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Good starter foods for babies


Do's and Don'ts for Baby's First Foods

Breastfeeding has been shown to improve infant, child and maternal health outcomes and help control healthcare costs, but how long should breastfeeding last and when should parents introduce solid foods?

The Dietary Guidelines for Americans recommend exclusive breastfeeding, meaning the infant receives only breast milk, during the first six months of life for optimal nutrition and health benefits.

Once solid foods are introduced, health professionals recommend continuing breastfeeding through 12 months of age and, after that, as desired by mother and baby. Introducing your baby to solid foods is an exciting milestone. When you start introducing children to the world of solid foods, you are helping them shape their relationship with food and establish a healthy eating style. The timing for introducing solid foods will depend on the infant, but it is not recommended before the age of four months or after the age of six months.

Not sure how to get your baby started on solid foods? Consider these helpful tips.

Is Your Baby Ready to Transition?

Each child's readiness for solid food depends on their own rate of development. Signs a baby may be ready to start solid foods include sitting up with minimal support, demonstrating good head control, bringing objects to the mouth or grasping at small objects. Check with your pediatrician before starting solid foods.

Getting Started With Solids

Solid foods may be introduced in any order. However, puréed meats, poultry, beans and iron-fortified cereals are recommended as first foods, especially if your baby has been primarily breastfed, since they provide key nutrients. Only one new single-ingredient food should be introduced at a time.

Softer textures are very important when first introducing foods. Infants usually start with pureed or mashed foods around six months. As infants develop chewing and motor skills, they are able to handle items like soft pieces of fruit and finger foods. As the child ages, a variety of healthful foods is encouraged.

Weaning From Breastfeeding

When deciding if you should wean your baby to a bottle or a cup, consider their developmental readiness. Between 7 and 8 months, most infants will drink small amounts of liquid from a cup or a glass when someone else holds it. Older babies and toddlers often have the coordination to drink fluids from a cup by themselves.

If your baby is under 12 months of age and you are not continuing to breastfeed, wean from breast milk to iron-fortified infant formula. If your baby is 12 months or older, whole cow’s milk is appropriate.

Food Safety Do’s and Don’ts

Food safety concerns for infants and toddlers include food allergies, choking and risks for foodborne illness. Keep the following safety tips in mind:

Do talk with your pediatrician about the risk of food allergies. Introducing one new food at a time, every several days, allows time to monitor for allergic reactions. Current evidence does not indicate needing to wait beyond 4 to 6 months before introducing potential allergy-causing foods such as eggs, dairy, soy, peanuts and fish. In fact, introducing peanut-containing foods as early as 4 to 6 months of age may help prevent a peanut allergy. The Dietary Guidelines for Americans recommends introducing potentially allergenic foods when other complementary foods are introduced to an infant’s diet. Parents with concerns about food allergies should discuss how to include these foods with their pediatrician.

Don’t feed your baby solid foods from a bottle. It can be a choking hazard and despite a popular misconception, putting cereal in a baby's bottle won't help with sleeping through the night. Other foods that are considered to be choking hazards are listed below.

Do supervise your child while eating. Infants should be able to sit upright and face forward when you first introduce solid foods. This makes swallowing easier and choking less likely.

Don’t feed directly from the jar of food but instead spoon some food into a separate dish first. Feeding directly from the jar may introduce bacteria from your baby's mouth to the spoon and back into the food, creating a food safety issue.

Don’t feed honey to children under 12 months of age due to the risk of foodborne illness.

Examples of appropriate solid foods listed by age:

6 months:

  • Well-cooked and pureed meat, poultry or beans
  • Ground, cooked, single-grain cereal or infant cereal with breast milk or formula
  • Cooked and pureed vegetables
  • Mashed banana or avocado

9 months:

  • Well-cooked, minced or finely chopped meat, poultry or beans
  • A variety of cooked vegetables cut into small, ½ inch pieces, such as squash and green beans
  • Sliced and quartered bananas or small pieces of other soft fruits

12 months:

  • Soft, shredded meat, poultry or fish
  • Small pieces of cooked vegetables
  • Small pieces of soft, easy to chew fruits
  • Mixed food dishes the family is eating in appropriately sized pieces

Not recommended for those under 4 years of age due to the risk of choking:

  • Popcorn and whole kernel corn
  • Nuts and seeds
  • Large chunks of meat, poultry and cheese
  • Candy, gum drops and jelly beans
  • Hard, raw fruits or vegetables such as apples, celery and carrots
  • Whole grapes and cherry tomatoes, unless cut into quarters
  • Hot dogs, unless cut into strips and age appropriate, bite-size pieces
  • Sticky foods, such as peanut butter, which can get stuck in the back of the mouth – peanut butter is okay if spread thinly on bread

For toddlers and preschoolers, chop grapes, meat, poultry, hot dogs and raw vegetables and fruits into small pieces (about ½ inch or smaller).

Nurturing Healthy Relationships with Food

Establishing a positive feeding relationship during infancy can have lifetime benefits. Keep in mind that children are responsible for how much and whether they eat so always wait for your baby to pay attention to each spoonful before you feed them. Don't be afraid to let your baby touch the food in the dish and on the spoon. You wouldn't want to eat something if you didn't know anything about it, would you? In addition, know the cues that your baby is done eating. A common cue babies are full is head turning.

Whatever happens, don't get discouraged and enjoy the experience. With a little patience and creativity, you can make your baby's first solid food eating experience fun for everyone involved!

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    Best First Foods for Baby (purees & BLW)

    These 10 Best First Foods for Baby are perfect either as a baby food puree or as finger foods for baby-led weaning. Full of essential nutrients for a growing baby, these irresistibly delicious recipes are great for babies 6+ months of age. What’s more, this guide also contains 6 tips for getting started and more than 30 easy-to-follow recipes!

    Medically reviewed by Jamie Johnson, Registered Dietitian Nutritionist (RDN), and Lauren Braaten, Pediatric Occupational Therapist (OT).

    Best First Foods for Baby

    Looking to serve your baby the best foods right from their very first bite?

    Then this guide is for you! Filled with 10 of my all-time favorite foods for baby, all in one place!

    These 10 wholesome foods are packed with vital nutrients for a growing baby, are full of flavor, and are hassle-free to make into a simple baby food puree or finger food for baby-led weaning. Plus, the ingredients are relatively easy to find in any grocery store.

    10 of the Best First Foods for Baby
    • Apple
    • Broccoli
    • Salmon
    • Egg
    • Sweet Potato
    • Yogurt
    • Avocado
    • Banana
    • Squash
    • Green Beans

    Let’s take a closer look into each of these mouthwatering foods, shall we?

    First time making homemade baby food? Then, I would suggest that you start by reading my very in-depth Guide on how to Make Homemade Baby Food – which goes over all the important information such as the best cooking tools to have on hand, safe storage, how to know when baby is ready for solids, how to introduce purees, the best first foods for baby, and more! If you are doing Baby-Led Weaning, then be sure to check out my Complete Guide to Baby-Led Weaning – which covers what exactly is baby-led weaning, to every parent’s concern of baby-led weaning and choking, this guide goes over it all. I will also share how to know when baby is ready for BLW, the top 10 best first foods, a helpful sample blw feeding schedule, helpful tools to have on hand, and much much more! You can also check out my best-selling cookbook for even more information and recipes!

    Best Foods for Baby Video

    Watch this video to see how easy these 10 foods are to make for your baby.

    When Is Your Baby Ready For Their First Bite?

    Whether you decide to go with traditional weaning (purees), baby-led weaning or a combination of both, look for these readiness signs in your baby:

    • Around 6 months of age
    • Sitting with minimal assistance
    • Good control of their head and trunk
    • Bringing hands and toys to their mouth
    • Appears interested in food, possibly by reaching for or leaning forward towards food

    Before you start weaning your baby, you should consult with your pediatrician to make sure your child is developmentally ready.

    Tips for Getting Started

    • Start Slowly – Start by serving a small amount of one food item to your baby once or twice a day to see how they will react. If they are reaching for more, then, by all means, give them more. If they keep tossing it on the floor or refusing to open their mouths, then take that food away and try again in a couple of days. It takes some time before they are eating entire meals.
    • Cut Up Finger Foods – To avoid choking hazards, make sure you are cutting finger foods for baby-led weaning into long, 2-3 inch strips or small, mashable, pea-sized pieces. Usually, babies starting baby-led wearing prefer using their palmar grasp (holding onto the long 3″ piece of food), but you can also cut the food both ways to see which one your baby prefers.
    • Be Patient – It might take a while for your baby to get into their eating groove. They may also love the idea of eating but get more food on the floor than in their mouths. Babies might even seem interested in food but then turn their heads every time a spoon comes near their lips. It’s frustrating, I get it! But keep on serving healthy foods and be patient.
    • Eat as a Family – Whether you are doing purees or baby-led weaning, eating as a family promotes healthy food habits right from the start. By eating with your baby, you show them how to bring food from a plate to your mouth, chew, and swallow. And when babies see their mom or dad eating the same thing as they are, they are more likely to eat it!
    • Mix It Up – Please do not take these 10 foods and serve them to baby all at once and for every meal. Sure, they are loaded with nutrients and flavor for a growing baby. But babies also need to be exposed to various fruits, veggies, grains, and meats. So mix things up and try to serve them different items each week.
    • Add Seasoning – I definitely recommend serving food with spices, herbs, and added healthy fats (refined coconut oil, high-quality olive oil, or butter). Not only do healthy fats aid in brain development and keep babies full up for longer, but they also make food taste way better! Fats are also needed to help absorb the fat-soluble vitamins A, D, E, and K. 

    Purees vs. Baby-Led Weaning

    Regardless of what you read or hear, there is no right or wrong way to feed your baby.

    Purees might work better for your family because you can prep a ton of purees in an afternoon and have a freezer stash of food ready for your baby to eat anytime they are hungry.

    Perhaps Baby-Led Weaning might be a more flexible way to serve food to your baby right alongside everyone else.

    Or maybe a combo of purees and baby-led weaning would work best.

    Either way, it’s important to remember that this stage of feeding is all about exposure to new flavors and textures of foods.

    So, you do you!

    Again, there is NO right way to feed your baby! Play around and find out what works best for both your baby and family and go with it.

    Helpful Tools

    Kitchen Tools

    Here are my favorite kitchen essentials to make the best homemade baby foods for your baby! These kitchen tools will help make the process of cooking, blending, and freezing baby food hassle-free. You can find a full list of my favorite baby food-making tools in my online Shop.

    • Blender or Food Processor
    • Freezer Storage Tray
    • Fridge Storage Containers
    • Stasher Bag
    • Baking Sheet
    • Steamer Basket
    • Medium Saucepan
    • Reusable Pouches
    • easy to hold fork and spoon
    • GOOtensils

    Feeding Essentials
    • High Chair
    • Suction Bowl and Spoon Set
    • Bib with Food Catcher

    Avocado

    Avocados are often called one of nature’s superfoods because they contain so many nutrients a person needs to survive and thrive.

    Benefits of Avocado for Baby

    They are packed with all the B vitamins (minus B12), vitamin C, a wide array of minerals and are high in brain-building omega-3 fatty acids. In fact, 88% of an avocado is made up of healthy fats, helping us absorb certain fat-soluble vitamins, control blood sugar, and support a healthy cardiovascular system. In other words, avocados are so nutritious; they are also ideal as the first food for your baby.

    How to Make Avocado Baby Food Puree

    Make sure to read the recipe card below for full ingredients and instructions!

    • Peel and pit a quarter of a ripe avocado and place it on a cutting board.
    • With the back of a fork, mash the avocado until smooth.
    • If needed, you can add a teaspoon or two of formula or breast milk to make the puree extra smooth and creamy.

    How to Serve Avocado for Baby-Led Weaning

    Make sure to read the recipe card below for full ingredients and instructions!

    • Cut a slice of avocado off of the pit.
    • Using a small knife, cut into the peel 1/3 of the way up the slice of avocado until you get to the flesh.
    • Peel off 2/3 of the peel and hand your baby the peel side of the avocado. This provides a nice handle for babies to hold while they eat the avocado.

    Want more avocado recipes? Get 4 more ways to serve avocado to baby here!

    Egg

    Eggs are another amazing first food for babies and can be served any time of the day.

    Benefits of Eggs for Baby

    Egg yolks are packed with choline, an important nutrient for your baby’s brain development, and the whites are excellent sources of protein. Pasture-raised eggs are a good course of brain-boosting Omega-3s.

    How to Make Egg Baby Food Puree

    Make sure to read the recipe card below for full ingredients and instructions!

    • Hard-boil an egg, then peel away the shell and white part.
    • Place the cooked egg yolk on a cutting board or baby-safe plate.
    • Using the back of a fork, mash the egg yolk until smooth, adding a teaspoon or two of breast milk or formula if needed to make it creamy.

    How to Serve Egg for Baby-Led Weaning

    Make sure to read the recipe card below for full ingredients and instructions!

    • Peel a hard-boiled egg and cut it into quarters the long way. Scrambled eggs, plain omelets, or egg roll-ups also work great as finger food for babies.
    • Place the egg quarters on baby’s highchair tray or in a bowl.

    Sweet Potato

    Sweet potatoes are also at the top of my list when it comes to the first foods to introduce to babies. The nutritional value of sweet potatoes is outstanding, and their naturally sweet taste makes them easy to introduce to your baby.

    Benefits of Sweet Potato for Baby

    Sweet potatoes are also high in beta-carotene and vitamin C and the ultra-important electrolyte mineral, potassium!  Sweet potatoes also contain good levels of vitamin E, calcium, and folate. Due to their high fiber content, sweet potatoes helps support a healthy digestive tract and promote regular bowel movements for your baby. 

    How to Make Sweet Potato Baby Food Puree

    Make sure to read the recipe card below for full ingredients and instructions!

    • Peel and chop 1-2 sweet potatoes.
    • Place them in a steamer basket over boiling water and steam for 10-12 minutes or until tender when pricked with a fork.
    • Add cooked sweet potatoes to a food processor or blender, and puree for 1-2 minutes until completely smooth, adding water, fresh breast milk or formula, in 1/4 cup increments if needed. I had to use 1 cup of water for the puree above.
    • For more sweet potato recipes your baby can enjoy, visit these posts: Sweet Potato + Curry Baby Food Puree, Sweet Potato + Thyme Baby Food Puree, and Sweet Potato with Coconut Milk Baby Puree.

    How to Serve Sweet Potatoes for Baby-Led Weaning

    Make sure to read the recipe card below for full ingredients and instructions!

    • Peel and slice the sweet potato into long strips that are half an inch thick.
    • Place wedges a steamer basket and steam for 8-10 minutes or until tender when pricked with a fork. Remember, you want them soft but not overcooked. Overcooked sweet potatoes tend to fall apart when babies fist them.
    • Let them cool and serve to baby. This recipe will last 5 days in the fridge.

    Want more sweet potato recipes? Then head over to Sweet Potato for Baby – 6 Delicious Ways

    Apples

    Apples are a yummy, nutrient-dense first food for babies too. They’re easy to digest, high in immune-boosting nutrients, and perfectly sweet on their own.

    Benefits of Apples for Baby

    We’ve all heard the saying “An apple a day…” well, there may be some truth to this — apples are high in polyphenols and phytonutrients, which are potent antioxidants that help protect babies and kiddos from disease and illness. In addition to antioxidants, apples contain insoluble and soluble fiber, helping protect babies from diarrhea and constipation. 

    How to Make Apple Baby Food Puree

    Make sure to read the recipe card below for full ingredients and instructions!

    • Peel and chop 2-3 apples and place them in a steamer basket over boiling water and cook for 8-10 minutes or until tender when pricked with a fork.
    • Transfer the apples to a blender and puree for 1-2 minutes or until smooth, adding liquid (water, fresh breastmilk, or formula) in 1/4 cup increments if needed.
    • For more amazing apple puree recipes, check out Apple + Cinnamon Baby Food Puree, Apple + Clove Baby Food Puree and Apple + Coconut Milk Baby Food Puree.

    How to Serve Apples for Baby-Led Weaning

    Make sure to read the recipe card below for full ingredients and instructions!

    • Peel and slice an apple and place in a steamer basket over boiling water for 6-8 minutes or until just tender when pricked with a fork. You want the slices soft but not falling apart.
    • Let them cool and serve to baby. You may also add a pinch of cinnamon to the apple slices before serving, but this is optional. Steamed apple slices will last in the fridge for 3 days.
    • Add a squeeze of lemon juice to prevent them from browning.

    Broccoli

    Broccoli is definitely one of the best first food choices for your baby.

    Benefits of Broccoli for Baby

    This green cruciferous veggie has been shown to lower cholesterol, aid in detoxification, rebuild vitamin D stores, and help combat inflammation. Steaming ensures the broccoli retains the most nutrients and that it won’t become too mushy — a characteristic many kiddos frown upon.

    How to Make Broccoli for Baby Food Puree

    Make sure to read the recipe card below for full ingredients and instructions!

    • Place 2 cups of broccoli florets in a steamer basket over boiling water and steam for 10-12 minutes until tender.
    • Transfer to a blender and puree for 1-2 minutes, adding 1/4 cup of liquid (water, fresh breastmilk, or formula) until you have a creamy puree.
    • Here are some more amazing broccoli recipes: Broccoli + Chives Baby Food Puree and Broccoli + Olive Oil Puree Baby Food Recipe.

    How to Serve Broccoli for Baby-Led Weaning

    Make sure to read the recipe card below for full ingredients and instructions!

    • Place a cup of broccoli florets into a steamer over boiling water and steam for 8-10 minutes or until tender when pricked with a fork.
    • Let them cool and serve to your baby in florets or chopped up into pea-sized pieces. Here is a recipe for my fav roasted broccoli for baby.

    Salmon

    Wild-caught salmon is one of the world’s healthiest foods and believe it or not, is a great first food for baby.

    Benefits of Salmon for Baby

    This is because it is packed with vitamins and minerals like vitamins D and B-12 and omega-3 fatty acids. In fact, salmon is one of the best sources of omega-3s! Combined, these nutrients help improve bone health, boost brain function, promote a healthy heart, and reduce ADHD symptoms in children.

    How to Make Salmon Baby Food Puree

    Make sure to read the recipe card below for full ingredients and instructions!

    • I used grilled salmon as that is what I had on hand, but any cooked salmon would work. Place 1/4 cup of cooked salmon along with 1 cup of cooked sweet potato or squash into a blender and puree for 1-2 minutes, adding 1/4 cup of liquids (water, fresh breast milk, or formula) until smooth.
    • You can use any fruit or veggie your baby prefers in this recipe. Adding another veggie to the puree also helps the salmon blend into a nice, smooth puree.

    How to Serve Salmon for Baby-Led Weaning

    Make sure to read the recipe card below for full ingredients and instructions!

    • Flake some cooked salmon onto a baby-safe plate or their high chair tray, making sure to pick off any bones. Let your baby eat them with their hand or with this baby-led weaning fork.

    Yogurt

    Plain, whole milk yogurt is a tasty first food for your baby and is great served by itself or mixed into other purees.

    Benefits of Yogurt for Baby

    Produced by the bacterial fermentation of cow’s milk, yogurt is full of beneficial probiotics that improve digestion and constipation that help keep our gut in good working order. Yogurt is also high in protein (especially Greek or skyr varieties) and calcium, helping our bones and teeth stay healthy and strong.

    Whole milk yogurt is recommended over low fat because fat helps with brain development. Plus, fat and protein can help maintain fullness for longer. Yogurt has also been shown to help improve blood sugar control (the plain variety, not the sweetened, fruit, or vanilla flavored) and help reduce total cholesterol levels while increasing our “good” HDL cholesterol. It’s best to avoid any flavored yogurt at this age so your baby does not get too much sugar. You can also serve your baby plain goat’s milk as a nice alternative to cow’s milk yogurt. I recommend waiting to serve plant-based yogurts to your baby until 7 months, but keep in mind; they will not have the same nutrient profile as dairy yogurts.

    How to Make Yogurt Baby Food Puree

    Make sure to read the recipe card below for full ingredients and instructions!

    • Place a small spoonful in a bowl and serve to your baby.

    How to Serve Yogurt for Baby-Led Weaning

    Make sure to read the recipe card below for full ingredients and instructions!

    • Place a small spoonful of yogurt into a bowl, load up this self-feeding GOOtensil with a small amount of yogurt, and hand it to your baby.
    NumNum Pre-Spoon GOOtensils

    Our favorite spoon for baby! Designed to work great with both purees and soft solid foods, the spoon holds onto the food and makes it easier for baby to self-feed themselves.

    View Product

    Banana

    Bananas and babies are pretty much synonymous.

    Benefits of Banana for Baby

    Bananas are sweet, mushy, and easy to digest, so they are ideal as first foods for babies. They are a good source of potassium and fiber, and here’s the best part: you don’t have to peel, chop, steam, or puree them. Just peel, pinch with your (clean) finger, and then serve! Spoons are totally optional. Older babies love to squish bananas on their own with a little pincer grasp. But beware of messy banana on bibs, faces, high chair trays, clothing, the floor, the dog, your hair. Oh, bananas! Many a happy baby has gobbled, gulped, and giggled his way through those first delicious bites of bananas! 🍌

    How to Make Banana Baby Food Puree

    Make sure to read the recipe card below for full ingredients and instructions!

    • Take a ripe banana and peel.
    • Place half of it on a cutting board, and mash with the back of a fork until it’s rich and creamy.

    How to Serve Banana for Baby-Led Weaning

    Make sure to read the recipe card below for full ingredients and instructions!

    • Cut a banana in half, and then gently cut about 2 inches from the stem around the banana.
    • Peel the top off, but leave the banana attached to give your baby a handle to hold onto.
    • Hand your baby the stem part of the banana for them to hold onto while they eat it.

    Looking for more banana recipes for your baby? I’ve got you covered: Banana Baby Food – 8 Ways (Puree & Baby-Led Weaning)

    Squash

    Squash comes in many delicious varieties and is one of the healthiest first food for babies. 

    Benefits of Squash for Baby

    Delicata, Acorn, Hubbard, Kabocha, and Butternut are all part of the winter squash family and are all high in carotenoids, a special class of antioxidants that may help prevent cancer and inflammation. Winter squash may also help regulate blood sugar, reduce the risk of cardiovascular disease, and improve mood, thanks to its high content of mood-boosting Omega-3 fatty acids. Plus, winter squash has a robust, naturally sweet taste that babies will enjoy year-round. 

    How to Make Squash Baby Food Puree

    Make sure to read the recipe card below for full ingredients and instructions!

    • Place cubed squash (any variety) in a steamer basket and steam for 10-12 minutes or until tender when pricked with a fork.
    • Transfer to a blender and puree for 1-2 minutes on high, adding liquid (water, fresh breastmilk, or formula) in 1/4 cup increments until creamy. You can use frozen or precut squash to make your life a little easier.

    How to Serve Squash for Baby-Led Weaning

    Make sure to read the recipe card below for full ingredients and instructions!

    • Cut long strips of squash and place them in a steamer basket over boiling water.
    • Steam for 8-10 minutes until tender.
    • Let them cool and serve. I love using this crinkle cutter to make veggies easier for my baby to grip.

    Green Beans

    In just one serving of green beans, your baby will be getting a nice big dose of essential nutrients.

    Benefits of Green Beans for Baby

    Nutrients found in green beans can help prevent various conditions, including asthma, ear infections, and even the common cold and flu! Although green beans have a rich, green color, they also provide your baby with carotenoids, normally found in vibrantly colored orange fruits and veggies. These carotenoids are potent health-supporting antioxidants that will help keep your baby free from illness!

    How to Make Green Beans Baby Food Puree

    Make sure to read the recipe card below for full ingredients and instructions!

    • Place two cups of green beans in a steamer basket over boiling water and steam for 8-10 minutes or until tender.
    • Transfer the beans to a blender and puree for 1-2 minutes, adding 1/4 cup liquid (water, fresh breastmilk, or formula) if needed until smooth.
    • Here are some more awesome green bean puree recipes: Green Bean + Basil Baby Food Puree, Green Bean + Coconut Oil Organic Baby Food Puree, and Green Beans + Parsley Baby Food Puree.

    How to Serve Green Beans for Baby-Led Weaning

    Make sure to read the recipe card below for full ingredients and instructions!

    • Place a cup of green beans in a steamer basket and steam for 6-8 minutes or until tender when pricked with a fork.
    • Let them cool.
    • If they are too long, cut them in half before serving to your baby.
    • 1/4 avocado
    • 1 large egg
    • 1-2 medium sweet potatoes
    • 1-3 apples, such as gala, fuji or honeycrisp
    • 1-2 cups broccoli florets
    • 1/4 cooked salmon
    • 1-2 tbsp yogurt, plain whole fat or 2% fat
    • 1/2 ripe banana
    • 1-2 cups squash
    • 1-2 cups green beans, trimmed
    Avocado For Baby

    • For Puree: Simply peel and pit a quarter of a ripe avocado and place on a cutting board. Then with the back of a fork, mash the avocado until smooth. You can add in a teaspoon or two of formula or breast milk to make it super smooth and creamy.

    • For Baby-Led Weaning: Cut a slice of avocado off of the pit. Using a small knife, cut into the peel 1/3 of the way up the slice of avocado until you get to the flesh. Peel off 2/3 of the peel and hand baby the peel side of the avocado. This provides a nice handle for baby to hold while they eat the avocado.

    Egg for Baby

    • For Puree: Using a hardboiled egg, peel away the shell and white part of the egg. Then place the cooked egg yolk on a cutting board or baby-safe plate. Using the back of a fork, mash the egg yolk until smooth, adding in a teaspoon or two of breast milk or formula if needed to make it creamy.

    • For Baby-Led Weaning: Peel a hardboiled egg and then cut into quarters the long way.

    Sweet Potato for Baby

    • For Puree: Peel and chop 1-2 sweet potatoes. Place in a steamer basket over boiling water and steam for 10-12 minutes or until tender when pricked with a fork. Add cooked sweet potatoes to a food processor or blender, and puree for 1-2 minutes until completely smooth, adding in water in 1/4 cup increments if needed. I had to use 1 cup of water for the puree above. 

    • For Baby-Led Weaning: Peel and slice the sweet potato into long strips that are half an inch thick. Place in a steamer basket and steam for 8-10 minutes or until just tender when pricked with a fork. You want them soft but not overcooked. Overcooked sweet potatoes tend to fall apart when baby fists them. Let cool and serve to baby. Will last 5 days in the fridge.

    Apple for Baby

    • For Puree: Peel and chop 2-3 apples and place in a steamer basket over boiling water and cook for 8-10 minutes or until tender. Transfer the apples to a blender and puree for 1-2 minutes or until smooth, adding in liquid (water, breastmilk or formula) in 1/4 cup increments if needed.  

    • For Baby-Led Weaning: Peel and slice an apple and place in a steamer basket over boiling water for 6-8 minutes or until just tender when pricked with a fork. You want it soft but not falling apart. Let cool and serve to baby. Optional – sprinkle a pinch of cinnamon on apple slices before serving. Steam apple slices will last in the fridge for 3 days, add a squeeze of lemon juice to help them from browning.

    Broccoli for Baby

    • For Puree: Place 2 cups of broccoli florets in a steamer basket over boiling water and steam for 10-12 minutes until tender. Transfer to blender and puree for 1-2 minutes, adding in 1/4 cup of liquid (water, breastmilk or formula) until you have a smooth puree. 

    • For Baby-Led Weaning: Place a cup of broccoli florets into a steamer over boiling water and steam for 8-10 minutes or until tender when pricked with a fork. Let cool and serve to baby in florets or chopped up into “pea” size pieces.  

    Salmon for Baby

    • For Puree: I used grilled salmon as that is what I had on hand, but any cooked salmon would work. Place 1/4 cup cooked salmon along with 1 cup cooked sweet potato or squash into a blender and puree for 1-2 minutes, adding in 1/4 cup of liquids (water, breast milk or formula) until smooth. You can really use any fruit or veggie your baby prefers in this recipe. Adding another veggie in the puree helps the salmon blend into a nice smooth puree.

    • For Baby-Led Weaning: Flake some cooked salmon onto a baby-safe plate or their high chair tray, making sure to pick off any bones. Let baby eat with their hand or with a baby fork.

    Yogurt for Baby

    • For Puree: Place a small spoonful in a bowl and serve to baby.

    • For Baby-Led Weaning: Place a small spoonful of yogurt into a bowl and load up a self-feeding baby utensil with a small amount of yogurt and hand it over to baby.

    Banana for Baby

    • For Puree: Place half of a ripe and peeled banana on a cutting board and mash with the back of a fork until smooth.

    • For Baby-Led Weaning: Cut a banana in half, and then gently cut about 2 inches from the stem around the banana. Peel the top off, but leave the banana attached, thus giving baby a handle to hold onto. Hand baby the stem part of the banana for them to hold onto while they eat the banana.

    Squash for Baby

    • For Puree: Place cubed squash (any variety) in a steamer basket and steam for 10-12 minutes or until tender when pricked with a fork. Transfer to a blender and puree for 1-2 minutes on high, adding in liquid (water, breastmilk or formula) in 1/4 cup increments until smooth. You can use frozen or pre-cut squash to make your life a little easier.

    • For Baby-Led Weaning: Cut long strips of squash and place in a steamer basket over boiling water. Steam for 8-10 minutes until tender. Let cool and serve.

    Green Beans for Baby

    • For Puree: Place two cups of green beans in a steamer basket over boiling water and steam for 8-10 minutes or until tender. Transfer the beans to a blender and puree for 1-2 minutes, adding in 1/4 cup liquid (water, breastmilk or formula) if needed until smooth.

    • For Baby-Led Weaning: Place a cup of green beans in a steamer basket and steam for 6-8 minutes or until tender when pricked with a fork. Let cool, cut in half if green beans are too long and serve to baby.

    Age: 4+ months (stage one)

    Storage: Purees can be stored in an air-tight container in the fridge for up to 4 days, and in the freezer for up to 3 months. Baby-led weaning foods can be stored in an air-tight container for up to 4 days. 

     

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    Nutrition of a child in the 2nd year of life: regimen, diet, menu, necessary products | Mamovediya

    The child in this period of life grows intensively and therefore must receive nutrition that quantitatively and qualitatively satisfies the needs of his body.

    Nutrition should be rational: balanced and consistent with the daily routine. Balance - the inclusion of all the necessary nutrients (proteins, fats, carbohydrates, vitamins, trace elements) in the appropriate proportions that the child's body can absorb.

    Nutrition is considered rational if it meets the age needs of the child and is carried out according to the daily routine.

    In addition, the so-called rational nutrition includes the culinary processing of food used for a given age, and the correct methodological methods of parents in the process of feeding a child.

    The environment surrounding the baby during the meal, the appearance of the dishes served should excite the child's appetite.

    Child's appetite is a state of organic need for food, expressed in the child's desire to eat. At the same time, an adequate positive attitude of the child to food is noted.

    A good appetite, as a rule, depends not only on how well the menu is compiled, but also on the correct organization of the feeding process. To form and maintain a good appetite, parents must clearly know: what, when and how to feed the child.

    How nice it is to feed a child who has a good appetite. It brings pleasure to adults and great benefits for the baby. However, very often it is necessary to observe cases of violation of normal appetite from small deviations (decrease in appetite, refusal of certain dishes) up to its complete absence (anorexia - as it is called in medical practice).

    A child with a decrease or lack of appetite at the mere sight of writing or a reminder of food expresses protest, turns away, defends himself, tightly closes his lips and teeth. It looks like an unnatural negative reaction of the baby to food. Why does a child lose his appetite? Who is to blame for this? The reasons often lie in the wrong method of feeding (strong pressure on the child's tongue with a spoon, the child's lack of interest in food), in the negative sensations associated with eating (too hot food, poor taste), improper organization of the situation during feeding (distraction with a book, toy, punishment), etc.

    Many parents, seeing a decrease in appetite, try to force-feed their child, but this further reinforces the child's negative attitude towards food and everything connected with it. This is strictly prohibited.

    If a child suddenly lost his appetite, first of all think about whether you could have made mistakes in the process of upbringing and feeding, in especially persistent cases, you should consult a pediatrician.

    During feeding, do not forget to introduce the child to the names of dishes (soup, cutlet, compote, etc.) and the properties of objects (food is tasty, sweet, sour, salty, hot, cold, a large spoon, a small one, etc.) .). In this way, the child will form the first ideas, concepts.

    Eating processes should be organized in such a way that the child has a desire to eat. Before eating, you should arrange a calm pause after a long walk or noisy and active games.

    You should not give your child new interesting toys shortly before feeding, and quickly take them away before eating. By doing this, you will cause a strong emotional reaction that will slow down food arousal and reduce appetite.

    While eating with a child, one should only talk about what is connected with this process, concentrating his attention on food, developing the child's active participation in eating.

    A child's appetite is increased not only by deliciously cooked food, but also by its beautiful design, attractive dishes specially painted for children. Children should only be seated at the table when food has already been served. You should not put all the dishes on the table at once, the child is distracted from the first dish, reaches for the third or second, as a result, the sequence of eating is disturbed. Remember that many violations in the health of the baby are associated with errors in his diet.

    By the age of 1 year 3 months, the baby can already eat solid food with a spoon, and at 1 year 6 months he can eat any food - thick and liquid. Try to develop these independent skills and abilities, which are very important for later life, in your son or daughter. How joyful it is to look at a baby who skillfully takes food from a plate with a spoon, without mistake brings it to his mouth and actively removes it with his lips. Something, of course, still pours from the spoon past and remains on the lips or chin of the child, but these errors in eating will soon pass, and the baby will learn to carefully eat the entire portion. Remember that a large amount of food contributes to a decrease in appetite, and an insufficient one does not cause a feeling of fullness.

    A child of this age should be able to chew food. Make sure that he does not keep the pieces in his mouth for a long time, but swallows them in time.

    A child of the 2nd year of life is fed 4 times a day with an interval of 3.5-4.5 hours. However, in the first half of the year, the baby can receive another fifth feeding - kefir or milk at 23-24 hours if he wakes up at night or at 6 o'clock in the morning.

    Establishing rational nutrition is painstaking and very responsible work, but if you do it systematically, without giving "indulgence" to yourself and your child, then your reward will be good health and good physical development of the baby.

    When compiling the menu, it is necessary to correctly distribute how much and what kind of food the child will receive during the day. Feed your baby 4-5 times a day. In the morning it is better to cook dairy dishes, lunch should always consist of soup, meat in the form of mashed potatoes or meatballs with a vegetable side dish, compote or jelly, fruits, kefir are given in the afternoon, a vegetable dish is prepared for dinner.

    The one-time amount of food consumed in children of the 2nd year of life is different - up to 1.5 years, somewhat less than in the second half of the year.

    Under no circumstances should children of this age be given food from the common table. This is very harmful. Malnutrition of a child older than a year will undoubtedly affect his health in the future. Injury by coarse food to the still unprotected mucous membrane of the child's stomach, the stressed state of the organs of the gastrointestinal tract lead to the formation of early gastritis, enteritis, cholecystitis and other diseases.

    The menu can be diversified by replacing meat with cottage cheese, fish, eggs, introducing a variety of vegetable or cereal dishes, changing the culinary processing of food (mashed potatoes, cutlets, jelly, compote, etc. ), improving its taste, adding greens (dill, parsley, celery, etc.).

    If a dairy dish is served for breakfast, then in the afternoon you should feed the baby with vegetables and vice versa; if vegetable soup is prepared for lunch, then the second dish should be cereal, etc. To maintain appetite, make sure that meals are not repeated during the day.

    This set of products does not have to be used every day, and it is practically difficult, for example, to measure 3 g of cheese for a child. It is important that during the week the proposed list of products be used in baby food. Therefore, cheese can be used once a week and immediately in the amount of 20 g (3 x 7, say, give the baby vermicelli with grated cheese for breakfast.

    A few words about food products intended for baby food, or rather, their brief description.

    Milk and dairy products. Natural milk can be given to a child only after boiling. One-day kefir and cottage cheese are very useful. Milk should be boiled in a heavy-bottomed saucepan with the lid closed. When preparing dishes from milk (porridge, mashed potatoes), raw milk is added and allowed to boil once with ready-made cereals or vegetables. Milk must not be boiled twice. It should be remembered that excessive milk reduces the child's appetite, so milk should not be given to quench thirst instead of water.

    Oils. In the diet of children of the 2nd year of life, both butter and vegetable oil can be used, and the amount of vegetable oil should not exceed 10-15% of the total amount of oil consumed per day (i.e., not more than 2 g per day) . Vegetable oil should be stored in a sealed container, protected from light and air. It cannot be boiled, so it is better to lay it in the finished dish. In the diet of children, it is not recommended to use refractory fats - beef, pork, cooking oil, and margarine.

    Meat and meat products. Lean beef, rabbit meat, chickens are useful for children You can use offal - liver, tongue, heart, brains, chicken giblets. Meat should not be soaked in water, as this transfers some of the nutrients into the water. The liver should be fried under the lid and given to the child in a puréed semi-liquid form. For children under 1.5 years old, meat, like other food, should be cooked pureed. This is due to the absence of chewing teeth in a child at this age, the underdevelopment of chewing muscles and the insufficient activity of digestive juices.

    Fish and fish products. Children can only be given low-fat varieties of fish - hake, cod, sea bass, pike perch. Fish is equivalent to meat in its nutritional properties, but, in addition, it contains trace elements important for the growth and development of the child (iodine, phosphorus, copper, etc.). Keto or sturgeon caviar should be treated with caution, as it can cause unwanted allergic reactions in children.

    Eggs. It is recommended to give children only chicken eggs and be sure to boil them. Raw eggs should not be served, as they can be contaminated with pathogens due to the porosity of the shell, and raw protein is poorly digested in the stomach, and raw yolk can cause allergies. Duck, goose, and eggs of other birds are prohibited from being included in the children's menu.

    Bread and bakery products. It is useful for children to give both rye and wheat bread. You can give bagels, bagels, crackers, by the way, children love them very much.

    Cereals and pasta. The most valuable in terms of mineral composition are bean, buckwheat, oat and millet groats. But you can use their other types - semolina, peas, as well as pasta. The groats are boiled in water (oatmeal and buckwheat - for l '/g h, millet - 1 hour, semolina - 20 minutes), then unboiled milk is added, and after removing the porridge from the heat - butter and sugar to taste.

    Sugar and confectionery . In children's food - in tea, milk, cereals, compotes, kissels - you can add sugar, but in moderation. Remember that excess sugar is harmful to a child, as it can contribute to obesity or diabetes. Other sweets are recommended marmalade, jams, marshmallows, marshmallows, cookies, especially oatmeal, waffles. Do not give children cakes with rich creams, chocolates and chocolates, as well as lollipops, especially rounded ones.

    Vegetables, fruits, berries, herbs. All these products are very useful for young children, because, in addition to vitamins, they contain fiber, organic acids, pectin, tannins and volatile substances, as well as minerals and trace elements. Raw vegetables can also be used in children's nutrition. At the same time, they must be thoroughly washed, poured over with boiling water, and then grated on a fine grater. Fruits and berries are best given fresh to a child, and raw juice should be added to a boiled fruit and berry dish. In the nutrition of children, you can use canned vegetables and fruits specially prepared for baby food, as well as compotes, juices, freshly frozen and dried vegetables and fruits. Boil vegetables and fruits in a saucepan with a lid to preserve as many vitamins as possible.

    From 1 year to 1 year 3 months

    You can be told about the methods of preparing various children's meals by a district nurse or a nurse in a healthy child's office in a children's polyclinic.

    The menu for a baby at this age can be compiled as follows:

    Breakfast

    • Porridge (vegetable puree) -150.0
    • Tea with milk (milk) -100.0
    • Bread with butter

      Lunch

      • Soup (vegetable, meat) —100.0
      • Meat puree (patty) — 40.0
      • Side dish (vegetable puree, vermicelli) — 50.0
      • Compote (fruit juice) —100.0

      • Cottage cheese - 30.0
      • kefir (milk) with a bun of –150.0
      • Fruits - 50.0

      • Puree vegetable (porridge) –150.0
      • milk -150.0

      Second supper

      • Kefir (milk) -150.0

      Recall that the second dinner is provided for those children who wake up at 23-24 hours

      From 1 year 3 months to 1 year 6 months vegetables, finely chopped in the form of a salad, seasoned with vegetable oil. This is a very healthy dish, because, in addition to the vitamins it contains, it makes the baby chew food thoroughly, which means it stimulates the development of the child's chewing apparatus.

      The following foodstuffs can be included in the sample menu:

      Breakfast

      Porridge (vegetable puree) -150.0

      Tea with milk (milk) -150.0

      Bread with butter

      3

      Lunch

      • Vegetable salad - 10.0
      • Soup -150.0
      • Cutlet (meat, fish, liver) - 50.0
      • Garnish (cereal, vegetable) - 80.0
      • Compote -100.0
      • Snack
      • Cottage cheese — 50.0
      • Fruits –100.0
      • Tea with cookie --150.0

      Dinner

      • Vegetable puree (porridge) –150.0
      • kefir (milk) –150.0

      of 1 year from 1 year old from 1 year from 1 year 6 months to 1 year 9 months

      Do you consider a child's taste? Children very early begin to distinguish tasty food from tasteless, they have favorite and unloved dishes. Try not to include foods that are vital for the development of the child's body.

      Sample menu for a child of this age.

      breakfast

      • Gate carrot - 30.0
      • Dairy porridge --150.0
      • Tea with milk –150.0
      • Bread with oil

      9000 9000
    • Salad from vegetables - 40 ,0
    • Soup (shchi, borscht) -100.0
    • Meat puree (patty) - 60.0
    • Garnish (vegetable, cereal) -100.0
    • Fruit juice -100.0

    • kefir with a bun --200.0
    • Fruits –100.0

    Dinner

    • Puree vegetable (porridge) —200.0
    • Milk (kefir) –150.0
      • 9000 9000 9000 From 1 year 9 months to two years

      Children's food in this age period can be liquid, semi-liquid, steamed, and also in the form of pieces (for the development of the child's chewing apparatus). The kid should equally willingly eat any food, no matter in which of the listed types it is served. We recommend the following menu:

      breakfast

      • Milk (noodles, vermichel)
      • coffee with milk (tea)
      • Bullet with butter (jam, cheese)

      • Salad from vegetables (candle, quadruns)
      • soup
      • cutlet (meat, fish)
      • Greener
      • compote

      SUPPOCE

      • KEFIRA FREETS (MIRSEMENT MIRSED COMETOMISE 9000 9000 9000 9000 9000 9000 9000 9000 9000 9000 9000 9000 9000 9000 9000 9000 9000 9000 9000 9000 9000 9000 9000 9000 9000 9000 9000 9000 9IT0130
      • In the intervals between feedings, the child can be given a drink (no more than 100 g) of water.

      We remind you that in order to prevent allergies, it is better to exclude chocolate from the child's diet, limit the consumption of foods that are high in carbohydrates, such as condensed milk, honey, sweets, and confectionery.

      The child's food should be varied, full of vitamins. In addition to the well-known sources of vitamins, you can also use such as mountain ash, wild rose, various vegetable mixtures (turnip, rutabaga, lettuce) and greens (dill, parsley, celery), which not only enrich the nutritious diet, but also decorate dishes, which attracts children and stimulates their good appetite.

      It is desirable that parents feed the child at the same time and try to form the right attitude to food in the baby from an early age and teach the culture of behavior at the table.

      Rational nutrition rules

      Good health is an indicator of the quality of life of a modern person. The nature of nutrition is the most important factor determining human health.
      Having access to a variety of foods, students are free to choose the range of food that is available to them for economic reasons, preferable for taste habits and traditions.

      What are the rules to follow when choosing healthy food?
      General recommendations:

      1. Eat a variety of foods from all food groups each day.

      2. Remember! No food is absolutely "good" or completely "bad".

      3. Balance the consumption of meals and foods from different food groups.

      4. Maintain a healthy body weight by changing your food intake and physical activity.

      5. Eat small meals.

      6. Eat regularly without long breaks.

      7. Eat more fiber-rich foods (vegetables, fruits, breads and other grain products, cereals).

      8. Limit fat intake. Choose foods low in fat.

      9. Try to cook foods without fat or with as little fat as possible.

      10. Limit pure sugar intake.

      11. Limit your salt intake.

      12. Avoid alcohol.

      A little more about the rules.
      Rule One: Eat a variety of foods from all food groups each day.
      Modern nutritional science knows 45 essential nutrients that are found in varying amounts in foods. Each food group separately contains its own set of essential nutrients and a certain amount of energy.
      The combination of products provides a complete set of essential nutrients.

      Rule two: No food is absolutely "bad" or absolutely "good".
      Good or bad is the set of products and methods of its preparation that a person chooses and consumes. Only by consuming food from all groups every day is it possible to get all the necessary nutrients and sufficient energy from food.

      Rule three: Balance and moderation.
      It is advisable to consume different types of foods in moderation, which are equal to certain servings. After eating a serving of one type of food, be sure to leave room for a serving of other types of food.
      The implementation of the principles of balance and moderation is not possible without observing the diet. The most physiologically reasonable should be considered at least 4 meals a day. Be sure to have breakfast. Remember! Lack of breakfast affects the ability to learn.

      Rule number four : Eat more fiber-rich foods (vegetables, fruits, breads and other grains, cereals).
      Consumption of plant foods provides the body with complex carbohydrates and dietary fiber, vitamins, minerals. You should only limit the addition of butter and pure sugar to dishes prepared from plant foods (salads, cereals, sandwiches).

      Rule five: Limit your fat intake.
      Choose foods that are low in fat. Eat low-fat varieties of meat and poultry (beef, veal, skinless chicken, turkey, rabbit, elk), fish (pollock, flounder, cod, pike perch, hake, pike, pink salmon), low-fat varieties of milk and dairy products (fat content 2.5 %, 3.2%).

      Rule Six: Limit your salt intake.
      Eating salty foods causes an increase in blood pressure. Therefore, reducing salt intake to 5 g per day may be one way to prevent hypertension, which occurs already in adolescence. It's easy to do: