Easy to cook family foods for your baby Bwydydd hawdd i'w coginio i'ch teulu a'ch babi
Family foods for your baby stage 2 This second stage advice is suitable for babies aged approximately seven to nine months. Now you can introduce foods which are of a mashed texture and slightly more lumpy. Introducing this texture will encourage your baby to learn to chew. As your baby progresses, finger foods should be given to encourage your baby to feed himself/herself. Remember to always supervise your baby at mealtimes to give encouragement and ensure they do not choke.
Helpful hints Try to introduce a feeding cup as soon as you can. It s best to use free flow feeder/ trainer or unlidded cups. Breast milk, water or formula milk are the best drinks keep very diluted fruit juice for meal times. When your baby can sit up, use a high chair. Encourage your baby to hold a spoon. How much food? The amount of food you give will vary according to their appetite. Do I need to give my baby a vitamin supplement? For babies on infant formula or follow-on milk, who are taking 500mls (1pt) per day a vitamin supplement is not required. Breastfed babies after six months of age should have drops containing vitamins A and D.
Foods to choose Choose a variety of foods from the four main food groups below. Milk/dairy products Breast milk or 3 x 9fl oz/250ml or equivalent bottles of infant formula or follow-on formula. Full fat milk can be used to mix foods. Full fat yoghurt, fromage frais. Cheese grate it or use small pieces as a finger food. Cereals You can now begin to introduce wheat based foods. Pasta (mashed), mashed potatoes, rice. Bread toast, pitta bread, and cereals. Porridge, instant porridge or iron fortified wholewheat cereals. Fruit and vegetables Introduce pieces of fruit and vegetables as finger foods. Start with soft fruits such as banana, then move on to small sticks of firmer fruit and vegetables such as cooked carrot, pear and peeled cucumber, with supervision. Meat/fish/eggs Meat (purée or minced texture) beef, lamb, pork. Chicken or turkey. Fish. Eggs cooked until yolk and white are solid.
Vegetarian choices Pulses for examples peas, beans, lentils (mashed). Smooth peanut butter. Mashed Quorn or tofu. What to avoid Fizzy drinks and squashes they are high in sugar. Undiluted or sweetened fruit juice. Skimmed or semi-skimmed milk and milk products. Salt. Peanut butter should be avoided until three years of age if a close family member has asthma, eczema or hay fever. Whole nuts and peanuts should be avoided until five years due to the risk of choking.
Recipes Stage 2 All recipes serve four adults plus baby or less adults with additional portions to freeze for baby. For baby, purée in a liquidiser or blender. For older babies, mash with a fork. Remember not to add sugar or salt to fruit and vegetables during or after, cooking.
Cauliflower cheese 1 cauliflower, divided into small pieces For the sauce 25g (1oz) margarine or butter 1 heaped tablespoon of plain flour 250ml ( 1 2 pt) full cream milk 75g (3oz) cheddar cheese, grated. Method Cook the cauliflower in boiling water for 15 minutes or until tender. Drain. To make the sauce Melt the margarine or butter in a saucepan. Take off the heat. Stir in the flour to make a smooth paste. Add the milk stirring continuously. Return to the heat and bring to the boil, stirring continuously. When the sauce has thickened, take the saucepan off the stove. Stir in the grated cheese. Place the cauliflower in a serving dish and pour the sauce over.
Fish pie 350g (11oz) cooked fish e.g. cod or a 225g (8oz) can of salmon (bones removed) or tuna 2 teaspoons chopped parsley 275ml ( 1 2 pint) made up cheese sauce (see recipe for cauliflower cheese) pinch of pepper 5-6 medium potatoes, peeled and boiled 25g (1oz) margarine or butter 3-4 tablespoons of full cream milk p.t.o. for method
Method Mix the fish with the cheese sauce and parsley, add a pinch of pepper. Place in an ovenproof dish. Mash the cooked potatoes with the margarine or butter and milk. Place the mashed potato on top of the fish mixture. Smooth the top and mark lines in the potato using a fork. Bake in a preheated oven, gas mark 6/200 C, for 20 minutes.
Beany shepherds pie 25g (1oz) margarine or butter 1 large onion, peeled and chopped finely 1 tablespoon flour 175ml ( 1 3 pint) water 500g (1lb) minced beef or lamb pinch of pepper pinch of nutmeg 1 x 475g (15oz) can of baked beans For the mashed potato 4-5 medium sized potatoes, cooked 25g (1oz) margarine or butter 2 tablespoons full cream milk p.t.o. for method
Method Melt the margarine or butter in a saucepan, add the onion and fry for 5 minutes. Add the flour, stir well and cook for 1 minute. Take the saucepan off the stove, add the water slowly, stirring continuously. Add the minced beef or lamb, pepper and nutmeg to the saucepan. Return the saucepan to the stove, bring to the boil. Reduce the heat, put a lid on the pan and simmer for 30 minutes. Add the baked beans, bring back to the boil and simmer for 3 minutes. Whilst the beans are cooking, mash the potatoes with the margarine or butter and the milk. Place the meat mixture in an ovenproof dish. Spread mashed potato on top of the mixture. Make lines in the potato with a fork. Place under a hot grill to brown the potato topping.
Keeping food safe and cool Always wash your hands before handling food or feeding equipment. Teach young children to wash their hands before touching food and after using the toilet make sure you do too. If using tins or jars, remember to take food out of them and place in a covered plastic/china container. Store in the fridge (0-5 C) and use within 24 hours. Serve at room temperature or reheat thoroughly.
If food is reheated, ensure it is heated thoroughly, then left to cool before feeding. Always stir the food and test the temperature. Keep pets out of the kitchen when preparing food. Throw away unfinished drinks and food scraps left on the plate. Any food dropped on the floor should be thrown away. Mixing foods with fluids in a bottle can cause a baby to choke.
Acknowledgements: Mums of Blaenau Ffestiniog Canolfan Ymbarél, Community Dietitians in Wales Crown copyright 2005 ISBN 0 7504 3715 4. Health Promotion Division, Office of the Chief Medical Officer Welsh Assembly Government, Cathays Park, Cardiff CF10 3NQ