8 month old baby food menu philippines
8 Months Old Baby Food Ideas
Your eight-month-old baby is at a stage where he is curious about everything. With a tooth or two, your baby must be grinning its way to becoming a toddler. By eight months of age, babies master the art of gulping down mashed food and slowly they even start chewing on the solid foods. Your baby is in growing stage right now, hence you will have to make sure that the foods you give him help develop his chewing skills as well as meet his dietary requirements. Read this article to find out what foods you should include in your eight-month-old baby’s diet.
Video: Food Ideas for 8 Month Old Baby
Also Read: 8 Months Old Baby Milestones
A wholesome diet that comprises of foods rich in carbohydrates, protein, vitamins, and minerals is essential for a growing eight-month-old baby. There are many natural food substances that offer a right mix of these nutrients. Typically, food for an 8-month-old baby should include one or more of the following.
1. Fruits
Fruits are an excellent source of vitamins, minerals, and other micro nutrients. Apart from the regular fruits like apples, bananas, papayas, chikoo, etc., you can also include some fruits like kiwi, strawberries, pomegranates, etc. Fruits that are cut in the shape of long cubes make for excellent finger foods for babies. So, cut the fruits in different shapes and give them to your child.
2. Vegetables
At eight months of age, your baby can start making a switch from mashed vegetable puree to small cubes of steamed vegetables. You can incorporate a variety of vegetables into your baby’s diet. Add the veggies to khichdi or make a steamed vegetable bowl. You can slowly introduce vegetables like cauliflower, broccoli, asparagus, green peas, and pumpkin can be slowly introduced into his diet.
3. Fish
Fish is a very nutritious food that can be given to babies as young as eight months. Fish like tuna, salmon, rohu, etc., that are rich in omega-3 fatty acids are very good for the growth and brain development of babies. Fish can be given to babies in the form of puree or as soup.
4. Tofu/Paneer
Tofu or paneer is made out of soy milk and cow’s milk respectively. They are rich in protein and very good for developing babies. Tofu can be given to babies who are lactose-intolerant or are allergic to paneer.
5. Chicken
Chicken is believed to be one of the healthiest foods for babies. It can be typically started at the age of seven months and is usually given in the pureed form or as soup. The broth or the juice in which the chicken is cooked is also nutritious for babies.
6. Cheese
Cheese made out of pasteurised milk is a great source of calcium for growing babies. The processed cheese available in the market makes for a great snack for babies to munch on.
You can give cheese to your baby but, give it in limited quantities as too much of anything could result in an upset stomach.
7. Eggs
Eggs are a wholesome food as they contain good fats and healthy proteins. You can give a boiled egg to your baby in bite-sized pieces. Some babies are allergic to eggs, so you must watch out for any warning signs of allergy in babies.
8. Yoghurt
Thick yoghurt made from cow’s milk can be given to babies, especially in summers. There are many fruit flavored yoghurt available in the market that make for excellent snack options for babies. They not only provide good bacteria for the gut but also serve as a great source of essential vitamins and minerals.
Also Read: Your 8 Months Old Baby Growth and Development
How Much Food Should a Baby Eat at This Stage?
Most often eight-month-old babies feed actively but sometimes they may throw tantrums while eating and get distracted away from food due to their new-found mobility.
Babies who start crawling by this age, usually feed on the go as they show more interest in exploring the things around them. A typical eight-month-old baby should have three solid meals and two snacks along with at least two sessions of breastfeeding or formula feeding.
Food Schedule
Here is a sample food schedule for an eight-month-old baby.
- Morning- Wake up and nurse for a few minutes (about 200 ml)
- Breakfast – 1 cup of pureed veggies or anything else in breakfast
- Mid-morning Snack – Half a cup of fruit/yoghurt/boiled vegetables
- Lunch- 1 cup of cereal
- Nap time
- Evening Snack – Breast milk or formula milk (about 200ml)
- Dinner – 1 cup of porridge/pureed veggies/cereal
- Night – Breastfeed before putting him to bed
Also Read: Toys for 8 Months Old Baby
Video: Diet Plan for a 8 Month Old Baby
A Sample Food Chart/Meal Plan for an Eight-month-old Baby
Here is a sample chart that you can use as a guideline for your eight-month-old baby.
Diet for a 8 Month-Old – Week 1, Day 1
| Early morning | Mother’s milk /formula feed |
| Breakfast | Idli with a little ghee or butter |
| Mid-morning | Mother’s milk /formula feed |
| Lunch | Rice-carrot porridge |
| Evening | Mother’s milk /formula feed |
| Dinner |
Diet for a 8 Month-Old – Week 1, Day 2
| Early morning | Mother’s milk /formula feed |
| Breakfast | Idli with a little ghee or butter |
| Mid-morning | Mother’s milk /formula feed |
| Lunch | Carrot-beetroot soup |
| Evening | Mother’s milk /formula feed |
| Dinner | Ragi (finger millet) – wheat sheera |
Diet for a 8 Month-Old – Week 1, Day 3
| Early morning | Mother’s milk /formula feed |
| Breakfast | Idli with a little ghee or butter |
| Mid-morning | Mother’s milk /formula feed |
| Lunch | Idli with a little ghee or butter |
| Evening | Mother’s milk /formula feed |
| Dinner | Roti dipped in dal |
Diet for a 8 Month-Old – Week 1, Day 4
Diet for a 8 Month-Old – Week 1, Day 5
Diet for a 8 Month-Old – Week 1, Day 6
| Early morning | Mother’s milk /formula feed |
| Breakfast | |
| Mid-morning | Mother’s milk /formula feed |
| Lunch | Ragi (finger millet) – wheat sheera |
| Evening | Mother’s milk /formula feed |
| Dinner | Bajra (pearl millet) – moong dal (green gram split) khichdi |
Diet for a 8 Month-Old – Week 1, Day 7
Diet for a 8 Month-Old – Week 2, Day 1
Diet for a 8 Month-Old – Week 2, Day 2
Diet for a 8 Month-Old – Week 2, Day 3
| Early morning | Mother’s milk /formula feed |
| Breakfast | |
| Mid-morning | Mother’s milk /formula feed |
| Lunch | Spinach-pumpkin puree |
| Evening | Mother’s milk /formula feed |
| Dinner | Ragi (finger millet) – wheat sheera |
Diet for a 8 Month-Old – Week 2, Day 4
Diet for a 8 Month-Old – Week 2, Day 5
Diet for a 8 Month-Old – Week 2, Day 6
Diet for a 8 Month-Old – Week 2, Day 7
Diet for a 8 Month-Old – Week 3, Day 1
| Early morning | Mother’s milk /formula feed |
| Breakfast | |
| Mid-morning | Mother’s milk /formula feed |
| Lunch | Wheat sheera (soft) |
| Evening | Mother’s milk /formula feed |
| Dinner | Bajra (pearl millet) – moong dal (green gram split) khichdi |
Diet for a 8 Month-Old – Week 3, Day 2
Diet for a 8 Month-Old – Week 3, Day 3
Diet for a 8 Month-Old – Week 3, Day 4
Diet for a 8 Month-Old – Week 3, Day 5
Diet for a 8 Month-Old – Week 3, Day 6
| Early morning | Mother’s milk /formula feed |
| Breakfast | Mashed papaya |
| Mid-morning | Mother’s milk /formula feed |
| Lunch | Idli with a little ghee or butter |
| Evening | Mother’s milk /formula feed |
| Dinner | Lentil- sweet potato soup |
Diet for a 8 Month-Old – Week 3, Day 7
| Early morning | Mother’s milk /formula feed |
| Breakfast | Mashed papaya |
| Mid-morning | Mother’s milk /formula feed |
| Lunch | Ragi (finger millet) – wheat sheera |
| Evening | Mother’s milk /formula feed |
| Dinner | Carrot-beetroot soup |
Diet for a 8 Month-Old – Week 4, Day 1
Diet for a 8 Month-Old – Week 4, Day 2
Diet for a 8 Month-Old – Week 4, Day 3
Diet for a 8 Month-Old – Week 4, Day 4
| Early morning | Mother’s milk /formula feed |
| Breakfast | |
| Mid-morning | Mother’s milk /formula feed |
| Lunch | |
| Evening | Mother’s milk /formula feed |
| Dinner | Roti dipped in dal |
Diet for a 8 Month-Old – Week 4, Day 5
| Early morning | Mother’s milk /formula feed |
| Breakfast | |
| Mid-morning | Mother’s milk /formula feed |
| Lunch | |
| Evening | Mother’s milk /formula feed |
| Dinner | Ragi (finger millet) – wheat sheera |
Diet for a 8 Month-Old – Week 4, Day 6
Diet for a 8 Month-Old – Week 4, Day 7
Video: 8 Month Baby Food Recipes
Food Recipes for an 8-month-old Baby
Apart from the regular pureed foods that your baby is now used to having, you can try some of these new recipes to tickle your baby’s taste buds. Here are some interesting Indian homemade baby food recipes for an 8-month-old:
1. Broccoli Soup Recipe
Broccoli is nutritious and tastes delicious too. Here is how you can make broccoli soup for your baby.
Ingredients
- Butter -1 teaspoon
- Broccoli florets – 1 cup
- Pepper powder – A pinch
- A pinch of salt
How to prepare
- Add the butter in a pan and allow it to melt.
- Add broccoli florets to it and sauté for a few minutes.
- Cover the pan with a lid and allow it to cook.
- Once the broccoli cools, blend it to make a fine paste in a blender.
- In another pan, add some butter and add the broccoli paste to it. Allow it to cook and add the salt and pepper powder to it. Feed the baby once it cools down.
2. Fish Puree Recipe
If you love eating fish, your little one will like it too. Learn the recipe of fish puree. It’s easy-to-make and tastes delicious!
Ingredients
- Cleaned and prepared fish
- Water – 1 cup
How to prepare
- Boil the water in a vessel.
- In a small vessel take the chopped fish and place this vessel inside the vessel containing water.
- Allow it to cook. The colour of the fish should change to white once it cooks completely.
- Grind the cooked fish to puree and add the salt and jeera powder to taste.
3. Apple Ragi Porridge Recipe
Ragi, also known as finger millet or nachni is high in proteins, calcium, and iron. It also helps a baby gain weight and you know apples are always good.
So include ragi in your baby’s diet by making yummy apple and ragi porridge!
Ingredients
- Grated apple – 1 cup
- Ragi flour – 1 tablespoon
- Ghee – 1/2 teaspoon
- Water – 1.5 cups
How to prepare
- Take the ragi flour in a bowl and slowly add the water to it. Mix it well making sure that no lumps are formed.
- Heat some ghee in a pan and add the ragi mixture to it.
- Stir continuously till you see the bubbles forming.
- At this stage, add the grated apple pieces to the porridge.
- Allow the apple pieces and ragi to cook well. If the porridge turns thick, dilute it with water and bring it to the required consistency.
- Once it is cooked, turn off the flame and add a drop of ghee before giving it to your child.
4. Suji Upma Recipe
Upma is a healthy breakfast and is enjoyed by both adults and kids. So how about introducing this tasty breakfast to your child? Learn the recipe here –
Ingredients
- Suji – 1/2 cup
- Finely chopped veggies (of your choice) – 1 cup
- Curry leaves – 5-6
- Ghee -1 teaspoon
- Mustard seeds – 1/2 teaspoon
- Water- 2 cups
- Salt- 1/4 teaspoon
How to prepare
- Heat one tablespoon of ghee in a pan and roast the suji until it turns brown.
Once done, transfer it to a large dish and keep aside. - Next, heat some ghee in the pan and add the mustard seeds to it.
- Once the mustard seeds splutter, add a cup of vegetable and cover it with a lid, allowing the vegetables to cook.
- Then add 2 cups of water and salt to taste.
- When the water comes to a boil, add the suji and stir continuously to make sure no lumps are formed.
- Cover the pan with a lid for some time. Add a teaspoon of ghee then switch off the flame. Feed once it cools a bit.
5. Carrot Wedges Recipe
Carrots are nutritious and are very good for the eyes. Carrot wedges are a perfect finger food which you can give to your little one as a snack. Here’s how you can make carrot wedges.
Ingredients
- Carrots (cut into wedges) – 1 cup
- A pinch of salt
- Pepper powder – A pinch
- Ghee – 1 teaspoon
How to prepare
- Boil the water in a pan and when it comes to a boil, add the carrot pieces.
- Allow it to cook to a biting consistency. Then turn off the flame.
- Heat the ghee in a pan, add the carrot pieces to it, and sauté for 2-3 minutes.
- Add the salt and pepper powder and mix well.
- Switch off the flame and allow it cool. Once it cools, give it to your baby.
Feeding Tips
Keep these tips in mind while feeding your 8-month-old baby:
- Remember that breast milk or formula milk should remain the primary source of nutrition for an eight-month-old baby. Besides starting with solid food, doctors recommend one or two sessions of feeding for babies up to one year of age.
- Avoid giving cow’s milk to your baby, until he turns one.
- If there is a history of any food allergy in the family, especially for dairy products, watch out for the signs of allergy in your baby. Also, speak to your doctor about the possibilities of your child inheriting such allergies.
- Avoid giving deep fried foods to your little one.
Try to incorporate steamed fruits and vegetables in his diet. - Always feed the baby in a particular position and location every day. This develops a strong connection in their mind between food and the place where they are being fed. For example, if you make your baby sit on a high chair to feed him solids, he will associate it with food.
- Keep the consistency of the food a little grainy and do not mash it completely. It will help your eight-month-old baby to transition from mashed to solid foods.
- Avoid adding salt and sugar in food if your baby is below one year of age. Many doctors advice against the use of both, as it puts unnecessary stress on the kidneys.
- Eight-month-old babies usually get easily distracted while feeding, as they develop mobility and are curious about things around them. When your baby refuses to eat anything, try to feed in small quantities at different times.
- Babies tend to gag or choke while nibbling on finger food. They may also accidentally bite a large chunk of food.
Parental attention is very important while your baby is chewing on solids. - Prepare and store baby foods in steel or glassware. Avoid the use of plastic as it contains harmful chemicals that have a likelihood of entering the food.
At eight months of age, babies move around quite a lot and spend a lot of their time and energy in exploring the things around them. To make sure that your baby stays active and doesn’t get exhausted, you must ensure that he eats healthy food. So plan your baby’s food chart well in advance after consulting with a nutritionist. Include fresh fruits and steamed vegetables in his diet – it will provide him with the much-needed nutrition, and he will get into the habit of eating healthy foods.
Disclaimer:
- Each child is different and so use these meal plans as a trusted guide as per your discretion. You can modify the meals according to your child’s preferences / requirements.
- Never force-feed a child.
- While preparing formula, please follow the instructions on the box and use the measuring spoon provided with it.
- While introducing solid food to a baby, initially, one needs to prepare watery gruels/soups. As a child gets older, the caretaker/ mother has to increase the thickness of the liquids slowly according to the child’s capacity to swallow. Foods that are too thick can cause stomach upset/ unnecessary load; while excessively watery food might cause the child to remain hungry.
- Some kids may eat less on some days and that is absolutely alright. However, if a child eats less for more than 3-4 consecutive days, please visit a doctor to guide further.
- A child may eat less during the teething phase or if he/she may not be feeling well. You could increase breast milk /formula feeds on those days. Re-introduce the foods once the child is back to normal.
- Don’t stop feeding if the child is suffering from diarrhoea.
- You can alter the taste of the food by adding some natural flavours like cinnamon, jeera powder, lemon juice, curry leaves etc.
if the child doesn’t accept the food initially. - If your child suffers from an allergy to nuts, gluten or eggs, please consult your doctor before feeding him/her any foods that may contain them.
Also Read: Food Ideas for 9 Months Old Baby
10 Best Foods for Babies
User Rating: 5 / 5
Please Rate Vote 1Vote 2Vote 3Vote 4Vote 51. Breastmilk - is the natural and perfect first food for your baby. It has the correct proportions and amounts of calories, protein, vitamins, and minerals to meet the baby needs for the first six months of life.
2. Cereals- lugaw is the first semi-solid food given to the baby. After 8 months, move to thicker lugaw to soft cooked rice. By ten months, your baby may share the family rice. Make lugaw a delicious food for your baby by adding breastmilk or formula. Eggyolk and dilis powder may be also added to lugaw.
3. Rootcrops like kamote and potato - serve this energy and fiber rich foods to your baby. Mash it and enrich with milk.
4. Fruits like mango, papaya, banana (especially ripe latundan at first) provide a variety of nutrients for good health. Mango and papaya are good sources of vitamin C which your baby needs to keep gums healthy, prevent easy bruising, and help the body fight infection.
5. Yellow vegetables like carrots and squash - are rich sources of beta-carotene for your baby's clear eyesight, smooth and healthy skin, glossy hair, good growth, and resistance to infections. Green leafy vegetables like kamote tops, kangkong, petsay, and malunggay are common sources of b-carotene. These foods also contain minerals like iron for healthy blood and calcium for strong bone and teeth, and fiber.
6. Egg - is packed with protein, which builds and repairs muscles, and vitamin D, which helps the body absorb calcium. One-half cooked eggyolk is usually given when your baby is seven months old.
Because of allergy-producing qualities of eggwhite you should wait to give it to your baby when he/she is 11 months old.
7. Legumes/beans - are relatively cheap sources of protein and are good sources of B-complex vitamins and iron. Prepare mashed beans for your 10-11 month-old baby e.g. when you are serving munggo gisado to your family. Set aside a small amount of unseasoned munggo, mash it and enrich it with milk.
8. Meat/Fish/Poultry - an excellent source of protein for growth and repair of body tissues, highly absorbable iron for healthy blood, as well as vitamins and other minerals, such as zinc for immunity. At six months, introduce foods with a "chewier" texture like minced or finely chopped meat, fish, and poultry.
9. Other Foods like custards, simple puddings, plain gulaman or jello for extra fiber. Biskotso, biscuits or any crisp toast is also good when your baby starts teething.
10. Water and beverages - Your baby can begin learning to drink from a cup around six to seven months, water and juice are acceptable choices.
Put an ounce of water or 3-4 ounces of natural or fortified juice in the cup. Feeding juice in bottles or putting your baby to bed with bottles can contribute to early childhood tooth decay. Fruit juice should be served as part of a meal or snack, not "sipped" throughout the day. Your baby does not digest juice well and may have diarrhea from drinking too much of it.
Fats and oils may be incorporated to the prepared diet by adding them to the rice gruel or mashed vegetables or serve in either sautéed or fried dishes for your baby after six months of age. By 12 months, your child can already eat the family diet. Soft foods and processed foods fortified with vitamins and minerals are appropriate.
For more information on food and nutrition, you may write or call: The Director, Food and Nutrition Research Institute, Department of Science and Technology, Gen. Santos Avenue, Bicutan, Tagig, Metro Manila, Tel./Fax: 8372934, 8373164; E-mail: This email address is being protected from spambots.
You need JavaScript enabled to view it. ; FNRI-DOST website: http// This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
- Prev
- Next
approximate diet for a week, menu for a day with artificial and breastfeeding for an 8 month old baby
Published: 02/10/2021
Reading time: 3 min.
Number of reads: 99064
Author of the article: Ponomareva Yuliya Vladimirovna
Pediatrician, Candidate of Medical Sciences, Allergist-Immunologist . The process of intensive growth and development continues - the baby is rapidly mastering new motor skills, improving in speech and cognitive activities.
The pace of growing up and high activity determine the clear requirements for the nutrition of the baby, which must quantitatively and qualitatively meet the needs of children at this stage of life. By the 8th month of life, the child's digestive tract is already quite mature.
It is able to digest and assimilate the products of the main food groups. Let's look at the basic principles of compiling a baby's diet, and also develop a menu for 8 months, indicating an approximate list of dishes and a meal plan for a week.
Contents: Hide
- General principles
- A must in the diet
- Sample menu for a week for 8 months
General principles Breast milk is no longer the basis of the diet, but continues to be a source of easily digestible and beneficial nutrients, and also protects the baby from many infectious diseases. If the baby is artificially fed, use an adapted mixture in the diet that suits him well and matches his age. In addition to breastfeeding, an 8-month-old baby's eating schedule includes 4-5 meals. Of these, three are basic (breakfast, lunch and dinner), two are additional (second breakfast and afternoon tea). The baby already withstands 3.5–4 hours between meals and at least 6 hours at night.
The volume of each feeding is 170–200 ml and approximately 1000 ml/g per day.
A must in the diet
Your 8 month old baby's daily menu should include the main food groups that ensure the supply of vital nutrients - proteins, fats and carbohydrates. What products must be included in the menu at this age? Porridge is one of the first and most important complementary foods. It is rich in all the main nutrients, provides long-lasting satiety and has a pleasant taste. By the 8th month of life, babies digest and assimilate dishes from various cereals well, therefore, multi-component cereals with natural fruit or vegetable additives, dairy-free or based on specially prepared milk can be used in nutrition.
Vegetables and fruits do not have a high nutritional value, but are a major source of fiber. Therefore, they are also required in the daily menu. Meat complementary foods are a source of protein that is complete in terms of amino acid composition, and a baby should receive 60–80 grams of meat per day.
Dairy products are another source of complete protein and easily digestible fat. However, the introduction of non-adapted dairy products can cause allergies and increase the load on the baby's kidneys. In this regard, the menu should contain no more than 50 grams of cottage cheese daily. From 8 months, fermented milk drinks for baby food can be introduced into the diet of a healthy child.
In addition to animal fats, the daily diet should include vegetable oils as a source of polyunsaturated fatty acids, which are absolutely necessary for a growing organism.
In addition to essential nutrients, a daily intake of vitamins and minerals is just as important. For a child in the second half of life, the main source of these important substances are enriched baby foods, for example, the Bebi Premium line of baby cereals includes all the necessary vitamins and minerals for the harmonious growth and development of the child.
1st day
| Seeing | Bebi Premium Oatmeal Milk Porridge with Banana and Pear | 150 | |||
| Bebi Premium Kids Instant Herbal Fruit Tea | 50 | 0054Berry Fors | 50 | ||
| Before bed | Milk | 180 | |||
Rate the article
(Number of votes: 15, average 5.
0)
Share with friends:
optimal menu for an eight-month-old baby
01/29/2019
43
When my child was 8 months old, I was advised to make adult food the basis of his diet and reduce the number of feedings. But I decided to study the issue and share with you. Let's find out how the eating behavior of an 8-month-old baby changes.
Important foods for an eight-month-old baby
At this age, breast milk or formula is still the main food for a baby. Their volume will reach 700-900 milliliters per day. But adult food is still in second place, although the composition of complementary foods is already expanding. The child becomes more and more familiar with new tastes, he develops food interest.
Let's see what can be added to the diet:
Cereals:
In addition to buckwheat, rice and corn, add oatmeal.
Also, a child can already try pasta and vermicelli for soups. But it is better to introduce bread not earlier than a year.
Vegetables:
Additionally introduced broccoli and cauliflower, spinach, green beans.
Fruits
The child can already taste bananas, prunes, plums, peaches, nectarines and apricots.
Meat
Add turkey, rabbit, chicken and veal to your menu. But soups with meat broth should be avoided for the time being.
Eggs
Since eggs can cause allergies, the hard-boiled yolk is given a taste first. A whole egg can be given after a year.
Fish
This is a new food product. For an eight-month-old baby to get acquainted with fish, cod is suitable.
Butter
Choose butter, olive and sunflower oils.
Dairy products
Many mothers introduce them as early as possible to provide the baby with calcium.
You can give pureed cottage cheese and yogurt.
Biscuits
Baby biscuits should be added in small portions if the child already chews well.
Drinks
In addition to breast milk or formula, offer your baby other liquids such as water, juice or compote.
How to cook and serve food
Cooked fruits and vegetables can be given to your child. We cook food mostly still in a soft and puree form. It is better to make porridge boiled to feed the baby.
At this age, the child begins to grab food by himself and is already better able to chew. To practice these skills, offer food in the form of pieces so that he can take them by hand. For example, bananas, pasta, meat and vegetables. Never leave your baby unattended while feeding. Do not give grapes, raw carrots, raisins, as they are easy to choke on.
Offer new food in the morning. And in the evening you can have the dishes familiar to the child.
