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Introduce Healthy Diet For Baby |
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When baby start eating solid food, parents have once-in-a-lifetime chance to introduce eating habits that will keep them in good health in the years to come. The preference for salty or fatty food starts very early, so parents who introduce health diets early to their children do them a great and lasting favor.
There are no set age for starting solid food. At the beginning of last century, solid food were usually given around 1 year of age. Later on , people began starting earlier and earlier because they believed that there are some advantages to start feeding solid food in the first 6 months. Firstly , younger babies are a bit less opinionated and fussy about what they eat. Secondly, solid food can add some helpful nutrition, particularly iron.
It is not advisable to give more than 2 solid meals a day until the baby is at least 6 months old because breast milk is so important in the early months.
The first solid food is usually cereal, which you can mix with expressed breast milk. Cereal may also start with rice, oats, corn, or barley. If your baby is not keen with cereal, start with fruits instead.
After your baby has got used to cereal or fruits, strained cooked vegetables can be added to the diet, usually string beans, peas, squash, carrots, beets and sweet potatoes. Other vegetables such as broccoli, cauliflower, cabbage, turnips, kale and onions are strong-tasting and some babies do not like them. Corn is not given initially because of the large husks on the kernels.
Once your baby is familiar with cereals, vegetables and fruits, other food can be introduce. Try very well-cooked beans such as lentils, chickpeas and kidney beans. Tofu in small cubes is also a good choice or mix with fruits puree or vegetables.
Food for your baby can be cooked, then ground for softer texture and easier swallowing.
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