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 It is easy to make your own baby food. You can use the same healthy foods that you feed your family. Homemade baby food is healthy for your baby. It also: saves you money; lets your baby try a greater variety of foods; helps your baby get used to different textures and tastes; and lets your baby eat the same foods as your family.
How do I make my own baby food?
To make baby food you need:
• a food blender;
• baby food mill (grinder)
• a wire sieve and a clean spoon or a potato masher or fork
Wash your hands before you prepare food. Use clean utensils and cookware. Plain foods help baby learn about flavours. You don't need to add sugar, salt, margarine, or butter. The following table outlines how to prepare different types of foods:
FOODS HOW TO PREPARE
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Vegetables and fruit
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Wash, peel, pit, and/or seed and slice fresh vegetables or fruit or use frozen. Place vegetables or fruit in a small amount of boiling water. Cook until tender. Drain and keep the cooking water.
Mash or blend vegetables or fruit using a small amount of cooking water.
You can blend or mash ripe, soft fruits like bananas, mangoes, avocados, and canned fruit without cooking them.
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Meat and fish
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Place a piece of meat or fish in a saucepan with a small amount of water. Bring to a boil, reduce heat, and simmer. Continue to cook until meat separates easily from the bones or the fish flakes easily with a fork. You can also roast, bake, or braise meats and fish.
Remove the bones and skin and trim off the fat. Cut meat or flake fish into small pieces.
Blend with cooking water or stock.
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Meat alternatives
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Cook legumes, such as beans, lentils, and chickpeas, according to package directions. Rinse canned beans well. Cook egg yolk. Use plain tofu.
Blend with a little water or mash with a fork.
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Your baby will not need pureed or blended foods for long. At seven months offer mashed foods. Next, offer soft pieces of food.
SAMPLE MENUS FOR BABY
Continue to breastfeed your baby on demand. When your baby is eating a variety of solid foods, give breast milk after solid foods at mealtimes.These menus are only a guide. Your baby may eat foods at different times.Every baby is different. Trust that your baby knows how much to eat.
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TIME OF DAY 6 MONTHS 6-9 MONTHS 9-12 MONTHS
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| Early morning |
Breast milk |
Breast milk
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Breast milk
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Morning
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Breast milk
Iron-fortified infant cereal mixed with breast milk or water
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Breast milk
Iron-fortified infant cereal mixed with breast milk or water
Mashed fruit
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Breast milk
Iron-fortified infant cereal mixed with breast milk or water
Soft fruit
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Snack
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None
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Small pieces of toast, bread, crackers, roti, or pita
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Unsweetened dry cereal
Breast milk or homogenized milk from a cup
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Noon
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Breast milk
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Breast milk
Mashed vegetables
Plain mashed or finely chopped meat or meat alternatives*
Mashed fruit
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Iron-fortified infant cereal mixed with breast milk or water
Chopped meat or meat alternatives*
Cooked pasta or cooked rice, chopped vegetables
Soft fruit
Breast milk or homogenized milk from a cup
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Snack
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None
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None
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Plain muffin Cubes of soft cheese
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Evening
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Breast milk
Iron-fortified infant cereal mixed with breast milk or water
Plain pureed meat or meat alternatives
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Breast milk
Iron-fortified infant cereal mixed with breast milk or water
Plain mashed or finely chopped meat or meat alternatives*
Mashed vegetables or fruit
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Chopped meat or meat alternatives*
Cooked pasta or cooked rice, chopped vegetables
Soft fruit and/or plain yogurt
Breast milk
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Snack
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Breast milk
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Breast milk
Small pieces of toast, bread, crackers, roti, or pita
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Breast milk
Small pieces of toast, bread, crackers
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* Meat alternatives include fish, cooked legumes, beans and lentils, tofu and egg yolk.
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