Balanced meal, my daughter has heard me say this since she could sit up in the highchair. Unfortunately with my son, my first child, I didn't do as well at the beginning. He wasn't aware of this phrase until he was about three years old. I wanted them to understand how to put together a nutritious lunch. We discussed the different food groups and how to choose from each group to put together a healthy meal.
We teach our children nutrition by default, they learn by what we buy and make at home. If you are buying and giving them fast food that is what they are going to know. Those are the choices they are probably going to make. If we are paying attention to the news, the internet, magazines... we are finding out that you will be better off by practicing good eating habits early in life.
We start our children out on either breast-milk or formula. They drink gallons of the stuff before they start the almost liquefied rice baby cereal. My recommendation is to wait until they are at least five months old before starting cereal. I remember how exciting it is to have them start on food. It is a fun time because they are more interactive and awake. Please follow the rules about giving them only one flavor at a time, making sure they don't have an adverse reaction, prior to trying another grain.
They have now completed the cereal phase, you are safely feeding them cereal for breakfast, lunch, and dinner. Now we get to test out the vegetables and fruits. Once again, it is vital that you test these one at a time. If they end up having a reaction, it is important to know which food is causing the reaction. Reactions don't always appear immediately; that is why you give them the same fruit or vegetable several days in a row. Many children can eat everything but there are children that are extremely allergic to certain foods. Not all pediatricians will tell you this, but a food reaction can show up as a terrible diaper rash. It is true; I have seen it happen on many bottoms.
Recently I had the pleasure of babysitting adorable twins. Their mom made their baby food using the Baby Bullet. She would cook either fresh or frozen vegetables, grind them in the Baby Bullet, without using any additives (some nursery water for consistency) and there you have it, baby food. The twins are fabulous eaters and they love all of the vegetables and fruits. They actually ask for second and third helpings of vegetables. They eat them plain, no butter, no salt, and no sauce of any kind. On the internet I have seen baby food recipes, I do not think you need a recipe, vegetables and nursery water is the recipe. I think we would all like our children to enjoy their vegetables as much as the twins.
Please make sure that you are not giving your child milk products prior to one year of age. This includes macaroni and cheese, cheese products, butter, cottage cheese, yogurt, ice cream... I have known a number of children that became lactose intolerant; they had been given dairy prior to their first birthday. I feel it was connected. There are plenty of food choices without including dairy to their diet too early.
Fruit juices are unnecessary extra sugar, natural or not. If I did give my child juice it was about 1/3 juice and 2/3 water. If you want your child to like water, introduce them to nursery water at about four months old. Offer your baby some water in between their regular feedings. This keeps them hydrated and they get a taste of something other than breast-milk or formula. Make sure the water is not a replacement for the feeding.
Starting good eating habits early is a key element to your children's nutrition. Keeping it simple, fresh or frozen with a little nursery water for consistency gives your child a true taste of vegetables. Please follow the safety rules for introducing new foods to your baby. If your doctor has made special changes to your baby's formula for health reasons; everything should be discussed with the doctor first. Enjoy all these fun new phases of their lives, they grow up so fast.
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