First food for babies india

6 Months Baby Food - Healthy, Nutritious Solid Food for Introducing

Congratulations Mommie…! Your little bundle of joy turned 6 months old. Now your baby is all ready to start his/her first solid foods. Trying food for the first time is a big milestone for a baby. Food can be exciting for a baby and can take some getting used to. Some babies will take to it right away, others it might take a few months. Mommies, don’t forget to capture when your baby will take his first food. It will be very precious as he will make different cute expressions. I know you were waiting for this moment eagerly. Now the question arises what to feed and how to feed a baby? So, in this post I have shared Indian First Foods for 6 months Baby food and tips on how to start baby’s food.

FOODS THAT WILL BE BEST FOR A 6-MONTH-OLD

Many, many congratulations on your baby completing 6 months in this world. Congratulations on graduating as a breastfeeding mom. You must wonder if it’s time to feed the baby his/her first solid food. First of all, don’t be paranoid or don’t be anxious, you’ve got this. Secondly, don’t forget to capture the moment because the occasion is really special. If you’re confused about 6-month baby food, we ‘re here to help you out.

NOTE: Introduce the solid foods only at the age of 6 months because the digestive system is not strong enough to handle. And you must continue breastfeeding/ formula milk to the baby.

You may be interested in reading – Best Breastfeeding positions for Mother and Baby

Before sharing the best Indian First Foods for a 6 months old Baby or food for a 6 months old baby, let us know important tips on how to feed which are discussed below.

Important tips on how to start baby’s first solid foods:

New foods should be introduced one at a time. A gap of 3 days should be there in between two new foods so that if any problem develops (any food allergies in baby) it can be readily identified.
If a baby develops any food allergy then stop feeding that particular food.
So, always remember to go by the “3-days wait rule” for babies. Thus, a food should be tried for minimum 3 days before the infant is permitted to reject it.
Introduce the new foods only in the mornings to see how your baby adapts that food.
Never mix new foods together. Introduce them separately first to see whether the baby can digest the same or not.
When we introduce new food only a taste or two is sufficient for the first try. Even if the baby takes the food eagerly, small amounts should be given to keep the sufficient appetite for milk. Remember don’t stop breastfeeding/ giving Formula Milk to the baby.
Always try to introduce vegetables rather than fruits because of the humans’ inborn preference for sweets.
Be careful while feeding your baby as some solid foods can cause constipation.
The parents should heat a small amount to serve the infant. The food that has been heated and not consumed should be discarded because of the possible contamination with the salivary enzymes and bacteria. Food that has been opened but not heated can be stored in the covered jar in the refrigerator.
Care must be taken to offer only food that the infant can chew and swallow safely.
Always give home-made and fresh nutritious food to your little one.
Avoid feeding Cow’s milk, raw vegetables, nuts, too much salt and sugar before the age of one year.

You may be interested in reading – Foods unsafe for your baby (below the age of 1 year)

As your baby is ready to wean, here are Best Indian First Foods for 6 months old Baby. And trust me, all are very easy to make.

You may be interested in reading – Indian Diet Plan for 6 months old baby

Here’s baby food for 6 months old baby:

Best Indian First Foods for 6 months old:

1. Cerelac

It is probably one of the most nutritious and wholesome foods for a 6- month baby. Please don’t buy it outside if you can make it at home.

Its ingredients include boiled rice, apple, and formula milk. Here’s the 6-month baby food recipe:

First, boil the rice. Steam the apple and churn the boiled rice and the steamed apple in a blender and add some formula milk in the end.

Ingredients:

Boiled Rice
Apple
Formula milk

How to prepare it:

Boil the rice.
Steam an apple for 10-15 mins then take off its peal.
Churn rice and apple in a blender.
Add formula milk according to the desired consistency.

2. Sooji Kheer

This is another best first food a mother should give to her little one. Sooji (Semolina) enhances bone density, is good for the nervous system and excellent for the heart as well. This is one of the best Indian First Foods for a 6 months old baby.

Ingredients:

Sooji (2 Tablespoon)
Water (Double the amount of Sooji)
Desi ghee (1 Tablespoon)
Almond powder (crush the almonds in a jar)
Apple puree (for taste as sugar is not added)

How to prepare it:

Dry roast Sooji in a pan.
Boil water in another pan.
Add Sooji in boiling water and make sure that there are no lumps of Sooji.
Add desi ghee to it.
Add almond powder to it.
Switch off the flame.
If you wish you can add apple puree in it. Or you can add Breast milk or Formula milk to make it runnier. And it’s ready to serve it.

3. Dal ka Paani

Dal ka Paani is one of the best weaning foods for a baby. This is one of the easiest recipes and best Indian First Foods for a 6 months old baby.

Ingredients:

Yellow Moong Dal (2 Tablespoon)
Water (1 cup)
Turmeric (1 pinch)

How to prepare it:

Soak the dal in water for 15-20 min.
Now put the soaked dal in the cooker.
Add 1 cup of water and 1 pinch of turmeric in that. Close the lid of the cooker.
Cook for 2-3 whistles and then switch off the gas stove.
Open the cooker after its pressure is released on its own.
Pass this dal water through the sieve so that your baby can easily consume that smooth soup now.
Make sure when you offer your baby Dal, Paani is not so hot.

4. Stewed Apple

Apple is “Food of Gods” as it has many advantages. Again, it is one of the best first foods for a 6 months old baby as it can cure stomach disorders, diarrhea and constipation in babies. You can give an apple to your little one in its stew form.

How to prepare it:

Peel and cut an apple into small pieces. Wash them off.
Now in a bowl, take fresh water, put this sliced apple into it and keep it in low heat flame.
Boil them till they become soft so that they can be completely mashed.
Once done, let it be cool. Now, serve it to your baby.

5. Rice Cereal

This is again considered by most of the mothers as their baby’s first grain food. Rice should be offered first to avoid allergies.

Ingredients:

Brown Rice Powder (Grind rice powder well in a blender) (2 tablespoon)
Water (1/2 cup)
Breast Milk / Formula Milk

How to prepare it:

Take 1/2 cup water and let it boil.
Put Brown Rice Powder in boiling water and stir it gently so that the rice doesn’t stick to the pan.
Stir it until it becomes thick and creamy in texture.
Turn off the gas and let it cool down a little and add Breast Milk / Formula Milk when you offer to your baby.

You can give your baby Fruits Puree in their first foods such as Apple Puree, Pear Puree, Banana Puree and Mango Puree. All these Puree’s are regarded as the best Indian First Foods for a 6 months old baby or best 6 month baby food. Their Recipes are as follows:

6. Pureed Apple

Here’s the recipe for pureed apple:

Peel the apple, steam it, let it cool down and then boil it in the blender. Serve it in a bowl. It is one of the most common babies’ first foods, 4-6 months in India.

How to prepare it:

Steam the apple for 10-15 mins.
Take off the peel of the apple.
Let it cool down
Blend it in a blender.
Pour it in a serving bowl.

7. Pureed Pear

Pear is another good first food as it is a source of vitamins and minerals. Also, the babies can easily digest it.

How to prepare it:

Steam the pear for 10-15 mins.
Take off the skin of pear.
Let it cool down.
Blend it in a blender.
Pour it in a serving bowl.

8. Pureed Banana

Bananas are the best choice when it comes to give to your baby as their first food. It helps in controlling diarrhea and treating constipation in babies.

How to prepare it:

Take off the skin of Banana.
Mash it nicely with a fork/spoon or you can blend it in a blender until it is smooth. Now, serve it to your baby.
For extra creaminess, you can also add Breast Milk/ Formula Milk.

9.Pureed Mango

Mango helps in brain development, healthy eyes, better digestion and weight gain in babies.

Read more: Best Foods for Weight Gain in Babies

How to prepare it:

Mash the mangoes nicely.
Mash it with a fork/ spoon. Now, serve it to your baby.

You can also give your baby Vegetable Puree in their first foods such as Ghea Puree, Carrot Puree and Peas Puree. Their Recipes are as follows:

10. Pureed Ghea (Bottlegourd)

Ghea is the powerhouse of nutrients so it is considered as the best Indian First Foods for a 6 months old baby.

How to prepare it:

Steam the ghea for 10-15 mins.
Let it cool down.
Blend it in a blender.
Pour it in a serving bowl.

11. Pureed Carrot

Carrot is a good source of vitamins and minerals. It is also good for disturbed bowel movement hence it is a remedy to stop diarrhea in babies.

How to prepare it:

Steam the carrot for 10-15 mins.
Let it cool down.
Blend it in a blender.
Pour it in a serving bowl.

12. Pureed Peas

Although Peas look small, they are a powerhouse of nutrients. So, it is one of the best Indian First Foods for a 6 months old Baby. Although it can cause gas in a baby, so be a little careful. And yes, always remember to go by the “3-day wait rule” for babies.

How to prepare it:

Steam the peas for 10-15 mins.
Let it cool down.
Blend it in a blender.
Pour it in a serving bowl.

13. Chawal Ka Pani (Rice Water)

Rice water is again one of the best Indian First Foods for 6 months old babies as it is a good source of essential nutrients. It can be given once during the daytime to babies as frequent consumption of rice water can lead to cough and cold as rice is cold in nature. It is also a remedy to stop diarrhea in babies.

How to prepare it:

Take ½ cup of uncooked rice and rinse it properly to remove impurities and dirt.
Now soak the rice in water for 20-30 minutes.
After soaking it, drain out the water and bring this rice to boil in 2 cups of water.
Boil it till 20 minutes.
Sieve the rice water in a soup.
Turn off the gas and let it be cool. Once it gets lukewarm serve it to your baby.

14. Mixed Vegetable Soup

Mixed vegetable soup is supposed to be given to your 6-month-old in the third week of the 6th month. Its ingredients include a potato, peas, and a carrot.

Oil all the vegetables and then put them in a blender to blend and then serve to the baby.

Ingredients:

Potato
Peas
Carrot

How to prepare it:

Boil the Veggies in water.
Let it cool down.
Blend all the veggies together.
Sieve it and serve it to your baby.

15. Sweet Pumpkin Puree

It is filled with vitamin C, iron and other nutrients essential for your baby’s diet

Ingredients:

¼ sweet pumpkin
Water

How to prepare it:

Dice the pumpkin into small cubes after deseeding them and removing the pulp
Boil around 2 cups of water
Add the water and cubes of pumpkin in blender and blend them until it comes down to a fine taste.

16. Avocado Puree:

Avocado is an excellent food for your baby, and it can be introduced as early as 4 to 6 months

of age. How to Make Avocado Puree for Babies: This puree can be made with half a ripe avocado. Cut and scoop out the avocado’s contents. Mash it well with a fork or blend it thoroughly in a blender. Check for lumps.

Nutritional Advantages: Avocado contains essential nutrients for the baby’s brain and central nervous system development. It is also high in fibre. It also has anti-inflammatory and anti-microbial properties, which help to keep infections at bay.

17. Pureed Sweet Potatoes:

Because of their sweet flavour, sweet potatoes are easier to introduce to your baby than other vegetables. As a result, pureed sweet potato is an excellent choice for Stage 1 foods.

How to Make Pureed Sweet Potatoes for babies: Peeled sweet potato, cut into small cubes (about half-inch). In a pot, bring water to a boil and add the cubes. Reduce the heat to a low setting and continue to cook until the pieces are tender. This will take approximately 15 minutes. Place these sweet potato cubes in a food processor. Blend until completely smooth.

If you don’t have a food processor, mash it by hand with a fork or other utensil. To make the sweet potatoes a suitable consistency, you can also use milk (breast or formula).

Nutritional advantages: Sweet potatoes are high in nutrients. They contain a lot of vitamin A. They also contain vitamin C, potassium, fibre, and antioxidants.

NOTE: These recipes are just an idea, you can make it in whichever way you want to.

Consider it a mini-6-month baby diet chart. Even if you’re looking for some other month’s diet chart, remember to follow the 3-day rule. If you notice that the baby is reacting to those foods, stop right away. Diarrhea, vomiting, constipation, and consistent crying can be a sign. In that case, please consult a pediatrician.

What if your baby is allergic to some foods?

An allergic reaction can take the form of vomiting or constipation etc. which is a cause of concern. Stop the food you are giving if your baby shows these signs or signs of allergic reaction, if still these reactions persist, consult a doctor.

Food safety Do’s and Don’ts

Don’t feed solid foods to your baby through a bottle as it can cause choking.
Do Supervise while your child is eating is really essential
Don’t feed your baby directly from the jar instead spoon some food as feeding directly from the jar can cause bacteria as it will transmit through your baby’s mouth to the spoon and ultimately to the jar
Do discuss with your pediatrician about the possible risks of food allergies and monitor food allergies by introducing new foods slowly while seeing the reaction of each food in the baby’s body

Is your baby ready for transition?

Readiness for solids in children depends on their own rate of development. Some signs that can show that a baby is ready for transition to solids is sitting up with minimal support, good head control, and the baby reaching out for food of other family members

If the baby is getting started with solids, foods with soft texture like pureed meats or beans, poultry or cereals which are iron fortified is recommended

Weaning from breastfeeding

Baby’s developmental readiness should be seen before deciding if you should wean your baby to a bottle or cup. If a baby of around 6-8 month old is seen, they drink in liquids in small amounts if someone else holds the cup for them while older babies have the required coordination of drinking fluids by themselves from the cup. If your baby is under one year or 12 months old and you are not breastfeeding him wean from breast milk to iron fortified milk for infants.

6 months baby food chart for Indians

The order in which solid foods are introduced is up to you. However, for babies who have been breastfed primarily, puréed meats, poultry, beans, and iron-fortified cereal is recommended as a first food, as they provide essential nutrients. It is not good to introduce multiple new single-ingredient foods at the same time.

Early morning (7:00 am- 7:30 am) – breast milk or formula milk
Breakfast (8:30-9:00 am) – breast milk or formula milk
Mid morning (10:00- 10:30 am) – breast milk or formula milk
Lunch ( 1:00- 1:30 pm) – banana puree / any fruit puree
Evening ( 4:00 -4:30 pm) – rice porridge with moong dal or breast milk
Dinner ( 6:00-6:30 pm) – breast milk
Bed time ( 7:15- 7:45 pm) – breast milk

It is recommended by health professionals to continue breastfeeding after the introduction of solid foods for up to 12 months, then as desired by the mother and baby. Solid foods are a milestone for your child and should be celebrated. Children learn a healthy relationship with food when they are introduced to solid foods, and they establish a healthy eating style as a consequence. As a general rule, solid foods cannot be introduced before the four-month mark, after the sixth month you may consider giving him or her a little taste of solid food but it all depends on the infant. Carefully learn about Indian food for 6 months baby and take a step. You can always refer to the 6 Months Food chart for Indian Babies given above in the article.

During infancy, it is critical to establish a positive feeding relationship. It is crucial to pay attention to each spoon of food that you feed your baby because a small mistake can make life difficult for your little one. You should encourage your baby to touch the food in the dish or on the spoon. This will help create a strong relationship between the baby and the food. This suggests that the baby is trying to know about what that thing is and generating curiosity in his or her mind. It is also necessary to know the cues that your baby is done eating. Head-turning is a common cue among babies.

FAQ’s

1.

Which baby food is best for a six-month-old?

Cerelac, Sooji kheer, Daal ka Pani, Stewed apple, Rice cereal, Pureed apple, Pureed pear, Pureed banana, Pureed Mango, Pureed Ghea, Pureed carrot, pureed peas, chawal ka paani, Mixed vegetable soup, sweet pumpkin puree, Avocado puree and pureed sweet potatoes are some of the food items that are 6 month baby food that are nutritious and healthy and will help the child with all the vitamins are proteins that they need.

2. What kinds of food can I feed my six-month-old?

To grow up healthy, strong, and intelligent, 6 month baby food require a daily supply of wholesome nourishment. Your baby requires more energy and nutrients than ever at around six months old since she is growing swiftly. Try blending, mashing, or soft cooking , potato, yam, sweet potato, carrot, apple, or pear to start weaning your baby. You may also give baby rice water and dal ka paani. This can be included in a 6 months baby food chart for Indians.

3.

What foods should a six-month-old avoid eating?

Foods that can be avoided in indian food for 6 month old baby or in general could be too much of salt or sugar, Nuts and peanuts some kids might be allergic to them.Children under the age of five shouldn’t be given whole nuts or peanuts since they can choke on them.

Before introducing nuts and peanuts, consult your GP or health visitor if your family has a history of allergies, including food allergies.On rare occasions, newborn botulism, a highly deadly condition, can result from bacteria found in honey that generate toxins in a baby’s intestines. Give honey to your child only after they have reached the age of one. Avoiding honey, which is a sugar, will also help prevent tooth decay.

How to make our kids get ready for solids?

At the beginning, let your toddler sample one food made from a single component. This enables you to determine whether your child has any food-related issues, such as food allergies. Between each new food, wait three to five days. Your youngster will soon be eating and savouring a variety of different foods, so don’t wait.

Cow’s milk products, eggs, fish, shellfish, tree nuts, peanuts, wheat, soy, and sesame are a few examples of foods that could cause allergies in. Other cow’s milk products, such yoghurt, can be introduced before your kid turns 12 months old, but drinking cow’s milk or fortified soy beverages is not advised until your child is older than 12 months. Discuss when and how to introduce foods containing peanuts safely with your kid’s doctor or nurse if your child suffers from severe eczema and/or an egg allergy.Your child will first find it simpler to eat meals that have been mashed, pureed, strained, or have a very smooth texture. Your toddler may need some time to get used to different food textures. Your youngster might sneeze, cough, or gag. You can introduce thicker and lumpier foods as your baby’s oral abilities advance.

It’s vital to serve your child foods that are the correct texture for his or her development because some foods can be choking dangers. Prepare foods that can be quickly dissolved with saliva and don’t need to be chewed to assist prevent choking. Encourage your infant to eat slowly by giving him or her modest meals. Always keep an eye on your youngster while they are eating.

Do’s and Don’ts of baby first food?

Food allergies, choking hazards, and the possibility of foodborne illness are among the food safety concerns for infants and toddlers. Consider the following safety advice:

Do bring up the possibility of food allergies with your paediatrician. One new meal should be introduced at a time, every few days, to give time to watch for allergic reactions. According to the most recent research, it is not necessary to wait longer than 4 to 6 months before introducing foods like eggs, dairy, soy, peanuts, and fish that could cause allergies. In fact, giving a baby foods containing peanuts as early as 4 to 6 months old may help to avoid developing a peanut allergy.

Don’t use a bottle to give solid foods to your infant. Contrary to common belief, adding cereal to a baby’s bottle won’t make them sleep through the night because it poses a choking threat. The following is a list of additional foods that are thought to constitute choking hazards.

Keep an eye on your kid when they’re eating. When introducing solid foods for the first time, babies should be able to sit up straight and face front. By doing this, choking is less likely and swallowing is easy.

Instead of feeding straight from the food jar, put some food onto a different plate first. Feeding straight from the jar could compromise food safety because bacteria from your baby’s lips could get onto the spoon and then back into the meal.

What is the best solid food to start?

Babies may begin to chew at 6 months. Although they won’t have mastered this ability just yet, they are usually willing to get their hands dirty with some mushy, pureed foods, which will help them learn about flavour and texture. At this age, the objective is to pique your child’s curiosity and make them enthused about their food selections rather than to fill them up on full meals of solids.

In order to prevent iron shortage and support their overall health, newborns have high iron requirements due to their rapid growth. Offer your baby iron-rich meals like infant cereal, well-cooked meat, chicken, mashed beans, and lentilsInfant oat, grain, or barley cereals spoon-fed to your baby while being blended with breastmilk or formula pumpkin puree pureed peas Pureed carrots chopped banana Avocado mash Pureed or mashed beans Lentils mashed or pureed

Happy Parenting!

You may be interested in reading-

Best Indian Solid Foods for 7 Months Old Baby

Indian Diet Plan for 7 months old

About the Author
Latest Posts

About Isha Ahuja

I am Isha Ahuja, Nutritionist and Weight Loss Consultant. I am blessed with an angel who is 3 years old. In all the stages of my life till date I feel “PARENTING” is the toughest of all. This is the stage where every single parent wants the best for their tiny ones. No matter what professional/non- professional backgrounds we belong to when we become a mommy its altogether a new journey and a new research that we have to start be it breastfeeding, weaning, toilet training and everything related to upbringing of a baby. So, here I am to share my experiences and advises with the new parents which can help you all in raising your tiny ones and giving them the best what they deserve.

7 Month Baby Food Recipes - January 19, 2021
7 Month Baby Food Chart - January 19, 2021
9 Month Baby Food Chart - January 14, 2021
9 Month Baby Food Recipes - January 14, 2021
10 Month Baby Food Chart - January 14, 2021
8 Months Baby Food Chart for Indian - January 14, 2021
17 Best Indian 6 Months Baby Food - January 14, 2021
Indian Food Chart Recipes for 8 Months old Baby - February 20, 2018
Indian Diet Plan for 6 Months Old Baby - January 12, 2018

View All Posts

6 months baby food chart with baby food recipes

6 months baby food chart with baby food recipes. The best time to start solids for babies is after 6 months. There are many sources suggesting introduction of solids from 3 to 4 months. But an early introduction of solids can lead to more colic, digestive troubles and allergies.

A baby develops digestive enzymes in between 4 to 6 months which are crucial for digestion of foods. It is a good choice to wait until the baby develops these enzymes completely.

A baby typically begins to develop head control from 3 to 4 months and gains strong head to neck muscles by 6 months. A strong head to neck control helps the baby to accept solids well and can easily swallow.

So by 6 months a baby has a better digestive system and a good head control which are needed before the introduction of solids.

Breast milk is the best bet for the overall growth of a baby. It is recommended to exclusively breast feed a baby for the first 6 months.

As an exception, formula milk is an alternate for women who cannot breast feed baby due to professional, personal or medical reasons.

If you have a baby older than 7 months, you can follow this complete
baby food chart for 8 months old and above

How do you know your baby is ready for solids?

1. The baby’s head & neck are stable. This means baby can accept food and swallow.
2. Baby must be able to sit stable with or without support.
3. Shows interest in food when others are eating.
4. Baby must be able to open the mouth when food is offered.
5. Baby is still hungry after breastfeeding or formula feed.

Tips on how to start solids for baby

First consult your pediatrician to confirm if your baby is ready for solids. It is very important to plan well before you introduce any other foods apart from breast milk.

Make your own feeding schedule along with the foods you intend you try and get an approval from your pediatrician. Most clinics and hospitals also provide a diet chart or at least a guide.

I have made this from the guidelines I got from the Clinics here in Singapore. I have followed the same for both my babies.

1. Always start with a single food. Either a fruit, vegetable or grain. Avoid a mixture of foods. You can start with mashed fruit first. The presence of digestive enzymes in fruits helps the baby to digest them better.

2. After a week, while you continue feeding fruit, you can start rice water (kanji), after a week clear dal soup or boiled vegetable broth / water.

3. Always follow the 3 day wait rule for every food you introduce. Wait for the results until the 4th day. Please see the doctor immediately if your baby develops rashes, runny nose, watery eyes, colic etc.

4. Introduce new foods to your baby during breakfast or lunch. Avoid trying new foods during the later time of the day as it is easy to get a control over the problems.

5. A 7 month old baby can eat only a tsp of mashed food initially. Slowly by 4 weeks increase the quantity to a tbsp and then more.

Helpful tips – introducing solids for baby

1. Use stainless steel or glass bowls and cups for preparation of baby foods. Avoid plastic ware even made of any superior material, including virgin plastic or graded as BPA free. Any kind of plastic ware consists of plasticizers that are used to make the containers flexible.

Plasticizers are similar to BPA and are an endocrine disruptor. Even BPA free plastic and virgin plastic ware have chemical plasticizers. Please use google search for more info.

2. Always feed the baby in a calm, quite environment and in a steady place like – on the lap, in a high chair or on the floor.

3. While feeding, refrain the baby from activities like watching a TV show, playing with a hand held gadget like mobile, and tablet or game devices. Some of these emit radiation that is not good for the baby.

4. Meal time has to be a learning for the baby, speaking to your baby about the food – its texture, taste and color helps the baby to develop a liking for the food. Or narrate a good story to the baby, do not encourage the baby to talk while eating. This may seem to be over disciplined but this is the only way i have found to grow fuss free kids. They will begin to love any food that is served.

5. Introduce water from a steel cup or a glass not from a feeding bottle or sipper. A 90 ml cup is best suited. This makes the transition from teat to cup easy when the baby grows up.

6 months baby food chart

To follow this baby chart please ensure your baby has completed 6 months and you have an approval from your pediatrician for the same.

A baby usually consumes milk every 2 to 3 hours. Solids should be served in between the feeds. Use plain boiled and cooled water to puree the fruits if needed. Avoid mixing milk or any other ingredient with fruit.

The combination of fruit and milk products results in indigestion, loss of appetite, no weight gain and accumulation of toxins.

Clear soups can be used to make pureed rice, oats or ragi cereal. Feeding only clear soups regularly is not a good idea as they lack the nutrition that is provided by a semi solid food or milk.

I have shared a sample baby food chart below which shows the quantities of fruits and vegetables. From the chart (day 13 to day 20), you can replace potato with rice porridge (kanji) or dal soup or ragi porridge.

This is an alternate table which you can follow if your baby is in between 6 and 7 months.

Wake up

Breastfeed or formula milk. What ever time your baby wakes up.

breakfast
7.30 to 8 am fruit puree

One of the following: (only after 1½ to 2 hours of milk). You can use boiled cooled water to thin down the puree.
1. Banana- mash with a fork or run in a blender.
2. Apple- peel,core,steam for about 5 to 6 minutes. Puree in a blender
3. Chickoo (sapota)- mash with a fork and spoon
4. Pear- peel and core, steam for 5 to 6 minutes
5. Papaya – mash with a fork or blend
6. Ripe avocado – add it to a blender and puree

lunch
11. 30 to 12.30 pm

After introducing fruits, you can try these. Continue to feed fruits for breakfast.
first 1 week – rice cereal
2nd week apple rice or rice cereal with boiled carrot
3rd week ragi porridge Or apple ragi or oats porridge Or apple oats Or clear moong dal soup
4th week – Repeat the foods mentioned above. You can also introduce soupy khichdi. You will have to make it following the same method I mentioned for rice cereal above.

rest of the day

Breast feed or formula (only after 1.5 to 2 hours of lunch)

Baby food recipes for 6 months old along with ingredients and instructions to prepare

These are the quantities i followed for my kids i got from the Health Promotion Board,Singapore.Use any one
Quantity of fruits for 6 months to 9 months
½ small apple
½ small pear
½ cup sapota
½ cup papaya
½ medium banana

How many times can the same fruit be given in a week?

Including a variety of fruits will provide different kinds of nutrients to the baby.
Banana – 3 to 4 times
Apple – daily
Chickoo- daily
Pear- 3 to 4 times
Papaya – 4 to 5 times
Avocado- 3 to 4 times or daily

Do read the complete post before you attempt any of these recipes
More tips on preparing Lunch

from 3 rd week – Rice, ragi or oats. Clear dal soup with veggie.
first 7 days (from 3rd week) -Single grain with milk (formula or breast milk). You can also use gluten free or baby oats or ragi to make porridge.
next 7 days – Rice with a single veggie or apple. You can use steamed or boiled carrots.

VEGETABLES to prefer
1. carrots
2. pumpkin

LENTIL/ DAL to prefer
1. moong dal
2. toor dal

TRADITIONS OF THE PEOPLES OF THE WORLD. INDIAN CUSTOMS RELATED TO THE BIRTH AND DEVELOPMENT OF A CHILD. : News : ALL OF US

03/11/2022

In every Indian family, the birth of a child is a long-awaited event, and there are many customs associated with pregnancy and the birth of a baby.

Pregnancy is perceived as God's blessing, therefore, during this period, women are revered and protected. In India, it is customary, with the help of an astrologer, to select a favorable day for conception in advance so that the child has pious qualities of character. Long before the onset of pregnancy, the husband and wife begin to perform cleansing procedures, pray, communicate with the sages, and prepare their body and soul.

When pregnancy has come, the expectant mother often performs a ritual aimed at the mental development and physiological health of the baby, as well as ensuring a favorable pregnancy. To do this, a woman washes her hair, after which another woman applies aromatic oil to her hair, then the husband combs and divides his wife's hair into two parts, while wishing that the child would live as many years as the hair on his wife's head. At the end of the ceremony, he decorates the pregnant woman's hair with flowers or beautiful hairpins.

For the successful development of the baby, the appropriate state of the expectant mother is important, to achieve which meditation and yoga classes are used. In many parts of India, it is customary for a woman to give birth to her first child in her parents' home so that she can feel the love and care of her loved ones during this difficult period. Childbirth takes, as a rule, an experienced give, or a midwife.

In India, it is customary for a newborn to give the first sip of a mixture of honey and butter or sugarcane molasses. According to tradition, the mixture is first applied to the lips of a relative who enjoys special respect in the family, and then to the lips of a newborn. In the southern regions, a piece of gold is dipped in honey and touched to the baby's mouth. Often, at birth, a child's horoscope is compiled, rituals are performed, a festive table is laid and guests are called.

In some parts of India, on the fifteenth day of a baby's life, a ceremony is performed, which in Sanskrit is called "the first exit." In a ritually cleaned courtyard, the father holds the child in his arms and shows him in the sun, reciting a verse from an ancient Sanskrit text. Often in the south of India, babies are given eyeliner. It is believed that black marks on a child's face ward off the "evil eye" and protect from curses. The name of the child is printed with a gold coin on a hill of rice, on which he is carefully planted and turned in the direction of the rising sun. Then, to protect it from evil rock, it is girdled with the first sacred thread. Five or six golden talismans are suspended from it: a mango, a moon, a dog, a champak flower, and a tiny hollow cylinder containing a prayer for his well-being. For the first time, the mother whispers his name in the baby's ear and puts him in the cradle, lined with her wedding sari and hung with garlands of flowers.

Those belonging to the higher castes according to the traditional Indian hierarchy call the first feeding of the baby "anna-prashana" and celebrate it on the sixth month of the child's life. For the first time, a baby is given a traditional, lucky dish made from sweet rice, butter, and milk. On this day, sacrifices are made to the sacred fire and the goddess of speech, prayers are offered for life, health and purification of all the senses that perceive food.

When a child from a wealthy family turns six years old, a ritual is performed, which is his first experience of writing and reading. According to the ritual, the baby's hand is led over saffron scattered on a silver dish, after which he must read what is written. Then the child is bathed, and, having propitiated the household gods, he praises the divine patrons of the teaching: Ganesha, the god with the head of an elephant, who removes obstacles; Savitri, luminary and enlightener; Brihaspati, teacher of the gods, and Saraswati, goddess of speech, poetry and music. In the presence of relatives and guests, the child writes aum - the sound of the universe and a greeting to the gods. He reads what is written to his guru three times, then gifts are presented to the latter.

The relationship between a guru and a sisya (disciple) is considered sacred. They are established by performing the upanayana initiation rite, symbolizing the entry into a new life. A boy belonging to the higher castes is tied with a sacred thread over his shoulder and initiated into the cult privileges of ancient Hinduism.

In simple families, at the end of the first year of a child's life, the rite of "chudakarana" or shaving of the head is performed. The meaning of the ceremony is to rid the baby of the first hair associated with Hindu adherents with past lives.

Another common ritual is ear piercing, which is performed on both girls and boys during the first, third or fifth years of their lives. It is believed that a child's ears should be pierced for protection from disease and general well-being.

Materials from the following websites were used in preparing this publication:

http://waking-up.org/religii-mira/rozhdenie-rebenka-v-indiyskoy-seme/

https://7sisters.ru/children/31856-udivitelnyie-traditsii-beremennost-v-culture-indii. html/amp

http://annales.info/india/ritual/06.htm

Department of International Projects

Tags: Traditions of the peoples of the world, India, Indians

Everyday food in India — Real time

Society

07:00, 05/04/2019

Rice with rice, red chili and banana leaf feast

There is a concept in the West that in India, an impoverished and overpopulated country, overcooked and scalding food is eaten. But that's not the case at all. Indian culture won me over with its cuisine. Such a variety of tastes, colors, smells cannot be found, in my opinion, in any other cuisine in the world. And this despite the fact that traditional Indian cuisine is vegetarian, that is, it does not use meat, eggs and fish. Due to spices, various vegetables, grains, milk and oils, thousands of dishes proven over the centuries are created. For several years now, I have been trying to master the main dishes of this cuisine, learning from local women. In a new article for Realnoe Vremya, I will talk about what my menu has become after a long stay in India.

All Five Flavors

The first thing you remember about Indian cuisine, especially if you get to know it not in restaurants designed for Western tourists, but in street cafes or visiting Indians, is the sharpness of the dishes. Indians love very spicy food, like the rest of the inhabitants of the hot zone. For many reasons. Hot peppers, chili, put in food, because it increases sweating and helps to endure heat more easily. In addition, pepper copes well with the destruction of infections in the body.

After some time I learned to eat moderately spicy food, and after that Russian cuisine seems boring and insipid to me. True, there are as many peppers as the Indians, but I'm still not used to it. They throw a handful of dried red peppers into any salty and sometimes sweet dish, and then bite it with green chili as well. Chili is not a traditional product for India, it was brought from other hot countries, but initially Indian cuisine also has a spicy taste due to ginger and black pepper.

However, it's not just about the spicy taste. The basics of Indian cooking are based on such a science of human health as Ayurveda, which says that all tastes should be present in food during lunch: bitter, sour, spicy, sweet, and astringent.

A pile of rice is placed on a large round tray, and small cups with all kinds of snacks, side dishes, seasonings and sauces are placed around it. From Hindi, it translates as "large plate" or "tray". A hill of rice is placed on a large round tray, and small cups with all kinds of snacks, side dishes, seasonings and sauces are placed around it. This way you can try a little bit of everything and combine different dishes that just combine all five tastes. This is quite a hearty meal, in India there is even a saying: "Men eat thali to be strong, and women to be fat and beautiful.

" In some cafes (and in the homes of residents of some states), thali is served in the traditional way, not on a tray, but on banana leaves: this method is good for health, banana leaves release useful substances when in contact with food.

The same thali is cooked at home, and on holidays the number of dishes can reach 20-25. Also, a slice of lemon, a slice of ginger and a little salt are placed on the tray, they must be eaten first to awaken the appetite and start digestion.

Moreover, in most Indian cafes, you can get a supplement for free: after a while you will be offered more rice and various vegetable dishes. There is no need to pay extra, you can eat as much as you want, your serving is not limited in weight and volume.

Rice with rice

Rice is the main food in the Indian diet. Rice is eaten all year round, morning, afternoon and evening. It is easy to grow, cheap, and therefore accessible to all segments of the population. Mostly Indians eat white polished rice. Brown rice, which has recently become so fashionable in the West, is eaten only by very poor people. Many recipes for rice dishes have been preserved in modern India since ancient times, they are mentioned in the scriptures (shastras). There are many options for boiling rice, frying it with vegetables and spices (pulao, biryani), making rice sweets.

An Indian can eat a mountain of rice for lunch. And this is not a figurative expression. All other dishes are only an addition, be it a little soup, sauce or vegetables. Especially love rice in South India. Diversity at lunch is achieved by serving several types of differently cooked rice. First, as a rule, there is a handful of turmeric yellow rice with vegetables, then flattened rice may be served, and then the main portion of white.

Rice is eaten all year round, morning, afternoon and evening. It is easy to grow, cheap, and therefore accessible to all segments of the population

Bean dishes - dal

Indians usually eat without cutlery, with the right hand. The left is considered unclean. Eating with your hands is healthy and delicious. It is useful because it is difficult to take too much with your hand, fingers are sensitive to the consistency of food and its temperature, unlike a spoon. Rice itself is dry, and in order to soak it, medium-thick pea soup is poured directly into a hill of rice, dal. In India, many varieties of peas are available in all shops and stores. These are chana-dal, and chickpeas, and urad-dal, and matar-dal (large peas), and mung-dal (mash). From very small peas, which quickly boil and form a thick creamy soup, to large peas, which are known in Russia.

Bean dishes are superior in protein to all other foods. There are so many recipes for their preparation that you can cook different types of dala for several months and not repeat. The simplest recipe is matar-dal: peas are boiled and blended in a saucepan until smooth, and then spices fried in oil, masala, are added to it, which stimulates digestion and gives the dish aroma and color. Masala usually includes fresh ginger paste and turmeric.

Almost all Indian housewives have pressure cookers at home: they can quickly boil dal, saving gas, which is not cheap in the country.

Vegetable dishes - sabji

In India, where over 80 percent of the population is vegetarian, rice and dal are the basis of a nutritious meal. The poor who cannot buy vegetables every day eat only rice and dal. In difficult times, when dal grows in price, they eat only rice, eating it with green chili. But traditionally, rice and dal are also served with sabji, fried and stewed vegetables with spices. India is a paradise for vegetarians, growing and selling a wide variety of fruits and vegetables. The markets where vegetables are sold are called “sabji bazaars”, where fresh vegetables and fruits freshly harvested in the fields and beds are unloaded every morning at sunrise.

Many of them are known to us: pumpkin, eggplant, potatoes, radishes, cauliflower, tomatoes. Others are little known in the West: breadfruit, potol (Indian cucumber), bitter melon (karela), green papaya, and so on. In India, Shaka dishes are very popular, this herb is very cheap and available all year round. It is simply fried in a pan, seasoned with salt, spices and oil.

The markets where vegetables are sold are called “sabji bazaars”, where fresh vegetables and fruits just picked in the fields and beds are unloaded every morning at sunrise

Vegetables are fried mainly in mustard oil, which, by the way, has a very high combustion temperature. They also cook with coconut, peanut and sesame oils. But ghee, ghee, has been considered a sign of prosperity in India for many centuries. It is also called liquid gold, because earlier a person's wealth was judged by ghee reserves. Ghee is also healthier than other oils and is called “brain food” in the shastras. When you cook food with ghee, the dish has a special caramel aroma and sweet taste.

Ginger paste, chili, cumin, coriander and mustard are usually added to vegetables. Several types of sabji are served on the holiday at once.

Indian bread

In traditional Indian cuisine there is no baking, the bread is fried. Usually the stove is built in the yard of clay bricks, the fuel is cakes made from cow dung. In the villages and towns that still make up most of India, women can be seen plastering fences and trees with these cakes so that they dry out. It is considered the most environmentally friendly fuel.

Although there are electric stoves in many Indian homes, sourdough or yeast bread is still not eaten by most Indians. But here, as in all Eastern cultures, there is a wide variety of cakes that are cooked on an open fire.

The most popular flatbread is chapati. Cooking it is not so easy, girls from childhood, under the supervision of their mother, learn to roll perfectly flat cakes from flour, water and salt. Then they are slightly warmed up in a hot flat frying pan without sides and thrown directly into the fire or on a metal grate above the fire. If everything is done correctly, then the cake should swell to the state of a ball and thus bake from the inside. Chapatis are smeared with ghee.

The most popular flatbread is chapati. Cooking it is not so easy, girls from childhood, under the supervision of their mother, learn to roll perfectly flat cakes from flour, water and salt

A more refined and expensive version of cakes is puri. They are thrown into hot oil, and there is a belief that if a woman's puris are swollen, then her mother-in-law loves her. Indians eat puri for breakfast along with some stewed vegetables or jam.

There are also flatbreads with filling - parathi. Cheese, potatoes, greens are put there as a filling. My favorite type of flatbread is lachcha paratha, I first tried real lachcha paratha in a small town in South India. On the street early in the morning, an elderly old man was preparing these cakes in a shop, which, probably, was inherited from his father, and since then he has been toasting bread here every day. His daughter and grandson helped him. Lachchha paratha is a hot, crispy, puffy, buttered puff pastry.

All flatbreads are served hot, off the heat. However, Indians generally rarely eat food that has lain down for some time, they do not like semi-finished products either. According to Ayurveda, it is harmful to heat food, especially rice, dhal and vegetables.

Of course, in large families, flatbread is far from being available every day, because their preparation takes more time. They are served with rice, dal and sabji. A piece of cake comes off and with its help a little rice and vegetables are collected, this is very convenient when the rice is crumbly and the vegetables have not cooled down yet.

Rice, dal and sabji served with spicy-sweet chutney sauce, with lots of pepper and sugar

Snacks and sauces

Indian cuisine is rich in various snacks. Indians are very hospitable people, and even if they don't have lunch yet, you will certainly be treated to some deep-fried homemade crunchy chickpea flour crackers with spices and a glass of water or a chilled drink. Such salty snacks are convenient to take with you on the road, they do not deteriorate.

Another type of popular snack is pakora: deep-fried pieces of vegetables (and sometimes also fruits and paneer or Adyghe cheese). This is a simple and cheap dish. Indians simply adore him, so there are always pakora sellers on trains, on the streets, in parks at social events. At home and in cafes, pakoras are usually served with soup or a drink.

Rice, dal and sabji are also served with spicy-sweet sauce - chutney, with lots of pepper and sugar. Such sauces emphasize the taste of the main dish; you can’t eat a lot of them because of the spiciness. I note that many modern Indians are very fond of onions and garlic and put it with the same fanaticism as chili in all dishes. However, traditional cuisine does not use these seasonings. Moreover, according to the shastras, onions and garlic are considered unclean foods and are not recommended for human consumption.

Sweets

Factory-made sweets and packaged chocolates have not yet killed Indians' love for handmade sweets. They are prepared by housewives, temple cooks, and shopkeepers (halvais), the recipes have practically not changed over the centuries. The chef's professionalism is expressed not in his innovation, but in his ability to achieve a taste that is as close to the traditional as possible. Many sweet dishes are made from boiled milk. Milk with sugar is boiled for an hour or longer, with constant stirring. This is a lot of work, but Indian women believe that for them it is an opportunity to put all their love for loved ones into cooking. Depending on the degree of milk cooking, burfi, khir, rabri, “sweet rice” are obtained. Decorate such sweets with nuts, ground cardamom, saffron.

Curd milk mashed with powdered sugar produces the most delicate sandesh. If the sandeshs are boiled in sugar syrup, then these are already rasagulas. And if after that put in a creamy sauce, then rasamalai.

Factory-made sweets and packaged chocolates have not yet killed Indians' love for hand-made sweets.

One of the most popular dishes in India is halava. Not halva, namely halava, which is made mainly from semolina and sugar with butter and resembles pudding.

Housewives ferment homemade yoghurt every day. Women take pride in using the leaven that has been passed down from generation to generation, from mother to daughter. Condensed yogurt can be used to make a delicate shrikhand dessert, and if you dilute the yogurt with water, add fruit puree and sugar, you get lassi, a refreshing and satisfying drink.

In India, you can find different types of sugar in all stores and stalls, it is not uncommon and it is very affordable. These are cane (jaggery), and date, and palm (gur) sugar. The word "sugar" itself comes from the Sanskrit word "sarkar". The amount of sugar Indians use to make sweets is incredible. It is clear that in this way sweets are stored longer in the heat. They also traditionally add dried fruits, spices and natural flavors - green cardamom, nutmeg, cloves, saffron, black pepper and camphor, rose water. Sweets are usually sprinkled with nuts or coconut flakes.

Drinks

Tea was brought to India by the British. Now this drink is very popular here, but they prepare it in their own way: they boil it together with milk, ginger, cardamom, cinnamon and other spices. This is called masala chai. It should be piping hot, drink it from tiny cups.

I saw how early in the morning, before dawn, some old man takes his smoky iron stove to the side of the road, kindles a fire in it and brews tea in a teapot. This is his earnings, perhaps, throughout his life. Everyone who passes by on their way to work, as well as rickshawals and cyclists, buy tea from him in small cups and drink it sitting next to him right on the ground. This is the morning ritual of many Indians.

However, tea and coffee, from the point of view of the sastras and according to the authoritative brahmins, are not pure foods. And many Indians refuse these drinks, which have a slight narcotic effect and are addictive. The same attitude in traditional culture to alcohol. In some places it is even forbidden to sell alcohol, for example, where I live (Mayapur, Bengal).

Now this drink is very popular here, but they prepare it in their own way: boil it together with milk, ginger, cardamom, cinnamon and other spices. It's called masala chai0004 Indian cuisine has a lot of cooling and warming drinks, fresh juices. One of the most popular is a drink made from lemon and ginger. In the evenings, they also drink hot milk with saffron, turmeric and black pepper. Sometimes banana or mango pulp is added to the milk.

My culinary experiences

Before coming to India, I had some experience in cooking Russian and European cuisine. But when I got acquainted with Indian cuisine, I realized that I didn’t know how to cook at all. In India, cooking is a complex and delicate art, and it is better if a girl learns it from childhood. Now I take lessons from local women, YouTube videos are a good help, since many Indian housewives or their grandchildren are infected with the modern disease to blog culinary. Of course, not all recipes that you can see there are proven. Therefore, in case one of the readers is interested in how to learn how to cook Indian cuisine, I will advise a number of sources. Of the blogs that talk about Indian cuisine in Russian, this is Culinary Journey: Indian Cuisine. And from the authoritative literature - the book of Yamuna devi "Indian Vegetarian Cuisine" and Adiraja das "Vedic Culinary Art". In particular, Yamuna, a cook from America, traveled all over India, collecting traditional recipes from temple priests and householders.

In some articles I have already written that in the tradition of India it is customary to take consecrated food (“What did you eat today?” as the main Indian question). The well-known philosophical and religious Indian treatise Bhagavad Gita says that one who takes food that is not offered to God "tastes only sin." Food is offered both in temples and at home altars, reciting the appropriate mantras. In order to offer it, the chef does not taste the dish during the cooking process: Indian housewives can determine by eye whether there is enough salt and sugar in the dish.