Feeding Little Lords

The market seems to be flooded with formula foods, baby foods and ready to eat jars of goodness and health for teeny babies too. It beats me though, how can this factory made food be a substitute for the food that a mother can make for her baby, with the baby's taste, his health and of course, his needs in mind. Time may be a problem for some mothers but everything can be fitted in 24 hours if one only wants to. Working new Moms can have a hundred arguments against that but it doesn't take away from the fact that food cooked by the mother of a child is far, far better than food out of a glass jar, that is at this moment being consumed probably by half a million other babies. It's like robots breast feeding the baby. The absence of the warmth of a mothers touch can do wonders, negatively.

To my inexperienced mind it is still unclear why insisting on having a natural childbirth so a woman can connect with her role as a life-giver is becoming so important for a modern woman, but making wholesome meals for the child takes a back burner. Are we being a little selfish here? We want the sensory experiences but do not want to give time over a set period??

Debates aside, it is one of the best things a mom can do for her baby, new born or even a few months old. This is the easiest, tastiest and most nutritious way of connecting the baby with the family taste, healthy food habits, and f course, the security that only a mother's love and presence can provide. In today's distressed world, these can go a long way in shaping a confident, balanced and happy individual. Besides, home made baby food is almost always much less expensive than ready made stuff and also provides the guarantee for no untoward additions like color, preservatives etc.

Here are a few things one must remember before setting down a menu and the recipes for keeping your little lord pleased. To begin with, NEVER make baby's food from leftovers. So start with wholesome ingredients, and a good, clean kitchen slab (or counter). The most useful implements (or utensils) that are required are a clean, dry bowl, a baby food grinder, a blender, a clean (check between the prongs) fork, a strainer (with no residue) and a potato masher (since potatoes mash is going to be one huge favorite dish for every meal over the next few months).

Everything you use should be clean and dry. The next and most obvious step is to make a list of foods that your child can and cannot eat according to his age. Here are a few ideas:

For four to eight months:
__Mashed bananas,
__Mashed sweet potatoes,
__Stewed apples
__Stewed pears
__Stewed peaches
__For cereals, iron fortified infant cereals (always accompany with vitamin C source like fortified juice.)
__Mashed carrots
__Mashed peas

(Introducing the taste and texture of vegetables early on sets a lifetime of good, balanced eating habits)
So start with washing, peeling and deseeding the fruit or vegetable. Cook the fruit or vegetable till tender. Boiling with a little water or even micro waving can be done, but do not use any method that required oil or fats. The tender digestive system might not be able to take it. Mash the food with a masher or blend or strain it, till it is smooth. Don't try to smuggle in hard lumps of tough pieces. The child may choke on them. If the food is too dry, add a little liquid such as cooking water, juice, formula, or even breast milk. Since at this age there is no provision for chewing, always ensure the food is smooth and will easily go through the mouth.

For storing foods, always remember that mashed fruits should not be kept more than twenty for hours even under refrigeration. For stews, try not to add sugar, and make the taste of the fruit pulp stays. Always choose ripe fruits, so there's no acidity in the pulp, and the child does not suffer colic.

For storing baby food, ensure it is kept in a clean jar or container. If necessary, label the container, because it is not a god idea that the Mom tastes everything before serving to the baby, an umber of infections may ensue. Then, while freezing any food, make sure it is adequately cool. Mashed fruits should not be kept more than twenty four hours while stewed ones not more than two days.

After eight months, it is a good idea to offer the child soft cooked cereals like pasta, rice, soft breads and even crackers. By eight months, protein foods can be added on, and now it is time to give her yogurt with mashed fruits and other protein rich foods. By the age of twelve months, kidney beans, navy beans or pinto beans can be cooked very tender and mashed well before feeding. This introduces flavors of beans and also serves to take care of their protein needs. Even smoothened peanut butter is a good idea, on a soft bread or cracker, but this will be a little dry for the baby so follow it up with a little milk or juice. Whatever anyone may say, never cut back milk from the diet of an infant below two years, they NEED at least two cups of milk fats and calories to support their rapid growth. Fortified soy milk may also be used but never cut back on the fat content of milk for the child. Two years is no time to go slow on fats and calories, rather, one should PILE THEM ON.

Introducing your baby to wholesome home cooked food early on is one of the best things you, as a mother, can give to him.