Healthy baby food: what to offer?

In the first six months of the baby’s life, feeding must be exclusively with breast milk, which will provide the vitamins and nutrients for the baby to develop in a healthy way.

After this period, solid foods begin to be included in the child’s routine. This directly helps to prepare the child’s palate for a pleasant and balanced diet.

It is at this stage where new foods are introduced. At first this is done with fruits, then other food groups come in: tubers, roots, vegetables, legumes, derivatives, cereals and meats.

Therefore, when the baby completes its first year of life, its food is very close to the adult plate, logically making some adaptations with regard to ingredients, textures and seasonings.

To help mothers at home, in today’s post we will see which are the most recommended foods for the child to have a balanced diet, which provides all the necessary nutrients.

Offering a healthy diet is essential for the healthy development of the baby. With these valuable tips, you can ensure a balanced diet for your baby and help him grow strong and healthy. Keep reading and learn more!

Order of introduction of new foods and textures

In the beginning, the foods must be presented one by one, and soon they can be combined. We can cite an example: potatoes can be offered on the first day, carrots on the next, and on the third day both together, and so on.

As the days go by, the baby will have contact with all types of food allowed for its age group, until it reaches a complete meal. Remembering that you need to be careful with the textures of food, taking into account the child’s dentition and resourcefulness.

In the first instant, it is possible to knead the food with a fork, or even offer it to the baby in very soft pieces that he can hold.

And it is worth mentioning that it is not recommended to use a blender or mixer, so that the child gradually gets used to the different textures. Next, see separately by groups the types of food that can be offered to the little one.

Fruits

• Avocado: This fruit is rich in good fats, as well as very pleasing for its soft texture and flavor.
• Banana: Without a doubt this is one of the most used fruits in baby food. The same is a source of potassium, fiber and vitamin C. Always give preference to those that are sweeter, softer and more mature. It can be offered crumpled, and then even whole.
• Papaya: This fruit, in addition to having a very pleasant taste, helps a lot if the child is constipated, since it is a laxative fruit, which means that it helps with intestinal transit. Always choose the most mature ones.

Animal proteins

• Chicken: It can be drumstick, breast and thigh finely chopped, without any skin or fat.
• Egg: This food is a great source of protein, potassium, vitamin A, and other compounds. The same should be part of the food introduction. At first, it is best to make it cooked and with the hard yolk, offering it grated. Therefore, it can be given in small pieces or used in other recipes, such as an omelet or scrambled egg.
• Beef: The best cuts in this case are: muscle, duckling, filet mignon, chuck, soft and hard drumstick, and lizard. Preferably the thinnest and very small pieces, as the little one still can’t chew it properly.
• Fish: This food is a source of omega 3, which is a fundamental fat for brain development. Therefore, sardines and salmon are the best. However, you can start with a milder flavor, such as tilapia, hake or hake. It can be roasted or boiled, and then chopped into very small pieces. And of course, be very careful with the thorns!

Vegetable protein

So that the child can better digest this type of food, soaking is recommended. First wash the grains, and leave them with water in the fridge overnight, and wash them again in the morning.

• Lentil: This type of grain is rich in vitamins, fiber, folic acid and other minerals. And when cooked, it has a very soft texture.
• Beans: Can be black or white. You can start first offering the broth, and then the mashed grains, until you reach the whole. Beans contain protein, fiber and iron.

Vegetables and greens

• Potatoes and company: Cassava, sweet potatoes, potatoes, among others. All of them are an important source of carbohydrate, and are certainly the basis for introducing salty foods to children. They can be offered in different ways: cubed, mashed, pureed, larger pieces, etc.
• Pumpkin: Thanks to its sweet taste, it usually pleases the palate of the little ones. It also helps with digestion.

Cereals

• Rice: This food is undoubtedly the basis of many meals. At the beginning poto be offered mashed, and then as the months go by it can be given whole with the bean broth. Always be very careful.
• Nodle: It doesn’t matter the format: tie, penne or screw. Cook well until they are very soft.

Spices

It is worth mentioning that salt should only appear in the meals of the little ones after the first year of life, and in small amounts. However, some herbs can be on the menu: leek, rosemary, garlic, onion, coriander, fennel, oregano, mint and basil. Even so, don’t exaggerate the amounts. And if you wish, you can use olive oil to prepare meals.

Combo tips

See below how some of the foods mentioned above can be combined, achieving tasty, nutritious and colorful combinations:

Peas, pasta, spinach, pumpkin and quail egg;

Beans, rice, carrots, broccoli and beef muscle;

Mashed potatoes, hake filet, black beans, beetroot and pumpkin.