A dear friend of mine has a baby that is ready for her first foods and she asked me for some advice on what to feed her. Being someone of similar interest to my friend, including the Weston A Price Foundation and Body Ecology I suggested starting her daughter with some homemade fermented young coconut yogurt. I took it for granted how familiar I am with making this dish so instructing her over text suddenly became a bit difficult and I realized I left some helpful information out. Which is why I created this video to help give detailed visual instructions on how to make this incredibly beneficial dish.

Here is also a written version of what is covered in the video.

1. ingredients

I used to open countless coconuts for this but the labor and time was more than I could handle, so I cut corners and buy it all online

1 package of raw young coconut meat

1 bottle harmless harvest raw coconut water

http://www.rawguru.com/store/organic-raw-young-thai-coconut-meat-16-oz-case.html

1 teaspoon yogurt starter

2. equipment

Vitamix or a powerful blender

2 clean glass jars with lids

1 cooler

1 spoon

3. process

Add the meat into the blender and add a little of the water at a time until you blend on high and it becomes the consistency of whipped cream. Then blend in the culture starter until fully combined.

Pour the yogurt into the jars and close the lids tight. Be sure to leave 2-3 inches from the top since it will expand when it ferments

Place jars into the cooler and close the lid. Store the cooler in a dark and somewhat warm area of the house

4. variations

Get creative and add stevia, vanilla or other fruits

5. how to know it’s done

You will see some layers or separation on the side of the glass. The more the layers the more fermentation has occurred. Refrigerate to keep from continued fermentation. Should last about 2 weeks in the fridge.

6. don’t peek

Try not to open the jars until 24 hours

7. taste and opinions

The taste is somewhat acquired over time. There is a sour tang to the yogurt that many are not used to. If you have a taste for fermented food you will love it right away. The more you eat it, the more you will crave it and your tastebuds will change, I promise. I used to plug my nose to eat it…not I devour it!

8. nutritional benefits

Sourced from Body Ecology Diet:

“Stops cravings for sugar, aids in the digestion of all foods, while toning and cleansing the intestines and the liver, eases aches and joint pains, clears up skin problems like brown liver spots, skin tags, moles, etc., improves vision, makes hair and nails healthier because of its high mineral content (potassium, natural sodium, and chloride), and cleanses the endocrine system (adrenals, thyroid, pituitary, ovaries).”

– See more at: http://bodyecology.com/kefirinstructions.php#sthash.Yx91jkCY.dpuf

9. baby’s first foods

Babies under 1 year old will love it. They will at first make many faces and even spit it out, but give it to them 4-5 days in a row and they will start to really love it. Starting a baby’s palate to these sour flavors will help them have less of a sweet tooth when older.