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By: Dr. Joey Shulman
Becoming a parent comes with many decisions.
From what type of stroller to buy to finding a doctor you
trust – the minute those ten fingers and toes hit the
planet - the list is endless! Along with your countless choices
comes the decisions of what and how to feed your little one.
For the first four to six months, your baby
will be on a liquid diet of breast milk or formula. Delaying
the introduction of food as long as possible will help avoid
allergies. At approximately six months, your baby is ready
for solid foods:
- Begin with grains first (i.e.
barley or brown rice),
- Follow with vegetables and fruits,
- At approximately 8 months you can introduce
proteins such as pureed beef, turkey or chicken.
From 8 months on, your baby will be ready
for a variety of tastes and textures and will begin picking
up small soft foods and feeding himself. Here are some ideas
to help create the perfect meal:
Make it look like a rainbow – Nature
is very wise and will tip you off about the nutrient value
of a food by the vibrant hues and colors it presents -- the
more colorful fruits and vegetables you can get into your
baby’s diet, the better. Purple, orange, green and red
produce are all loaded with minerals, vitamins and plant nutrients
that have been shown to reduce and even prevent a variety
of diseases and allergies. Great choices are sweet potatoes,
squash, sweet peas, broccoli, spinach, kale, blueberries,
apples, pears and banana.
Fat for the brain –
Since almost 60 percent of a baby’s brain is comprised
of fat, adding dietary fat is necessary for brain function,
nerve transmission and immune system development. In addition
to the fat your baby is getting from breast milk or formula,
adding soft avocado pieces or avocado puree and omega 3 fortified
products such as yogurt to his/her diet is recommended.
Protein power! –
At approximately 8 months, a baby’s digestive system
is developed enough to break down and reap the benefits from
proteins such as beef, chicken and turkey. Sweetpea recipes
offer a variety of protein sources which include:
- Veggies & chicken
- Veggie & turkey (new!)
- Veggies, beef & barley
- Lentils & root veggies (great vegetarian
protein source)
For more information on protein for your
little one, please read an earlier article from the Spoonfuls
Archives “Protein requirements for your growing
baby” Vol 1 Issue 5.
Going organic –I am an enormous advocate
of going organic, primarily because of the multitude of chemicals
sprayed on our lawns and food. As a parent, whenever you have
the opportunity to reduce toxic exposure for your children…do
it! Going organic is good for the environment and a great
way to help your community go green!
Picking the right grain
– Eating cereal is one of the first foods babies tend
to master. The general guideline is once your baby is eating
approximately ½ cup of cereal per day, s/he is ready
to have vegetables and fruits introduced and then to move
on to meats. Barley is easy to digest and is often the #1
choice; brown rice, oatmeal and mixed grains are other options.
Feeding time is a whole new world that you
and your baby will experience together – make it a happy
and nutritious experience! Not only should you provide them
with organic, nutrient dense food choices, but also watch
their cues. Most infants are very in tune with their appetites
and will be the first to tell you when they are ready to eat
and what they enjoy. Before long, you will successfully build
a mealtime routine together that the entire family will enjoy.
This article has been reprinted
with permission from Sweetpea Baby Food www.sweetpeababyfood.com
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