How?
Go slowly! There is no need to rush. Use the "One at a time"
method for introducing new foods. This method helps detect
allergies and eases digestion. Introduce only one new food
at a time, and make sure that is the only new food for three
to five days. If an allergic reaction occurs, report it to
your baby's healthcare provider and remove the food immediately
from the baby's diet.
How
much? Start out with just a few spoonfuls at each
meal and learn to take cues from your baby. Breastmilk or
formula remains the primary source of nutrition to 12 months,
so quantity is not as important as variety.
How
often? Four to six mini meals per day are recommended,
because of small tummies and fluctuating appetites. At each
mini-meal, offer small amounts (2 Tbsp/1 ounce) of two to
three different kinds of foods.
What?
Baby's first foods include vitamin-fortified cereal that is
thinned with breastmilk or formula, and smooth purees of acorn
and butternut squash, peas, sweet potatoes, apples, bananas
and pears. After the first foods, you can slowly introduce
new foods. Here is a list of first foods to introduce by age:
| Age |
6-8
months |
8
-10 months |
10
- 12 months |
Over
12 months |
| PRIMARY
NUTRTION SOURCE |
Breastmilk
or iron-fortified formula |
Variety
of healthy foods |
|
|
| GRAINS |
Vitamin-fortified
cereal - rice, barley, oat |
Vitamin-fortified
cereal - mixed, Graham crackers, Low salt crackers,
"O" shaped cereal |
Egg-free
pasta, Rice |
Bread,
egg noodles, pasta made with eggs, whole grain crackers |
| VEGGIES |
Pumpkin,
Yellow Squash, Zucchini |
Asparagus,
Broccoli, Carrots, Cauliflower, Green Beans, Snow
Peas, Spinach, Sugar snap peas, White potato |
Artichokes,
Beets, Corn, Cucumber, Eggplant |
Lettuce,
Collard greens, Swiss chard |
| FRUITS |
Apricots,
Avocado, Nectarines, Peaches, Plums |
Grapes
(cut in 1/4's), Mango, Papaya |
Cherries,
Dates, Cantaloupe, Coconut milk, Melons, Pineapple,
Prunes |
Berries,
Citrus fruits, Kiwi, Tomatoes |
| PROTEINS |
Chicken,
Tofu, Turkey |
Beans
- pinto, black, white, navy, Lean beef |
Lamb,
Liver, Egg yolks (fully cooked) |
Egg
whites, Fish, Nuts - almonds, pecans, walnuts, Seeds
- flax, sesame, sunflower |
| DAIRY |
None |
None |
None |
Milk,
Plain yogurt, soft and semi hard cheeses |
Making
your baby's food is fresher, healthier and less expensive
than jarred baby food, and it is a lot easier to make than
you may imagine. Using fresh produce, a blender, and set of
ice cube trays, you can make food in quantity and freeze it
in single servings. Here is a simple and easy recipe for a
common first food:
Green
Pea Puree
1
¾ pounds fresh peas OR 24 ounces of frozen peas
Step
1: PREP - Wash and shell peas. Discard pods. If using frozen
peas, start at step 2.
Step
2: COOK - Place peas and 2 Tablespoons (30ml) of water in
a microwave-safe dish. Cover. Cook six to eight minutes. Let
stand for five minutes. They are done if the sweet potatoes
can be mashed easily with a fork.
Step
3: PUREE - Place peas and cooking juices into a blender of
food processor. Add 1/4 - 1/2 cup (30-60 ml) of water. Puree.
Add additional water, as needed, to develop a smooth texture.
Step
4: FREEZE - Spoon into So Easy Baby Food Trays or ice cube
trays. Cover. Place in freezer eight to 10 hours or overnight.
Remove cubes from trays, place in storage container or freezer
bag, and return immediately to the freezer.
Makes
24, 1-ounce servings. Stays fresh for two months in the freezer.
To
serve, select frozen green pea cubes from the freezer, defrost
and warm, check the temperature and feed.
About
the authors: Cheryl Tallman and Joan Ahlers are sisters,
the mothers of five children, and founders of Fresh Baby (www.FreshBaby.com).
Raised by parents who love fresh foods and entertaining, their
mom, a gourmet cook, ensured that they were well-equipped
with extraordinary skills in the kitchen. Both with long track
records of business success, they decided to combine their
skills in the kitchen with their knowledge of healthy foods
and children to create Fresh Baby. Cheryl and Joan put a modern
twist on the conventional wisdom that when you make it yourself,
you know it's better. Their goal at Fresh Baby is to make
the task of raising a healthy eater a little bit easier for
all parents. Fresh Baby's breastfeeding accessories and baby
food making supplies provide parents with practical knowledge
and innovative tools to support them in introducing their
children to great tasting, all-natural foods - easily and
conveniently. Visit them online at www.FreshBaby.com and subscribe
to their Fresh Ideas newsletter to get monthly ideas, tips
and activities for developing your family's healthy eating
habits!
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