Baby Food

I know I have said this before, but I will reiterate here, avoid processed and refined foods as often as possible. This includes feeding baby commercial baby foods. Making your own baby food is really not that difficult and baby will be happy and healthy as long as a few guidelines are met.

First, be observant. Each child will vary, as far as age is concerned, when it comes to feeding. I have seen some children mature as early as 3 to 4 months old and yet others will wait until 6 to 8 months old. Take it slowly, watch baby, and introduce new foods one at a time.

So what foods should you start with? I would advise against cereal, which is usually recommended by the mainstream medical community. Grains are incredibly difficult to digest, given that infants do not have the necessary enzymes until much later. In addition, they are typically heavily processed. A recent Swedish study showed that infants given cereal suffered from low concentrations of zinc and reduced calcium absorption. This is in large part due to the added iron.

Instead, try adding egg yolks, which are rich in many brain-nourishing substances. Make sure the eggs are from pasture-fed hens. Boil them for 3 to 4 minutes, peel, and discard whites (whites should only be given after 1 year of age since they may cause allergic reactions). Next, mash the yolks (they should be soft, but not runny), and add a pinch of celtic grey sea salt (to improve digestion and brain development through critical trace mineral content). 1/4 teaspoon cod liver oil can be added to the mixture once a day for additional EFAs, as well as vitamins A and D.

Mashed bananas can be given at this time as well, if baby is hungry. Another good idea is to feed baby kefir, yogurt or homemade whey (added to mashed food). The probiotics will help the developing immune system.

At six months, pureed meats can be given for iron, zinc, and protein. Also, fruits such as avocado, melon, mangoes, and papaya. Continue moving up the complexity of the food, little by little. Now, vegetables, like carrots, sweet potatoes, and beets can be added. They should be cooked, mashed, and mixed with fat like butter or coconut oil.

At eight months, a variety of foods can be included. Creamed vegetable soups, stews, cottage cheese, custards, etc. Finally, by one year of age, grains, nuts, and seeds can be added. Even at this point, I recommend only giving baby pre-soaked grains that have been pre-digested by adding a tablespoon or two of homemade whey to the water, left overnight, and fully cooked. This is important to aid in digestion and to help alleviate possibilities of allergic reactions.

Do not give juice to babies. Avoid soy foods, margarine, and shortenings. Do not try to give low or reduced-fat products.

Reference: Allbritton, J. (CN). Growing wise kids. Retrieved 4 November 2008 from www.westonaprice.org.