Get Kristin Cavallari’s Homemade Goat’s Milk Baby Formula Recipe—Plus More on What She Feeds Her Kids

Kristin C
Kristin C

Kristin Cavallari prefers to know every ingredient that goes into the foods she feeds her family—especially when it comes to baby formula.

In her new book Balancing in Heels, Cavallari, 29, shares the Goat’s Milk Formula she developed with her husband Chicago Bears quarterback Jay Cutler and their pediatrician. She uses it once she’s stopped breastfeeding and has run out of her own frozen milk.

“I would rather feed my baby these real, organic ingredients than a heavily processed store-bought formula that contains ‘glucose syrup solids,’ which is another name for corn syrup solids, maltrodextrin, carrageenan, and palm oil,” writes the mother to Camden Jack, 3, and Jaxon Wyatt, 22 months, and daughter Saylor James, almost 4 months.

Because her sons have “sensitivities to cow’s milk,” the former Laguna Beach star uses goat’s milk powder for her homemade formula. Other ingredients include organic maple syrup and cod-liver oil (see below for the full recipe).

The glamorous side of the #BalancinginHeels #BookTour

A photo posted by Kristin Cavallari (@kristincavallari) on Mar 16, 2016 at 4:58am PDT

“While I wholeheartedly believe in this formula, it’s important to talk to your pediatrician first before feeding it to your little ones,” says Cavallari.

However, the American Academy of Pediatrics recommends feeding infants breast milk or iron-fortified infant formula. Cow’s milk, raw goat’s milk and soy milk are not recommended during the first 12 months of life.

“Why would you want to use an alternative formula when there are well tested and tried formulas widely available?” Dr. Mark Corkins, a pediatric gastroenterologist and member of the American Academy of Pediatrics, tells PEOPLE. “These cocktail formulas do not have the fortification of the vitamins and minerals that the standard formulas have. Commercial formulas are some of the most highly regulated foods with strict nutritional standards that the companies have to meet for the FDA.”

He believes using a homemade formula comes along with risks, and recommends feeding infants human breast milk instead.

“If we want the most natural and organic nutrition then breast feed,” says Corkin. “A homemade formula runs a high risk of leaving an essential nutrient out, and is certainly not less work and probably not cheaper.”

Throughout her new book, Cavallari also shares the clean dinners her kids love like “healthy mac and cheese” with brown rice pasta, grated raw goat’s milk cheddar, grass-fed butter, and cooked broccoli. As for snacks, she likes to keep foods like bacon made without nitrates, fermented pickles, organic berries and almond butter in the house.

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“The food I give my children is one of the things I care most about,” she says.

Goat’s Milk Formula
Fills four 8-ounce bottles, for babies up to 1 year old*

Formula Base
4 cups (32 ounces) filtered water
¼ cup goat’s milk powder (we like CapraMilk)
¼ cup pure organic maple syrup
2½ teaspoons good-quality extra virgin olive oil
¼ teaspoon unflavored cod-liver oil
¼ teaspoon unsulfured blackstrap molasses

For Each Bottle
1 teaspoon coconut oil
Probiotics (see Note)

1. To make the formula base: In a medium saucepan, gently warm the water, milk powder, maple syrup, olive oil, cod-liver oil, and molasses over medium heat, whisking to ensure that there are no clumps of milk powder. When everything is warmed and thoroughly combined, fill four 8-ounce bottles. Store in the refrigerator until ready to use, or for up to 1 day.

2. To prepare a bottle for feeding: Warm the formula and add the coconut oil and probiotics, shaking well to combine.

3. If your baby gets constipated, add more blackstrap molasses, 1/8 teaspoon more per patch. Once your baby is better, you can back off a little.

Note: I give my children ½ teaspoon probiotics per day, split between their total number of bottles. Talk with your pediatrician about what is right for your kids.

*Once your baby is 1 year old, use ½ cup goat’s milk powder instead of ¼ cup to make a richer formula.

Balancing in Heels is available on shelves now.

—Ana Calderone, @anacalderone