Your baby’s diet needs to include a wide range of foods varieties. Carbohydrates, fruit, vegetables as well as protein, fats and dairy are the choices of the nanny in order to let baby receive all the nutrients he needs. At this stage, he needs to experience lots of different flavours and textures. He will get a range of minerals and vitamins too. For the first months of a baby’s life the nanny will give him all the nutrients he needs from breastmilk or formula. When a baby starts to eat solids it is really important to try and maintain that balance in the foodstuffs he eats.
Carbohydrates
One of the main nutrients to be included in our meal. It is the most essential energy source for our body. Our digestive system will transform these carbohydrates to glucose, essentially used as energy for our body cells, organs and tissues. Extra will be stored in the liver and muscles. The sources consist of baby rice, potatoes, bread, pasta,couscous and rice. Wholegrain products are better than processed or white foods.
Fruit and Vegetables
These are another form of carbohydrates and they are packed with essential vitamins and minerals when fresh. Nanny sometimes offer them as raw or cooked. Sometimes mashed, pureed or as finger foods. The important thing to remember is a wide variety, combine with different textures, flavours as well as colors.
Good fruits and raw vegetables consist of: pears, mangoes, courgettes, orange pieces, sliced tomatoes, pepper slices, cauliflower, broccoli. Fruits and vegetables that make fantastic purees when cooked include: courgette, carrots, pears, apples, broccoli, cauliflower, parsnips, butternut squash and roasted aubergine.
Finger foods include: carrot sticks; broccoli or cauliflower (boiled or steamed for around four minutes), green beans, corn on the cob (cook it, then cool it by immersing it in cold water before you give it to your older baby to gnaw on).
Foods to mash consist of: bananas, ripe peaches or plums (skin and stone removed), figs, avocado.
Proteins
These play many critical roles in the body. They are the building blocks of body tissue and are needed for structure, function, and regulation of the tissues and organs. Eggs, meat, lentils, poultry and fish are examples of what the nanny usually include in the meal.
Dairy Products
These provide protein, vitamin D and minerals such as calcium as well as essential fats. Breastmilk or formula milk will provide your baby with most of his dairy needs, but other forms of dairy include cheese, butter and yoghurt, which the nanny use either of their own or as part of a recipe.
Fats
Fats are used for the development of their eyes as well as the brain and nervous system. Our body cannot make these fats and therefore essential fatty acids are a critical part of our diet. We can usually get them from foods such as avocados, cheese, full fat milk and oily fish.
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