Homemade Formula Recipe
Make a nutritious formula for your baby.
Milk-Based Formula (36oz)
This formula takes account of the fact that human milk is richer in whey, lactose, vitamin C, niacin, and long-chain polyunsaturated fatty acids compared to cow’s milk but leaner in casein (milk protein). The addition of gelatin to cow’s milk formula will make it more digestible for the infant. Use only truly expeller-expressed oils in the formula recipes, otherwise they may lack vitamin E. The ideal milk for baby, if he/she cannot be breastfed is clean, whole raw milk from old-fashioned cows, certified free of disease, that feed on green pasture. For sources of good quality milk, see www.realmilk.com or contact a local chapter of the Weston A. Price Foundation.
Ingredients
2 cups whole milk, preferably unprocessed milk from pasture-fed cows
1/4 cup homemade liquid whey- see homemade whey recipe (Do not use powdered whey or whey from making cheese (will cause the formula to curdle)
4 tbsp lactose *
1/4 tsp bifidobacterium infantis *
2 or more tbsp good quality cream (not ultrapasteurized), more if using milk from Holstein cows
1/2 tsp plain fermented cod liver oil *
1/4 tsp high-vitamin butter oil (optional) *
1 tsp expeller-expressed sunflower oil *
1 tsp extra virgin olive oil*
2 tsp Frontier brand nutritional yeast flakes*
1 7/8 cups filtered water
2 tsp coconut oil*
2 tsp gelatin*
1/4 tsp acerola powder*
*(available from Radiant Life 888-593-8333)
Instructions
Place 2 cups filtered water into a pyrex measuring pitcher and remove 2 tbsp (leaves you with 1 7/8 cups water). Pour about half the water into a pan and place on a medium flame. Add the gelatin and lactose to the pan and let dissolve, stirring occasionally. When the gelatin and lactose are dissolved, remove from heat and add the remaining water to cool the mixture. Stir in the coconut oil and optional high-vitamin butter oil until melted.
Place the remaining ingredients into a blender. Add the water mixture and blend about three seconds.Place in glass bottles or a glass jar and refrigerate. To serve, pour 6-8 oz attach nipple and set in a pan of simmering water. Heat until warm but not hot to the touch, shake bottle well and feed baby! (Never heat formula in a microwave oven!)
Variation: Goat Milk Formula
Goat milk is rich in fat however it must be used with caution in infant feedings because it lacks folic acid and is low in vitamin B-12, which are both essential to the growth and development of the infant. Inclusion of nutritional yeast to provide folic acid is essential. To compensate for low levels of vitamin B12, if preparing the milk-based formula with goat’s milk, add 2 tsp frozen organic raw chicken liver, finely grated to the batch of formula. Begin egg-yolk feeding at four months.
Liver-Based Formula (36 oz)
Important to include coconut oil in this formula because it is the only ingredient that provides the special medium-chain saturated fats found in mother’s milk. All oils should be truly expeller-expressed.
Ingredients
3 3/4 cups homemade beef or chicken broth
5 tbsp lactose*
1/4 cup homemade liquid whey (see homemade whey recipe)
1/2 tsp high-vitamin cod liver oil*
2 tsp extra virgin olive oil
1/4 tsp high-vitamin butter oil (optional)*
2 oz organic liver, cut into small pieces
1 tsp bifidobacterium infantis*
1 tbsp coconut oil*
1 tsp unrefined sunflower oil*
1 tsp acerola powder*
Instructions
Simmer liver gently in broth until the meat is cooked through. Liquefy using a handheld blender or in a food processor. When the liver broth has cooled, stir in remaining ingredients. Store in a very clean glass or stainless steel container. To serve, stir formula well and pour 6-8 oz in a very clean glass bottle. Attach a clean nipple and set in a pan of simmering water until formula is warm but not hot to the touch, shake well and feed! (Never heat formula in a microwave oven!)
Fortified Commercial Formula (35oz)
This formula can be used in emergencies, or when the ingredients for homemade formula are unavailable.
Ingredients
1 cup Mead Johnson low-iron, milk-based powdered formula*
29 oz filtered water (3 5/8 cups)
1 large egg yolk from an organic egg, cooked 3 1/2 min (see recipe for egg yolk for baby)
1 tsp cod liver oil or 1/2 tsp high-vitamin cod liver oil
Instructions
Place all ingredients in a blender or food processor and blend thoroughly. Place 6-8 oz in a very clean glass bottle. (Store the rest in a clean glass jar in the refrigerator for the next feedings.) Attach a clean nipple to the bottle and set in a pan of simmering water until formula is warm but not hot to the touch, shake well and feed! (Never heat formula in a microwave oven!)
Egg Yolk For Baby
Should be baby’s first solid food, starting at 4 months, whether baby is breastfed or formula-fed. Egg yolks from pastured hens will contain special long-chain fatty acids critical for the optimal development of the brain and nervous system. The whites may cause an allergic reaction and should not be given to baby until he/she is at least 1 year old.
Ingredients
1 organic egg from a pasture-fed hen
1/2 tsp grated raw organic liver, frozen for 14-days (optional)
pinch sea salt
Boil egg for 3 1/2 min. Place in bowl and peel off shell. Remove egg white and discard. Yolk should be soft and warm, not hot, with its enzyme content intact. Sprinkle with salt.
If you wish to add liver, grate on small holes of a grater while frozen. Allow to warm up and stir into egg yolk.
Homemade Whey (5 cups)
Instructions
If using yoghurt, place 2 quarts in the strainer lined with a tea towel. Cover with a plate and leave at room temperature overnight. The whey will drip out into the bowl. Place whey in clean glass jars and store in the refrigerator.
If using raw or cultured milk, place 2 quarts of cultured milk, or 2 quarts raw milk plus 2 tbsp yoghurt, in a glass container and leave at room temperature for 2-4 days until the milk separates into curds and whey. Pour into the strainer lined with a tea towel and cover with a plate. Leave at room temperature overnight. The whey will drip out into the bowl. Store in clean glass jars in the refrigerator.
Bishop, M., Fallon, S., & Enig, M. (n.d.). FAQs on Homemade Baby Formula. Wise Traditions in Food, Farming and the Healing Arts, (Healthy Baby Issue), 22-23.
