Starter Foods For Babies

Planning to introduce solid foods to your baby? The best time to provide healthy finger foods to children is when they are 8 to 9 months old. By including solid food with mother’s milk in their diet, you nurture their body with all the necessary vitamins, mineral, and fiber that will boost the growth of their mind and body. Here are some very simple, nutrition packed finger foods that are not processed and readily available in your kitchen.

Green Peas

Kids faces go green just looking at those runny, bland green peas purees. Surprise them with whole green peas that are filled with healthy nutrients. Add just a hint of salt if your kid is fussy about eating them. The best part of green pea is your child will never choke on them yet they taste just fine.

Mashed Potatoes

This is a rather messy finger food you can give to your baby. When your child starts learning to self-feed mashed potatoes become a great choice of food you can present in front of him/ her. Mashed potatoes are easy to hold but can be quite messy to clean when they just throw it around. Be sure to cover a sizable area around your kid in plastic to avoid clean up from the inevitable mashed potato war.

Cooked Beans

Once your baby develops grasping power, allow them to pick up small things like well-cooked beans from the bowl. It is a healthy finger food option because of their soft texture and mild taste. Being a powerhouse of protein, fiber, folic acid and all essential nutrients they are a great addition to your baby’s meal. If you are skeptical on cooking beans, just soak the beans overnight and cook them until they are soft.

Steamed Green Beans or Carrot

We all know that kids get all excited looking at different colors. So, next time grab their attention with steamed carrot sticks and green beans. Steamed veggies are easy to digest and packed with plenty of nutrition for baby.  If your kid makes a face while eating them, consider adding a healthy dip to enhance their food experience.

Soft Raw Fruits

Chose fruits that are naturally sweet to eat. Fruit contains a high amount of fiber, vitamins, and water. Giving soft fruits like peaches, watermelon, oranges and avocados to your baby will help keep them hydrated. If your child is at least eight months old, introduce small cubes of these fruits at your baby's mealtime for an instant smile.

Scrambled Eggs

Eggs are an excellent source of iron, choline, and protein. You can cook scrambled eggs or simple egg recipe for the little to enjoy a power pack meal but be cautious. Eggs are one of the most common allergens. Some babies can’t digest egg whites easily so make sure to talk to your doctor before introducing this food. Especially if your family has a history of egg allergies.

Try these healthy options that are natural and nutritious for babies and toddlers to put their hands on AND into their mouths.

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