What are the nutritious food for babies
Feeding your baby: 6–12 months
At 6 months of age, breastmilk continues to be a vital source of nutrition; but it’s not enough by itself. You need to now introduce your baby to solid food, in addition to breastmilk, to keep up with her growing needs.
Be sure you give your baby her first foods after she has breastfed, or between nursing sessions, so that your baby continues to breastfeed as much as possible.
When you start to feed your baby solid food, take extra care that she doesn’t become sick. As she crawls about and explores, germs can spread from her hands to her mouth. Protect your baby from getting sick by washing your and her hands with soap before preparing food and before every feeding.
Your baby's first foods
When your baby is 6 months old, she is just learning to chew. Her first foods need to be soft so they’re very easy to swallow, such as porridge or well mashed fruits and vegetables. Did you know that when porridge is too watery, it doesn't have as many nutrients? To make it more nutritious, cook it until it’s thick enough not to run off the spoon.
Feed your baby when you see her give signs that she's hungry – such as putting her hands to her mouth. After washing hands, start by giving your baby just two to three spoonfuls of soft food, twice a day. At this age, her stomach is small so she can only eat small amounts at each meal.
The taste of a new food may surprise your baby. Give her time to get used to these new foods and flavours. Be patient and don’t force your baby to eat. Watch for signs that she is full and stop feeding her then.
As your baby grows, her stomach also grows and she can eat more food with each meal.
Feeding your baby: 6–8 months old
From 6–8 months old, feed your baby half a cup of soft food two to three times a day. Your baby can eat anything except honey, which she shouldn't eat until she is a year old. You can start to add a healthy snack, like mashed fruit, between meals. As your baby gets increasing amounts of solid foods, she should continue to get the same amount of breastmilk.
Feeding your baby: 9–11 months old
From 9–11 months old, your baby can take half a cup of food three to four times a day, plus a healthy snack. Now you can start to chop up soft food into small pieces instead of mashing it. Your baby may even start to eat food herself with her fingers. Continue to breastfeed whenever your baby is hungry.
Each meal needs to be both easy for your baby to eat and packed with nutrition. Make every bite count.
Foods need to be rich in energy and nutrients. In addition to grains and potatoes, be sure your baby has vegetables and fruits, legumes and seeds, a little energy-rich oil or fat, and – especially – animal foods (dairy, eggs, meat, fish and poultry) every day. Eating a variety of foods every day gives your baby the best chance of getting all the nutrients he needs.
If your baby refuses a new food or spits it out, don’t force it. Try again a few days later. You can also try mixing it with another food that your baby likes or squeezing a little breastmilk on top.
Feeding non-breastfed babies
If you're not breastfeeding your baby, she’ll need to eat more often. She'll also need to rely on other foods, including milk products, to get all the nutrition her body needs.
- Start to give your baby solid foods at 6 months of age, just as a breastfed baby would need. Begin with two to three spoonfuls of soft and mashed food four times a day, which will give her the nutrients she needs without breastmilk.
- From 6–8 months old, she’ll need half a cup of soft food four times a day, plus a healthy snack.
- From 9–11 months old, she’ll need half a cup of food four to five times a day, plus two healthy snacks.
Baby's first foods: The 10 best foods for babies
These 10 first foods are ideal for your baby because they're full of essential nutrients, reasonably priced, easy to prepare, and delicious. Avocados contain healthy fats, while bananas are loaded with potassium. Blueberries are bursting with antioxidants, whereas broccoli offers fiber and folate.
Both lentils and meat are packed with protein. Prunes can help with constipation, and yogurt helps form healthy bones and teeth. Sweet potatoes and winter squash are great sources of beta-carotene and vitamin C.
According to the American Academy of Pediatrics, it's important to offer your baby a variety of healthy foods. There are lots of healthy, baby-friendly foods out there, but these 10 recommended by doctors and dietitians alike stand out from the pack. From vitamin-rich fruits and veggies to meats and beans loaded with protein, these superfoods are full of essential nutrients, reasonably priced, easy to prepare, and delicious.
Many are also favorite first foods. Before introducing solids, talk to the doctor about your baby's readiness for solids, and which foods to introduce and when. Then introduce foods one at a time, waiting at least three days after each new food to watch for any allergic reaction.
Avocados
BabyCenter parents are all about avocado as a first food.
This buttery fruit-vegetable is rich in healthy unsaturated fats that help boost brain development. In fact, the fat composition of avocados is somewhat similar to that of breast milk.
Serving ideas: Mash avocado with a fork, or make baby guacamole.
Bananas
Known as a good source of potassium, this grab-and-go fruit also contains vitamins B6 and C, fiber, and magnesium.
Serving ideas: Make banana and mango puree. Or, for your little one's first smoothie, puree banana and peach chunks with whole-milk yogurt.
Blueberries
Blueberries are bursting with antioxidants. The deep, brilliant blue of these berries comes from flavonoids that benefit your baby's eyes, brain, and even urinary tract.
Serving ideas: Blend or mash blueberries well and swirl a spoonful of the juicy purple puree into yogurt, or top silky coconut milk rice pudding with blueberry compote.
Broccoli
This cruciferous vegetable is a rich source of essential nutrients, including fiber, folate, and calcium.
Introduce your baby to broccoli's bold flavor early, and you'll be expanding their tastes and encouraging a lifelong love of green vegetables.
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Serving idea: Steam until soft, cut into pieces small enough for your child to eat safely, and then chill. Steaming takes the bite out of broccoli, and some babies prefer the texture and taste when it's cold.
Lentils
Beans and other legumes pack lots of lean protein and fiber. But unlike larger beans, little lentils simmer into a pleasing mush just right for baby bites. They're also one of the cheapest healthy foods you can buy.
Serving ideas: Cook finely diced carrots along with the lentils. As your baby gets older, double up on nutrient-rich foods by making lentil and spinach stew.
Meat
Lack of iron can cause anemia. The American Academy of Pediatrics recommends meat as a first food because it's such a great source of protein, zinc, and iron, especially red meat and dark poultry meat.
Plus, babies absorb iron more easily from meat than from iron-fortified cereals, another common first food.
Serving ideas: If your baby is new to solids, try our easy turkey or chicken puree recipe. As they get older, introduce new flavors with chicken curry with green beans and zucchini or shepherd's pie.
Prunes
Whether you call them "prunes" or "dried plums," these humble fruits don't sound glamorous – but they're soft, sweet, and full of fiber. Your baby may suffer from constipation when switching to solids, as it's a big change for their system. Add pureed prunes to your baby's diet to aid digestion and keep things moving.
Serving ideas: Serve pureed prunes alone or mixed with other foods, such as oatmeal, cereal, or applesauce, for a naturally sweet treat.
Sweet potatoes
Sweet potatoes are one of the more popular first foods for babies, who tend to like both their sweetness and texture. These colorful root vegetables are packed with beta-carotene, vitamin C, and minerals, including iron and copper.
Serving ideas: Serve sweet potato puree alone or swirled into pureed chicken or turkey.
Winter squash
Orange- or yellow-fleshed hard winter squashes such as butternut, acorn, and pumpkin boast many benefits, one of which is they're exceptionally rich in beta-carotene, recognized for being great for eyes. Squash is also an excellent source of vitamin C. Natural sweetness and a creamy texture add to the appeal of winter varieties.
Serving ideas: Roast a winter squash like butternut, scoop out the flesh, and puree it for an easy first food. As your baby gets older, introduce new flavors and textures with dishes like smashed chickpea and butternut chili.
Yogurt
Creamy yogurt is rich in calcium and vitamin D, necessary for healthy bones and teeth. Your baby can have it at 4 to 6 months, long before they'll be ready for cow's milk.
Opt for plain yogurt with no added sugar. Also look for a brand with the most live cultures, which help regulate the good bacteria in your baby's digestive tract.
Make sure you pick up whole-milk yogurt – babies need the calories from fat.
Serving ideas: Yogurt is fine on its own, or swirl in pureed berries or other fresh fruit, applesauce, or mashed avocado.
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Ten healthy foods that must be in a child's diet • INMYROOM FOOD
Every mother takes care of her child, and this care is reflected in many things. For example, in the preparation of a competent and balanced diet.
It's no secret that a young body is in dire need of vitamins, minerals and other useful substances. This is a guarantee that your child will grow up big and healthy. Strong immunity and proper nutrition will help to resist the harmful effects of the environment, activate mental activity and, as a result, easily cope with school workloads.
For loving mothers, we have compiled a list of 10 healthy foods that you should definitely include in your child's diet so that he grows up healthy and strong.
1. Nuts and nut butter
Products that are similar in value to nuts can be counted on the fingers of one hand. Nuts are a real storehouse of vitamins and minerals. They are especially rich in vitamin E, which increases the body's defenses and strengthens the immune system, as well as calcium and iron, which are very important for the body to grow strong and strong.
This product must be in the diet of every schoolchild. You should eat nuts and younger children. If your baby is already familiar with fruits, vegetables and cereals, then you can and even need to introduce nuts into the diet. The only question is in what form, because nuts are a fairly solid food.
An excellent solution is nut butter. It should be added in small amounts to cereals or purees. You can buy nut butter in the supermarket, but it is better to cook this product at home. Moreover, it is not so difficult. Pour the nuts in an even layer on a baking sheet and bake in an oven preheated to 180 degrees for 25 minutes.
After that, grind the nuts in a blender until they acquire a paste-like consistency. This will happen in about 5-15 minutes - it all depends on the power of your blender. If desired, honey can be added to the paste. It should be stored for no more than 2 weeks in a closed form in the refrigerator.
2. Chicken eggs
Chicken eggs are very healthy for children. In their composition, you can find 12 vitamins that the body needs for normal life. These are, for example, vitamins A, D, E, group B. Eggs also contain minerals in large quantities: calcium, phosphorus, iodine, copper, iron, cobalt. There is a lot of fat in the egg yolk, but these are polyunsaturated fatty acids that only benefit the body.
Chicken egg is perfectly absorbed by the human body, so this product must be included in the diet. Eggs will be a great breakfast for your kids. They charge the body with energy and vitality and provide a feeling of satiety for a long time. From them you can cook a large number of delicious dishes: scrambled eggs, scrambled eggs, egg pudding.
3. Butter
If you watch your figure and get scared at the mere mention of the word "fats", this does not mean at all that they are completely contraindicated for your child. It has been scientifically proven that under no circumstances should saturated fats and "correct" cholesterol be excluded from the diet of children under 2 years old - they play an important role in the development of the child's brain and nervous system. Give preference to organic oil and, in consultation with the pediatrician, introduce it into the diet, adding a small amount to baby food. Of course, we are talking about the moment when your child has already mastered one-component purees.
Our mothers and grandmothers were carriers of valuable information about butter on an intuitive level. There is, perhaps, not a single schoolboy of past years who would not eat sandwiches with butter in the morning. And this makes sense. Fats help to maintain a feeling of satiety for a long time, it is better to absorb fat-soluble vitamins and make food tastier.
The result is happy students and good grades.
4. Beans and lentils
Legumes are an important source of vitamins. Particular attention in the preparation of a child's diet should be paid to beans and lentils. They contain many vitamins and minerals - iron, zinc, manganese - and other useful substances, such as folic acid. In terms of protein content, beans and lentils are very close to meat products. If you want to add variety to your diet while still maintaining its nutritional value, legumes are a good alternative.
To make beans and lentils easier and faster to cook, soak them in water overnight. In the morning, beans should be strained and boiled until soft. If you're cooking red lentils, you don't need to soak them, as they cook fairly quickly. Legumes can become both an independent side dish and an integral ingredient in various soups and vegetable stews.
5. Fish
Everyone knows about the beneficial properties of fish and its importance for a child.
Fish is an important source of vitamins, minerals and other nutrients.
It contains omega-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids, which are responsible for cell growth, help strengthen bones and improve vision, play an important role in brain development and enhance mental activity, and increase the body's defenses. All these important properties make fish such a useful and indispensable product in the children's diet.
6. Herbs and spices
Childhood is not a reason to refuse herbs and spices. Add them to the meals you cook for your children. They will help make the dish tastier and more interesting, bring variety to the usual menu and saturate food with additional vitamins and minerals. Herbs are a valuable source of vitamin E and strengthen the immune system, while spices improve the functioning of the digestive system and have a positive effect on the overall tone of the body.
Popular and healthy combinations: fruit puree with cinnamon, cauliflower with nutmeg, meat sauce with cumin or oregano, vegetables or chicken with thyme, avocado with cilantro, fish with parsley and lemon.
7. Tofu
Tofu is basically soy milk curd. The process of making it is very similar to the process of making cheese. Therefore, sometimes tofu is referred to as cheese. Already from the definition it is clear that this product is very useful. It contains a large amount of iron, zinc and a lot of protein. This product has a high energy value. No wonder it forms the basis of vegetarian nutrition. All of the above facts make tofu a product that is ideal for children.
Tofu can be cooked in a variety of ways. Choose the one that will appeal to your child: bake, boil, fry. Tofu can become both an independent and very nutritious snack, and one of the ingredients in delicious desserts.
8. Wheat bread
A child is nowhere without bread. Choose for your child wheat bread or options with seeds and bran.
Some parents believe that eating a lot of bread is harmful for children, because this product contains gluten and this can lead to the development of celiac disease, a chronic disease of the intestines and digestive system.
However, there are also studies that prove that completely eliminating bread from the diet of children is not advisable, because, on the contrary, it can increase the risk of developing this disease. Therefore, bread should be included in the child's diet, but in moderation, although in principle your child will not eat more than necessary.
Bread can also be replaced with whole grain breads and biscuits, as well as wheat flakes. The latter will be the perfect breakfast in the company of low-fat milk.
9. Natural yoghurt
Yogurt is not only delicious, but also healthy. All children are not indifferent to this product and gobble it up with great pleasure. And parents are only happy, because yogurt contains a large amount of vitamins, calcium, and other useful substances that help the child grow up healthy and smart.
However, it is important to clarify here that yoghurts, which are in great abundance on the shelves of supermarkets, are not a very healthy product for your child.
Jars of dyes and flavors contain too much sugar in their composition. Choose natural yoghurts for your child without additives. You can sweeten them with natural delicacies - for example, berries and fruits, honey, syrups.
10. Red meat
Iron and zinc, which are found in large quantities in red meat, are perfectly absorbed by the child's body. Red meat is a unique source of complete protein, which is essential for normal human growth and development. B vitamins strengthen the immune system, improve eyesight and have a positive effect on digestion. Preference should be given to beef - it contains the optimal combination of nutrients. Red meat also includes pork, lamb, horse meat, rabbit meat.
To make the vitamins and minerals contained in red meat even better absorbed by the baby's body, combine it with vegetables and fruits rich in vitamin C. For example, tomatoes, bell peppers, citrus fruits - tasty, nutritious and healthy.
Note to mothers: useful products for the child
A growing child needs strength for the great discoveries that happen to him every day.
In order for a child to grow up healthy and active, his diet must be varied and balanced. ELLE will tell you how to create the most useful children's menu.
A child's health depends on many factors, and nutrition, physical activity and a favorable environment play an important role in its development. Healthy foods for children contain a boost of vitamins and minerals necessary for active growth. Knowing the list of the most necessary products for the child, you can easily create a menu, each time offering the child a new tasty dish.
Intuitively and so it is clear what foods are good for children. The diet of children should be based on dairy products, cereals, vegetables, fruits, berries, greens, meat and fish, eggs, nuts. It is important that every day the child eats a variety of foods high in proteins, fats, vitamins and minerals.
We start with breakfast, and there is no better dish than porridge for the first meal. Cereal cereals energize the body and give a feeling of satiety.
The most useful cereals with a low glycemic index are rice, buckwheat, and wheat. These cereals are rich in vitamins A, B, C, D, E, saturated fatty acids. The complex carbohydrates in rice help to generate the energy that students need in the learning process. Buckwheat porridge is rich in vegetable proteins. The least useful porridge is semolina.
Another indispensable product for the full development of a child is a chicken egg. They contain a lot of animal protein, amino acids, vitamins A, D, B2. In the absence of individual intolerance, the child can eat eggs at least every day. Moreover, there are many recipes for cooking eggs that will not get bored day by day. Omelet, poached eggs, Benedict, egg in a toast, scrambled eggs, hard boiled or bagged - such a breakfast will be eaten in a minute by a little hero.
A fruit salad can be offered to a child for lunch. The composition of all fruits in different dosages includes vitamins and trace elements. It is believed that the body is better able to digest fruits and vegetables that are suitable for its place of birth and growth.
In our country, the most useful fruits are apples, plums, pears, peaches, apricots, rich in vitamin A. This vitamin is important for the formation of hormones in a young body, improves visual acuity, helps improve the quality of skin, hair, strengthens bone tissue and teeth.
Citrus fruits contain a lot of vitamin B1, which is responsible for the body's metabolic processes. For the proper development of the nervous, cardiovascular and muscular systems and the prevention of beriberi, you need to eat at least 100 g of pineapple, kiwi, grapefruit per day. Children should eat fresh or frozen fruits. Canned fruits additionally contain sugar, which increases the calorie content of the dish, and all useful components, as a result of long-term storage, come to the child in a lower concentration. It is advisable to eat different fruits every day.
The child's lunch should be hearty, but moderate, and must include protein foods. If the child is not brought up in a vegetarian family, then for lunch he should be offered fish or a lean meat dish.
Rabbit meat, turkey, veal are considered dietary. Dishes prepared from these types of meat and poultry are rich in protein, iron, zinc, vitamins B2 and B6. Steamed, boiled or stewed meat is better and faster absorbed by the body.
The healthiest foods for kids can be found in the fish section of the grocery store. Swedish scientists, using the example of the children of their country, proved to the whole world what the benefits of fish are for a young organism. According to their research, the content of fish in the children's diet improves the mental abilities of children by 2 times, in comparison with those who do not eat seafood.
Fish is rich in proteins, iron, polyunsaturated fatty acids, vitamin B12, fish dishes should be included in the child's diet at least once a week. The most useful varieties of fish for children are cod, pike perch, trout.
Meat and fish dishes at lunchtime are best served with boiled side dishes - potatoes, buckwheat, rice, durum wheat pasta.
