Mothers and Babies Health! Healthy Nutrition Tips by Pros

Mothers and Babies Health! Healthy Nutrition Tips by Pros | A Note About Mothers and Babies. The best possible preparation for pregnancy and childbirth is a good balanced diet before you get pregnant.

You ought to pay particular attention to getting sufficient protein, iron, calcium, vitamin D and B group vitamins, as your body’s requirement for these will increase considerably during pregnancy.

Mothers and Babies Health!

You should be able to find a sympathetic, modern physician who understands meat-free nutrition quite easily. Also, it’s another good opportunity to learn something more about your own body and its requirements, so try to make time to do some reading, you’ll find it very worthwhile.

There are several books that specialize in meatless nutrition for mothers and babies, a particularly useful one being The Vegetarian Baby. For the first few months your baby will need little more than mother’s milk (during which time your own nutritional needs will change somewhat, your body requiring slightly less protein, but more vitamin A, vitamin C, B group, iodine and zinc).

Baby needs!

At about six months the baby will be able to eat some solids, and by nine months food such as grains, beans, bread, fruit or vegetables will be taken if they are well softened and/or ground first. Remember that all beans and pulses must be well cooked and thoroughly boiled, it is dangerous just to simmer them or soften them in a slow cooker.

This is how Sharon Yntema suggests various foods may be introduced into your baby’s diet, and at what stage:

Mothers and Babies Health! 4-5 months:

Introduce ripe banana, avocado, pear, sweet potatoes, yogurt. All food should be finely mashed or puréed: Amounts: single food per meal, one meal a day (breast feeding still main source of food).

5-6 months:

Introduce: grains (rice, barley, millet, oatmeal, more vegetables (peas, butter beans, green beans), more fruits and fruit juices. All food should be puréed or fork-mashed.. Amounts: one or two foods at a meal, two meals a day, juice for a snack once a day (breast feeding still substantial).

Mothers and Babies Health! 6-8 months:

Introduce egg yolks, stronger flavoured vegetables such as cabbage, spinach, broccoli, kale. Main meal should be in puréed form. Finger foods should be soft. Pre-soaked dried fruits and bread pieces are good finger food

Amounts: two to three meals a day or two meals plus finger foods snack (breast feeding at least twice a day).

8-9 months

Introduce: legumes, tofu, nut and seed pastes, cheese, bulgur any other vegetables, fruits or grains that have not previously been introduced. Meals can be in less puréed form, but there should be no hard or large chunks. Finger foods can be chunkier.

Amounts: three meals a day, plus finger food snacks (breast feeding twice a day).

Mothers and Babies Health! New foods for baby

New food should be introduced slowly, one thing at a time so that your baby can get used to new flavours and food textures. Some things will be popular, some won’t – and your baby will exercise his or her preferences just like anyone else! You will find certain equipment, such as a food processor or liquidizer very useful for grinding and milling, and also for making puréed fruits and vegetables (canned baby food is expensive and it’s better to make your own if you’re able).