For the first few months of your baby's life, knowing what food for baby is best is easy -- it's breast milk or formula. However, as babies get older, the baby diet is expanded. What solid foods should be included in a regular baby diet?
Feeding babies a variety of healthy foods is important. Do you know what types of foods are best for your baby?
A Baby Diet Needs Starches
Your baby needs carbohydrates for energy! Breads, cereals, rice, potatoes, and pasta will all help your baby get the carbs that are necessary. Your baby can also receive B vitamins and fiber from starchy foods, which are vital for a healthy digestive system.
Feeding Babies Dairy
Dairy is important for growing babies. Dairy products like milk, cheese, and yogurt contain vitamins D and A and calcium, which can help your baby develop strong teeth and bones, as well as fight illness and infections. It's important to use full fat versions of dairy products because the fat is needed for growth and development. Additionally, lower fat versions don't contain enough vitamins A and D so they should be avoided.
Food for Baby Should Include Proteins
Protein sources like red meat, eggs, fish, chicken, and beans are all excellent choices for your baby. Protein is vital for growing children because it's needed for muscle growth. The fat inside some protein sources is also excellent for brain development and growth and minerals like zinc and iron are also necessary for a growing body.
A Baby Diet Needs Fruits and Veggies
Fruits and vegetables are excellent sources of vitamins, as well as fiber. Leafy green veggies, such as spinach and some types of lettuce provide iron, vitamin C and folic acid, while yellow and orange veggies have beta carotene, which is a form of vitamin A. Berries and citrus fruits also have vitamin C.
What Should You Avoid When Feeding Babies?
A treat every once in a while is okay, but cakes, cookies, and other sugary foods should only be an occasional part of your baby's diet. Also, honey should be completely avoided in the first year due to the risk of it being contaminated by Clostridium bacteria that can cause infant botulism. The symptoms can cause muscle weakness which can be evidenced by poor sucking, a weak cry, constipation, and decreased muscle tone.