It’s an exciting time when your baby is finally ready to start eating solids, but as a busy mom, you may not have a lot of time to prepare nutritious meals.
Here are two quick solid food recipes to give your baby a wide range of nutrients appropriate for this development stage.
Medical professionals recommend that babies only get onto solids at six months old. Registered dietitian Mbali Mapholi says this is because by six months, a baby’s digestive system has developed enough to process solid food. So what exactly do you feed a six-month old? Mbali says a healthy meal provides a variety of nutrients, such as:
- protein
- carbohydrates
- vitamins and minerals
- good fats
- fibre
Sometimes you’ll want to cook a meal that requires some preparation, but when you’re strapped for time, you can always use fresh ingredients to make quick-to-prepare food that contains all the nutrients your baby needs.
Fruity mash
Take half a ripe pear, peel and grate it. Then mix 4 tablespoons of plain yoghurt with the pear for a light daytime snack. Yoghurt is a great source of protein, while pears are filled with fruity fibre. Choose double-cream plain yoghurt to add good fats into your baby’s diet.
TIP: To add carbohydrates and make this a heartier meal, cook plain rice, mash it or blend it to make a paste and then add it to the fruity mash.
Egg mash
Boil one egg and mash. You can add a drop of milk to soften the mash or mash in other foods like avocado (2-3 medium slices) or sweet potato (3-4 medium sized cubes). Eggs are an excellent source of protein while avocados are full of good fats. Sweet potatoes are a great choice for carbohydrates and are also full of fibre.
The above recipes are not suitable for freezing as the fruit and egg will be soggy when defrosted and are best served fresh. Here are a few great recipes that can be frozen in individual portions.
Read more: For tips on your baby’s journey with solid food, or more baby tips like getting a routine going.
Image: Getty/Gallo
Sources: www.news24.com; www.parent24.com
Introducing solids to your baby
It’s an exciting time when your baby is finally ready to start eating solids, but as a busy mom, you may not have a lot of time to prepare nutritious meals.
Here are two quick solid food recipes to give your baby a wide range of nutrients appropriate for this development stage.
Medical professionals recommend that babies only get onto solids at six months old. Registered dietitian Mbali Mapholi says this is because by six months, a baby’s digestive system has developed enough to process solid food. So what exactly do you feed a six-month old? Mbali says a healthy meal provides a variety of nutrients, such as:
- protein
- carbohydrates
- vitamins and minerals
- good fats
- fibre
Sometimes you’ll want to cook a meal that requires some preparation, but when you’re strapped for time, you can always use fresh ingredients to make quick-to-prepare food that contains all the nutrients your baby needs.
Fruity mash
Take half a ripe pear, peel and grate it. Then mix 4 tablespoons of plain yoghurt with the pear for a light daytime snack. Yoghurt is a great source of protein, while pears are filled with fruity fibre. Choose double-cream plain yoghurt to add good fats into your baby’s diet.
TIP: To add carbohydrates and make this a heartier meal, cook plain rice, mash it or blend it to make a paste and then add it to the fruity mash.
Egg mash
Boil one egg and mash. You can add a drop of milk to soften the mash or mash in other foods like avocado (2-3 medium slices) or sweet potato (3-4 medium sized cubes). Eggs are an excellent source of protein while avocados are full of good fats. Sweet potatoes are a great choice for carbohydrates and are also full of fibre.
The above recipes are not suitable for freezing as the fruit and egg will be soggy when defrosted and are best served fresh. Here are a few great recipes that can be frozen in individual portions.
Read more: For tips on your baby’s journey with solid food, or more baby tips like getting a routine going.
Image: Getty/Gallo
Sources: www.news24.com; www.parent24.com
