Babies need healthy foods to support their growth. That’s why parents want to give their babies the best food full of nutrients for their little ones to ensure that their kids will grow up healthy and avoid becoming frail.
Unfortunately, babies have a very sensitive digestive system. One wrong food will disrupt their digestive system. It’s vital that they consume only the most nutritious food available for them. Healthy foods for babies will help them develop good eating habits when they grow old.
The effects of malnutrition are irreversible within the first 1,000 days of life. Malnutrition at an early age will also prevent kids from achieving their full potential. Hence, experts recommend breastfeeding babies from birth until they are six months old.
Breastmilk is an ideal food that you can give to your baby. It contains the vital nutrients that a body needs that are readily absorbed. These nutrients are essential in fighting against life-threatening diseases, like obesity, diabetes, and asthma, among others.
When babies reach seven months, they can consume other food containing more nutrients. These food items can help them for their development and become healthy children and adults. But the question is that what food can you give to your growing baby?
Cereals
Cereals are the first semi-solid food that babies can eat. When they reach eight months, they can eat thicker grains or soft-cooked rice.
You don’t have to feed your baby with commercial rice cereal. Homemade baby cereal made of brown rice is excellent. Opt for organic rice. Bear in mind that whole grains are healthier and more nutritious than infant cereals that you can purchase at the supermarket.
Making homemade baby cereal is easy. All you need is cooked organic brown rice. Blend it. Add a cup of water to a saucepan and bring it to a boil. Mix organic brown rice, breast milk, and fruits if desired. Let it simmer for 10 minutes. You can feed your baby with this warm homemade baby cereal.
Root crops
They are great as they are rich in fiber and can give your baby a sufficient amount of energy. You can mash and enrich it with breastmilk.
Fruits
They offer a wide array of nutrients for your growing baby. Mangoes are good sources of vitamin C. They are also ideal in keeping their gums healthy while preventing them from infections. Banana is also ideal as it provides a variety of nutrients to achieve good health.
Pears are also great as they are rich in magnesium, calcium, potassium, and phosphorus. Make sure to peel them first and cut them into chunks. Remove those seeds. Put the pieces in a steamer until they become tender. Then, blend and puree until smooth. Or you can just use a fork. To thicken it, you may add a homemade baby cereal.
At an early age, you should consider introducing vegetables to your baby’s diet. In this way, he will get used to eating this kind of healthy food throughout his life. Vegetables are like fruits. They are also rich in nutrients that can help a baby’s bodily functions.
Carrots, squash, and other yellow vegetables contain beta-carotene that can assist in the development of healthy skin. Your baby will also develop clear eyesight, glossy hear and a stronger immune system.
Green leafy vegetables are also excellent sources of beta-carotene. They also contain calcium to give them stronger bones and teeth as they grow old.
However, when you choose to feed your baby with fruits and vegetables, make sure that he’s not allergic to them. Bananas and avocados are low-allergen fruits that you can safely feed to your baby. Bananas are great as they’re easy to digest. If you’re worried that your baby will get used to the sweeter food, you may mix them with meat.
Avocados are loaded with healthy fats. They have a mild taste with a smooth consistency. Plus, they are easy to prepare as you can just mash a ripe avocado with a small amount of breast milk until it reaches a pureed-like consistency.
Meat
It’s only ideal for babies seven months and older. Chicken, beef, and lamb are excellent sources of protein. Not only that. They also contain iron, niacin, vitamin B6, and zinc. When you choose to give your baby a slice of a particular meat, make sure that it’s in its pureed texture. Never feed your child finely chopped meat as it’s hard to handle. Worse, it can cause choking. Mix pureed meat with breast milk.
Beets
They are healthy foods as they contain a high amount of folic acid, potassium, and beta-carotene. They’re not fruits, but they’re a kind of vegetable. You may roast or steam them until they become super soft. Then, mash them before feeding your baby. Beets are great when your baby is 11 months or older.
Eggs
You can only start giving your baby cooked egg when he reaches seven months. Wait until your child is 11 months before giving him boiled egg whites. The reason for this is that egg whites can cause allergies to your baby.
Overall, eggs are great sources of protein, like meat. Protein is vital for your child’s muscle development. Eggs also contain vitamin D which helps in absorbing calcium properly in the body.
Yogurt
It must be plain yogurt. It is rich in protein, calcium, and live active cultures. Yogurt is easy to digest because its milk proteins are limited or removed. It’s best for babies nine months and older.
Feeding your baby can be difficult, especially if he’s teething. That’s why a lot of mothers consider putting an Amber teething necklace on their babies. These accessories will make them less fussy, allowing you to feed your baby quickly. Here a just a few necklaces to choose from.
When you introduce solid foods to your baby, he will only eat a small amount. One teaspoon or two teaspoons a meal is enough for him. Thus, he is getting most of the nutrients from breastmilk. That said, continue giving him regular breastfeeds. Or you can feed him formula milk a day as his main drink until he turns a year old.
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