Ms. Mary Silva
Specializing in feeding and nutrition.
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 Ask Mary Silva
Starting Solids | | | QUESTION | | | | My daughter is eight months old, and I prepare all of her solid foods from fresh fruits and vegetables. When do I begin feeding her what we eat at dinner? — Chef PaPa in Mountain View, CA | | | ANSWER |
June 26, 2000 | | | As you surmised, this is the appropriate time to give her more of the foods you eat at meals. Now that you've given your daughter a good start you'll want to continue providing her with a healthy diet.
Of course, this means that that you'll want to set a good example yourself. You can do this by eating a healthy diet that includes a variety of foods, including ones that are moderate in fat and rich in fruits and vegetables and whole grains.
Foods to start with
You can start now by giving her the cooked vegetables you eat, either coarsely mashed or soft cooked. Offer starches such as rice, pasta, or potatoes that are soft cooked and coarsely mashed. Babies often find bread to be too gummy but you can try dry toast, melba toast, or crackers.
Slices or small chunks of ripe fruit (avoid whole grapes) allow babies a chance to feed themselves with a good probability of biting off a piece.
Use lean, ground meats moistened with a little breast milk or formula for ease of swallowing.
Cooked or canned beans and peas provide a good source of protein and iron. Their different colors and sizes can be very attractive to babies.
Foods to avoid
Avoid using salt and sugar when preparing food for your baby, because the desire for these flavors is acquired early. Children who do not develop a taste for sugar and salt are more likely to have healthy diets as adults.
You should avoid foods that cause the most common food allergies such egg whites, cow's milk, nuts, chocolate, shellfish and fish until at least one year of age.
You'll want to take advantage of this time to teach positive attitudes about foods by giving a wide variety, including foods of different textures and flavors. And remember, showing your child that you enjoy your vegetables will pay off later!
— by Mary Silva, M.S., R.D. |
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