Choosing the Healthiest Food For Your Baby

Having a baby is one of the sweetest thing any person can ever imagine. However what people often have no idea about is how to take care of the baby. Many new mothers have found it quite hard to figure out the right diet for their little ones.

It goes without saying, babies are very sensitive with what they eat. One wrong dietary constituent can result in illness. It is therefore important for you to provide a healthy diet for your baby. This fosters proper growth and development of the child.

But what exactly constitutes to a healthy baby’s diet? How do you choose healthy food for your baby? Definitely this is no easy task in the wake of rampant toxic synthetic food. In the modern world, even vegetables that are considered healthy have turned out to be toxic to human health due to the excessive use of agricultural chemicals.

Such factors pose a great challenge in trying to provide healthy food for the young ones. So what choice do we have left? In this article, I am going to provide you with a few tips to ensure that you provide the most nutritious diet to your baby.

Consult a professional

Ask for guidance from a health professional. A paediatric nutritionist will be the best choice. They know what is best for your baby. Contrary to many people’s assumption, the kind of food babies are supposed to eat varies from one baby to the other.

So how do you know the right food for your child? This is the job of a nutritionist. The nutritionist will consider factors such as the baby’s weight and allergies and then recommend what nutrients your child requires most.

In addition to that, the nutritionist will instruct you on the right sources of these nutrients. They will also give you a guide for an appropriate feeding cycle for your baby. If you desire to have a healthy and wholesome child, follow the guidelines to the latter.

Limit sugar content

Do not feed your child on foods that are too sugary. Avoid adding refined sugar to your baby’s milk formula. Remember that the kind of diet you introduce your baby in the earlier life stages will determine the child’s future food preference.

Trust me; you do not want your child to develop a sweet tooth. It may get out of hand and your child could develop complications such as diabetes. As you buy baby food, don’t forget to look at the sugar content level. Ensure that it is less than twenty grams. A sugar free diet reduces the chance of the baby growing overweight.

Going green

Organic food comprising of green vegetables and fruits are an important source of vitamins for the baby. They also provide minerals such as iron and zinc. As earlier mentioned, you have to be careful about such.

This is because genetically modified crops are not such a healthy option for the baby. Try buying vegetables from a local small scale supplier who most probably doesn’t rely on artificial growth stimulators. If it is possible, make a point of growing your own greens in your backyard

Some of the best vegetables for your baby are Collard greens, spinach and lettuce. You can also provide fruits such as apples and kiwi. Try as much as possible to ensure the vegetables are in purée form so that the baby can easily ingest.

Regulate salt intake

Common table salt is equally important in the baby’s diet. It prevents the baby from developing goitre as it grows. However, your baby only needs a very little amount of salt. As you add salt to the baby’s food, ensure it is not enough to add taste to the food. Remember; the primary goal of adding salt is to provide mineral nutrients and not to season the food.

Be careful about supplements

It is common practice for parents to provide nutrient supplements to babies especially those considered underweight. In some cases, parents end up providing supplements that the baby doesn’t even need in the first place.

Nutritive supplements should only be administered on a paediatric nutritionist’s recommendation. Supplementing the baby’s food with nutrients that are already sufficient in the food provided can turn out to be a real nightmares. The baby can end up being intolerant to the nutrient. It can also lead to obesity.

Adequate protein

Proteins are important for the growth of the baby. They are the body building component. You should ensure that there is enough protein content in your baby’s food. Don’t let it be too much since it’s not safe for the baby.

So what are the appropriate sources of protein? For a baby less than six months old, baby milk should be sufficient. For a weaning baby, you can mass a teaspoon of beans into their purée. Other recommended sources are white meat, red meat in limited amount and peas.

In some cases, baby formula can be used to substitute breast milk before the baby is introduced to solid food. You can check out organisations such as little angels. It provides advice on the best methods and feeding utensils. It will also educate you on how to keep the baby utensils clean. You can easily access this information online on its website.

Food containing starch

Starch or carbohydrates are the energy giving nutrients in the body. The baby’s body requires energy to perform routine body functions. It is more advisable to provide wholesome sources of starch in the baby’s food rather that refined sugar.

For babies, bananas are the perfect source of starch. Besides starch, they also contain a fibre content just sufficient for your baby. You can also get starch from infant cereals available in your nearest store. Remember to check on the sugar and salt content of the oatmeal vs rice cereal for babies you want to purchase.

Above all, remember that the food you provide your baby should be fresh. Don’t store baby food in the fridge for too long. Also ensure that the food is at room temperature. Food that is too hot can cause internal injury to the baby. If it’s too cold, the baby will most probably spew it out. You should also clean the baby’s utensils thoroughly or even sterilise them. Remember that babies are highly vulnerable to infections.

The baby’s health is paramount. The food you provide will determine the baby’s growth. It is therefore important that the food you introduce your baby be of sufficient nutritive value and above all meet the specified health standards.