Every parent wants their child to grow up healthy, especially when complementary foods need to be introduced between 4 and 6 months. For working mothers, preparing nutritious and delicious meals in a busy life can be a challenge. Nutritionist Liu Xiaoqing shares that there is no need to be overly stressed about preparing complementary foods for infants. By following these three key points, it can be done with ease.
Balanced Nutrition is Key: Don’t Miss Any of the Six Major Food Categories
Liu Xiaoqing suggests that the selection of complementary foods should cover the six major food categories, including whole grains, legumes, fish, eggs, meat, dairy, vegetables, fruits, and fats, nuts, and seeds. This ensures that the child gets a variety of nutrients. For example, at the early stage of complementary feeding, you can start with rice cereal or rice water and gradually introduce vegetable purees, such as carrot or corn puree. Fish is usually the first meat that children can accept, followed by chicken, and later pork or beef. Introducing different foods step by step helps children develop healthy eating habits.
Provide infants with a variety of foods to ensure adequate nutrition and increase their future acceptance of different types of food. (Image / Courtesy of Freepik)
Avoid Allergies: Pay Attention to Early Food Choices
When introducing new foods for the first time, parents should pay close attention to the child’s reaction and avoid offering allergy-prone foods too early. Foods with fuzz or oils, such as kiwi or nuts, are best introduced when the child is older. Liu Xiaoqing reminds parents not to worry too much about allergies; between 4 to 9 months is a golden period for developing immune tolerance. Introducing new foods in moderation can actually help reduce the risk of allergies in the future.
Moderate Seasoning: Cultivate Healthy Eating Habits
When a child starts eating solid foods, busy parents may be tempted to feed the child the same meals as adults. Liu Xiaoqing emphasizes that this may cause the child to develop a taste for overly seasoned food, increasing the risk of hypertension or chronic diseases in the future. Even if the child can eat with the family, parents should avoid over-seasoning, keeping the child’s diet light and natural.
Handling Food Refusal: Vary Flavors and Ingredient Combinations
Is your child suddenly refusing food? It could be because of monotonous flavors, which make meals uninteresting. Liu Xiaoqing suggests that parents can try changing the color and texture of the ingredients to increase the child's interest in food. For children over one year old, besides rice, they can also try noodles or udon, which not only help develop chewing skills but also offer a richer dining experience.
A Lifesaver for Busy Parents: Commercially Prepared Infant Foods
For dual-income families, parents may not have extra time to prepare complementary foods after work. In this case, choosing certified commercially prepared infant foods is a good option. For example, products with ISO 22000 or HACCP certification are usually checked by nutritionists to ensure natural and additive-free ingredients. Take the products from Tongshi Le as an example, which are low in sodium but rich in flavor, making them a favorite among both parents and children.
Liu Xiaoqing emphasizes, "Whether homemade or commercially prepared, parents should always keep a variety of ingredients and pay attention to balanced nutrition to ensure their children grow up healthy and happy."
