We are firm believers in You Are What You Eat. Not just from a weight management perspective, but also for optimal internal health. I’ve followed the following list of foods, and when to introduce them, recommended by our naturopathic doctor for both of our kids to help reduce the risk of food allergies and ensure good digestion. (see bottom of page for more details)

Food for Babies 0-6 Months Old

The World Health Organization and many international health decision makers, recommend breastfeeding exclusively for the first six months of a baby’s life.  Of course, not everyone is able to breastfeed, but if you are it is a good minimum goal to set. We had large babies and chose to begin slowly introducing solids one at a time, for several days, before introducing the next new food. We started at four months to help me meet the volume they demanded. This allowed us to be sure our children didn’t have any allergies to anything they were eating.

Food for Babies 6-8 Months Old

Hypoallergenic foodsvcontaining iron: 1-2 tablespoons per day. Cook and puree/mash vegetables. Freeze tablespoons full in ice cube trays, then store frozen cubes in labelled freezer bags or reusable freezer safe containers. Thaw by adding small amounts of water in a pot and warming on the stove.

carrots                         squash
cauliflower                 sprouts
zucchini                      asparagus
broccoli                       artichoke
yam (a favourite in our house)

Foods for Babies 9-11 Months Old

Foods high in zinc and good for the immune system: 2-4 tablespoons per day. Cook all foods, including fruits, except bananas. Mix rice or oat cereals with water and cook well (see below for more details). Breast milk can be added once cooked. Use single foods, not mixtures.

papaya                          blueberries             pears
nectarines                    blackberries          apricots
prunes                           cherries                  oatmeal
banana (very ripe)     grapes                     beets
kiwi                                plums                      rice cereal

Foods for Infants 12-17 Months Old

Foods high in zinc and bulk: 4-10 tablespoons per day.

acorn squash              cabbage                   chard
parsnips                       avacado                   quinoa
egg yolk                        split pea soup         apple sauce
peaches                        rice                            string beans
seed butters: sunflower, pumpkin, sesame

Foods for Infants 18-20 Months Old

Foods high in B vitamins and calcium.

tofu                         raw goats milk         tahini
eggplant               spinach                       kelp
chicken                beans                           buckwheat
teff                         barley                           rye
spelt                      rhutabaga                   lamb
fish: white, not shellfish                       goat cheese

Foods for Infants 21 Months to Two-Years Old

Additional foods high in protein.

egg                         almond butter          cashew butter
turkey                    wheat                         brewer’s yeast
walnuts                almonds                    oranges
strawberries        pineapple                  yoghurt

Foods for Toddlers Two to Three Years Old

corn                       lentils                        tomato
peanut butter       soy                             duck
cottage cheese

The purpose of digestion is to break foods into non-allergic simple sugars, amino acids and fatty acids. Babies are unable to do this efficiently until 6 months or so and the notions that solids help them sleep the night is just a myth. They will sleep when their digestive system is healthy. The more mature the infant’s digestive system is at the time of the introduction of a new food, the more likely they will be able to tolerate them. The introduction of solid foods, especially those which have shown to create many food reactions, should be delayed as long as possible – e.g. dairy, wheat, shellfish, many nuts, tomato, corn, strawberries, egg. New foods should be given not more than once every four days. Give only a bite the first time, increasing the amount with each feeding if no adverse side effects are observed.

Food reactions can include sneezing, rashes anywhere on the body, a change in stool, or even in personality.

Cereals should be well cooked. there is evidence that poorly cooked grains such as wheat, corn, rice and oats are responsible for many of the food sensitivities in adults.

Extracted from writings by Dr. Brenda Gill, Naturopathic Physician, Nelson and Rossland British Columbia.