Food and nutrition.pdf

46 Diet and HealthWeaning at 4 - 6 MonthsFoods should be introduced one at a time, and the quantities graduallyincreased. Suitable first foods include:• Baby rice and water or baby milk.• Smooth puree of vegetables, ego carrots.• Smooth puree of fruit, ego apple, pear or apricot.If the baby is thirsty it can be given boiled cold water or very diluteunsweetened fruit juice. No sugar or salt should be added to babies food.Continue Weaning 5 - 7 MonthsNew foods can be introduced one at a time. Suitable foods include:• Well cooked, pureed pulses, ego lentils and split peas.• Pureed root vegetables.• Pureed brown rice, brown rice flour and water or baby rice.• Mixtures of pulses, vegetables and/or rice puree.• Pureed stewed fruit or well mashed banana.No sugar or salt should be used added to food and salt free stockshould be used in cooking.At about six months the baby, under close supervision, can be givenwedges of apple, sticks of carrot or baked wholemeal bread to encouragechewing. .Some commercial baby foods are suitable for vegetarian or veganbabies. These are fortified with some vitamins and minerals.7 - 9 MonthsThe baby should still be having 1 pint of milk or equivalent each day.If cows' milk is not taken, boiled goats' milk or a soy milk substitute maybe used, but not until the baby is eating a variety of other foods and notwithout consulting a doctor or health visitor. Foods can now be mincedor finely chopped and new foods can be introduced. Suitable foodsinclude:• Wholegrain breakfast cereals and porridge.• Cheese (grated or finely chopped, cottage), yoghurts and eggs(if eaten).• Wholemeal bread.• Brown rice.• Well cooked pasta.• A variety of vegetables.• Fruit (grated, chopped or stewed, including cooked dried fruit).• Tofu• Pulses and beans - well cooked and mashed or pureed, givenwith cereal food such as rice or bread.