Raising a Veggie Lover!
Conventional food wisdom says to wait to introduce foods until 6 months to a year, however, this leads to picky eaters. By the time baby is 14 months old, you hit a point that they can walk around on their own, and it is to their survival advantage to not like any new foods they have never tried. New textures and flavors can be brought in earlier, just carefully and thoughtfully.
In the first year, breast milk is main form of nutrients. Other foods are only brought in slowly
4-6 months, 1 tablespoon mashed food replaces a breast feeding session
6-12 months, foods get thicker and bigger, and more diverse
14 months+, picky eating starts. they start to realize they are independent beings and have some power, and the easiest thing to control is their food. They may start to refuse foods, and complain about textures/flavors that are new.
By the end of the first year, breast milk is supplemental, 25%+ or so
Some Clues
Here is a list of some tips starting around 4 months, or when your baby shows some signs they are ready. These also help cue up if baby’s digestive system is strong enough to handle something new (albeit cooked)
if baby can sit up, core/gut activated
starts to begin grasping
intently watching your food, and seems ready to participate
body weight doubled
Signs of food allergies
redness around mouth that looks like rash, inflamed
fussy
rash on chest or diaper rash thats not just normal
distended belly, but rest of body is skinny
Also could just be too early for that food. As their gut develops, they can tolerate more foods. Babies basically just have a case of leaky gut that lets certain foods sneak through before fully digested (as most adults have without knowing it). You can try something, and if baby reacts, wait a couple weeks, or even months, and try again, in tiny amounts (1 teaspoon a day)
Food timing
4 months+ (or when hits cues above)
Introduce 1 new kind of food every 4 days, just so can identify food allergy easier
Introduce new food during a time of day that baby is fresh, not tired, cranky or too hungry. Offer a taste and maybe talk about how delicious and colorful the food is.
1 Tbs puree/mash as entire meal, only 1x a day
avocado, apple sauce, egg yolk (one of best foods for baby esp choline B-Vit for brain growth, boil eggs), banana, sweet potato, squash, pears, broth, cod liver oil
6 months
6-8 months can really start to include cultural foods
purees and mashes, not quite as finely mashed. slowly make thicker until can chew
Don’t feel the need to go out of your way to make baby’s food separately, just cook, and separate out before adding any spices
Iron stores start to deplete around 6 months, since doesnt transfer through breast milk. no supplements needed, but lentils are great, along with beans and spinach
organic liver, lentils, broccoli, berries (cook in stove top with a little water to break down acids), herbs and spices, cooked veggies, steamed greens, frozen peas with a little water and mash in blender (and v little prep/cooking)
8 months
7-9 months, feed new foods, working into regular meal times 1-2x a day. can have some chunks (less water)
8-14 months, introduce anything and everything to extend palate. Get them used to a variety of flavors
Can start to add in common food allergens in microdoses, even just rubbing into cheeks. spoonful every couple of weeks
can grind down meat into sweet potato or lentils
citrus, tomatoes, kraut, melons, whole egg whites (often allergic), beans, mushrooms, fish (limit tuna), meats (avoiding deli meats)
microdoses: grains, peanuts, nuts, strawberries, kefir/yogurt (even just a little swipe to inoculate gut), butter or ghee, coconut oil, olive oil
12 months
at 1 year, start finger foods once baby can grasp things. slices of toast w ghee, avocado toast, little sandwiches
Add variety and texture, lumpier foods, to expose baby to different sensations.
If you can MASH IT ON TOP OF THE ROOF OF YOUR MOUTH WITH YOUR TONGUE, your baby can most likely handle eating chunks of it
by end of first year, solids start to make up 75% of calories (breast milk only 25%)
creamed or blended stews, finger foods (bite sized pieces of squishy things), nut butters, steamed veggies spears (size of pointer finger, zucchini or carrots) peeled apple, half a plum (gives them independence to gnaw on), dairy (milk/cheese)
Hold off until 1 year+:
honey, since it can have specific bacteria in the spores, and baby’s digestive tracts is not equipped for that yet
deli meats (if possible, avoid altogether, but esp until 1 year)
Hold off for 2 years+:
Refined sugar (again, avoid at all, but esp before 2 years). can become a coping mechanism and destroy gut balance we are working so hard to build
Things to buy
Silicone ice trays
Take one cube out at a time to defrost. lasts 6 months. can always just try again in a few weeks/months
Use pouches sparingly and when on-the-go
Ella’s Kitchen
Oh Baby Foods
Making Baby’s food
Awesome early foods
Sweet potatoes mashed with skin (roast in 325-350 for 3-45 min, scrape our flesh w fork)
avocado, pears, steamed fruits and vegetables, and liver pate are all great beginning foods
egg yolks (not the whites, which is a common allergen), great for brain, just hard boil
if know tolerate foods on own, can start to blend
simple chicken liver pate mixed with applesauce
steamed greens into lentils
