5 FAB FOOD FOR BABY
Healthy eating habits start with you, and what you choose to feed your baby. Get it right early, and you’ve set your little one up for the future, writes dietician Tammy Wolhuter
AIM TO FEED your baby these five foods every week:
YOGHURT
is a dairy product and is therefore a good source of calcium, important for the bone and teeth development of your growing child. Yoghurt also provides a good source of protein, important for muscle development as well as immunity. In addition, yoghurt provides a source of probiotics, which help to improve the “good” bacteria in intestines, aiding in digestion and even immunity.
FATTY FISH
such as salmon, mackerel, herring, trout, sardines and pilchards provide Omega- 3 fatty acids, which are required for brain development. Rapid brain development takes place up until 2 years of age, where sensory, perceptual, cognitive and motor neural systems development occurs too. Omega- 3 fatty acids are also shown to improve symptoms of attention deficit disorder. So make sure you pack in the required two servings of fatty fish each week.
OATS
is a slow- releasing carbohydrate food, which means it will help control appetite and energy levels. Being a wholegrain, oats is high in fibre, particularly soluble (functional) fibre and helps to keep bowel movements regular. Oats also provides a source of other beneficial micronutrients, such as manganese, selenium, vitamin B1 and vitamin B3.
CARROTS
contain beta carotene, which helps to improve night vision, so tell your kids that carrots do help them see in the dark! Carrots also provide fibre and are usually a popular vegetable among kiddies. You can prepare them in many different ways, for example, puréed carrot for your 6- month- old baby, grated carrot salad, baby carrots to snack on or cooked carrot rings as part of a meal.
BANANAS
are nature’s ideal snack as they are filling, tasty and conveniently wrapped. It’s a nutritious fruit high in potassium, which is a vital mineral for muscle and nerve function. Bananas are a source of fibre, which helps to prevent constipation or diarrhoea. Bananas can also add variety to meals, for example, added to smoothies and sandwiches and puréed for babies or in a fruit salad. YB