phosphorus. Also instead of shoyu, add liquid amino. We like the Bragg’s brand.
Super simple! It’s amazing how versatile and nutritious this beloved Hawaii food is. Before having Sky, I wasn’t a poi eater, but now we can’t live without it. If you have simple ways to add poi to your food, we’d love to hear about them
A hui hou!
