by Anni Daulter

Baby Turns 1 No-Sugar Birthday Cake. Photo courtesy of Gina Sabatella.

Reprinted with permission from www.greenmoms.com.

Sept. 1, 2010 — As parents, we get very excited to celebrate the passing of a year with lovely celebrations for our children. I have had many moms ask me time and time again how to do this more organically for their little ones. My philosophy is keep it simple and make it beautiful. For babies, it’s best to invite a few people rather than tons of folks, because the energy can get a little overwhelming for them. As your child grows and wants to invite friends over, it’s best to keep it to the most special folks to your child, in order to maintain the focus of the celebration. Kids don’t need huge celebrations, but rather lovely acknowledgments of their past year. Keep the décor natural with fresh flowers and handmade goodies. For our children, we always decorate their spot at the table with fresh flowers and rose petals, have a felted birthday crown waiting for them and a nice candle burning in honor of their special day. We also really enjoy handmade cards and photos of each child over the past year.

When it comes to food, birthday parties can be a challenge for parents who are trying to keep the sugar treats to a minimum. We always make the same cake for our little ones. We may change up the toppings or add fresh whipped cream, but it’s a healthy tradition that all the kids enjoy. I have included our cake recipe for you to enjoy with your little ones as it has no sugar and you can actually feel good about them eating it. For dinner, we always ask what special meal the birthday child wants and the family spends the day cooking that meal together.

These simple gestures make each of our children feel special and honored, and I hope these ideas inspire you to create some fun natural family birthday traditions of your own.

Baby Turns 1

No-Sugar Birthday Cake

Makes 14 servings

Every mama wants to have a grand celebration when her baby turns 1. It’s an exciting milestone for the whole family. I wanted to enjoy my kids’ first birthdays without worrying about giving them too much sugar, so I made my own cake out of fresh ingredients. This cake takes a while to assemble, but be patient and put extra love and care into it. After all, it is your baby’s special day. Believe me, your love and tenderness are the most critical ingredients to the success of this cake.

2 cups sliced carrots

3 cups unsweetened apple juice

1⁄2 cup spinach, chopped

Apple Purée from Organically Raised. Photo courtesy of Gina Sabatella.

1 ripe banana

1 cup sweetened dried cranberries

1 tablespoon ground almonds

2 cups whole wheat flour

1 tablespoon ground flaxseed

2 tablespoons baking powder

1⁄2 teaspoon baking soda

1 tablespoon ground cinnamon

1 tablespoon vanilla extract

1⁄2 cup vegetable oil

2 eggs

3 egg whites

1 cup Pure Apple Purée (recipe follows)

Preheat the oven to 350 F. Grease 2 cake pans.

Combine the carrots with 2 cups of the apple juice in a medium saucepan and bring to a boil. Reduce the heat, cover the pan, and simmer for 15 minutes, or until the carrots are soft.

Place the carrot mixture in a blender or food processor. Purée until smooth. Add the spinach, banana, cranberries, and almonds.

Purée until smooth. Set aside.

Combine the flour, flaxseed, baking powder, baking soda, and cinnamon in a separate mixing bowl.

Mix all ingredients together. Cook for 35-40 minutes or until a fork comes out clean. Cool before frosting.

Mama Tip: You may want to spell “happy birthday” on the cake by using alphabet cookies and decorating the cake with more fresh fruit. Don’t forget the candle. Happy birthday, baby! Or you can make this cake anytime and cut it into pieces that your baby can enjoy as yummy snack cakes during the week.

Pure Apple Purée

There is nothing like fresh apples. With their beautiful white color and gentle, sweet flavor, they make an excellent solid food for your baby.

2 pounds apples (4 large apples)

Wash and peel the apples. Core and cut into 1-inch pieces.

Steam the apple pieces for 8 to 10 minutes, or until soft; a sharp knife will pass easily through the pieces. Fruit that is not completely ripe will need to steam longer. Reserve the liquid from the steamer.

Transfer the steamed apple pieces to a food processor and purée until smooth. Add the reserved liquid, if necessary, in scant 1⁄8-cup increments until the purée reaches the desired consistency and smoothness.

Anni Daulter is a mother, cook, artist, former social worker, and former social consciousness professor at California State University, Fullerton. Daulter seeks to help lead a consciousness shift in the areas of nutrition, pregnancy and parenting. She can be reached by e-mail at anni@organicallyraised cookbook.com or visit her website at www.organicallyraisedcookbook.com.