Jun. 20, 2008 - Nourishing a Growing Baby
Today I re-read this article: http://www.westonaprice.org/children/nourish-baby.html and wanted to share some snippets with you about what is healthy for babies! We still have a long way to go before introducing foods. Please read the articles if you have a baby, there is a TON of info and the parts I'm quoting bare;y scratch the surface! I'll also be inserting tidbits from:
http://rubies.articledirectoree.com/articles/health/nothing-but-the-best-2.html
Abigail will "eat" breastmilk only, for at least 6 months then we'll see if she is ready to introduce other foods. If so we'll start with egg yolks, and fruit and veggies waiting until closer to a year before introducing grains. We will not do baby cereals. We did not with Andrew because I was dealing with Peter being a picky eater and wanted to get as much fruit and vegetable foods into him as I could before he got to that stage too (which he never did because we figured out how to prevent/stop it with discipline, plus he loves fresh produce anyways) Now I am more educated and know that was a very good choice!
If you are breastfeeding you should still be choosing healthy foods for yourself :
The typical modern diet is filled with products based on sugar, white flour, additives and commercial fats and oils, which do not nourish and build. The proper nutrients are necessary to create breast milk that will provide all a growing baby needs. These include good quality proteins from foods such as grass-fed meats and organ meats, good quality fats from butter, coconut oil, olive oil, cod liver oil and egg yolks, as well as complex carbohydrate-rich foods like vegetables, whole grains and legumes--think whole food, natural and seasonal, with a big emphasis on healthy fat.
In spite of conventional pediatric advice to begin your baby on cereal (usually processed, cooked, de-natured, stripped and basically white rice packaged junk) and then progress to jarred baby food which has all its life and goodness heated right out of it, I choose to rebel and follow common sense.Breast milk is raw and unpasteurized and contains all the necessary enzymes for easy digestion. If we start replacing this perfect “living” food with cooked de-natured stuff, we jeopardize our baby’s health. When our child needs solids we should replace the breast milk with a food that is equally beneficial to our baby’s growing needs.
Grains, nuts and seeds should be the last food given to babies. This food category has the most potential for causing digestive disturbances or allergies. Babies do not produce the needed enzymes to handle cereals, especially gluten-containing grains like wheat, before the age of one year. Even then, it is a common traditional practice to soak grains in water and a little yogurt or buttermilk for up to 24 hours. This process jump-starts the enzymatic activity in the food and begins breaking down some of the harder-to-digest components.1 The easiest grains to digest are those without gluten like brown rice. When grains are introduced, they should be soaked for at least 24 hours and cooked with plenty of water for a long time. This will make a slightly sour, very thin porridge that can be mixed with other foods
Don't fear fats!!
Pediatric clinicians have known for some time that children fed low-fat and low-cholesterol diets fail to grow properly. After all, a majority of mother's milk is fat, much of it saturated fat. Children need high levels of fat throughout growth and development. Milk and animal fats give energy and also help children build muscle and bone.1 In addition, the animal fats provide vitamins A and D necessary for protein and mineral assimilation, normal growth and hormone production.27
Choose a variety of foods so your child gets a range of fats, but emphasize stable saturated fats, found in butter, meat and coconut oil, and monounsaturated fats, found in avocados and olive oil.
Foods to Introduce
Egg yolks, rich in choline, cholesterol and other brain-nourishing substances, can be added to your baby's diet as early as four months, as long as baby takes it easily. Cholesterol is vital for the insulation of the nerves in the brain and the entire central nervous system. It helps with fat digestion by increasing the formation of bile acids and is necessary for the production of many hormones. Since the brain is so dependent on cholesterol, it is especially vital during this time when brain growth is in hyper-speed.25 Thus, the best choice for baby is yolks from pasture-fed hens raised on flax meal, fish meal, or insects since they will contain higher levels of DHA. Why just the yolk? The white is the portion that most often causes allergic reactions, so wait to give egg whites until after your child turns one.
Choline is another critical nutrient for brain development.
Don't neglect to put a pinch of salt on the egg yolk. While many books warn against giving salt to babies, salt is actually critical for digestion as well as for brain development. Use unrefined salt to supply a variety of trace minerals.
Around four months is a good time to start offering cod liver oil, which is an excellent source of the omega-3 fatty acids DHA and EPA (also important for brain develoment) as well as vitamins A and D. Start with a 1/4 teaspoon of high-vitamin cod liver oil or 1/2 teaspoon regular dose cod liver oil, doubling the amount at 8 months.12 Use an eye dropper at first; later baby can take cod liver oil mixed with a little water or fresh orange juice.
If baby is very mature and seems hungry, he may be given mashed banana during this period. Ripe banana is a great food for babies because it contains amylase enzymes to digest carbohydrates
Do not use bananas that are not speckled as their starch has not fully broken down into simple sugars and they are harder to digest.
At Six Months
Puréed meats can be given at six months (or even earlier if baby is very mature). Meats will help ensure adequate intake of iron, zinc, and protein with the decrease in breast milk and formula.17
A variety of fruits can be introduced at this time. Avocado, melon, mangoes and papaya can be mashed and given raw. High-pectin fruits such as peaches, apricots, apples, pears, cherries and berries should be cooked to break down the pectin, which can be very irritating to the digestive tract.
Avocados are wonderful beginners and future staples. They are a true super-food, packed with antioxidants, especially vitamin E and all essential amino acids. They provide essential fatty acids imperative for proper growth and brain function. Babies love their smooth texture and delicate flavor. Cut a ripe avocado in half, flick the seed out and scrape little bits onto a baby spoon and presto, you have the perfect meal, fit for a royal baby.
*also if your baby isnt eating the whole avocado and the rest of your family isn't jumping at the leftovers, you can mix it with coconut oil (another SUPER healthy fat) and store it in the fridge and it wont brown.
As time goes by, move up in complexity with food and texture. At about six to eight months, vegetables may be introduced, one at a time so that any adverse reactions may be observed. Carrots, sweet potatoes and beets are excellent first choices. All vegetables should be cooked (steamed preferably), mashed and mixed with a liberal amount of fat, such as butter or coconut oil, to provide nutrients to aid in digestion.
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