You can us this article to know what foods to introduce to your newborns.

Rehan Zaidi

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Six Months
At six months foods are introduced into the breast feeding regime. Several qualities are desirable:

  1.     Generally, hypoallergenic foods should be used
  2. Easy chewability
  3. Reasonably iron-rich
  4. Adequate fibre and fluid levels for the heath of the colon

With these ideas in mind, the following foods have been chosen as appropriate foods to introduce at six months:

  1. Prunes: Fibre, iron, vitamin C, fluid, calcium
  2. Cherries: Fibre, iron, vitamin C, fluid
  3. Banana: Potassium, iron, chewability
  4. Blackberry: Fibre, iron, vitamin C
  5. Carrot (cooked and mashed): Fibre, carotenes, calcium
  6. Mung bean sprouts (blended): Iron, fluid, fibre, enzymes
  7. Broccoli (cooked, mashed or blended): Iron, fibre, chlorophyll, potassium, calcium
  8. Cauliflower (cooked, mashed, or blended): Iron, bulk
  9.  Applesauce: Pectin, fluid, fruit sugars
  10. Grapes: Vitamin C, fluid, fruit sugars
  11. Yam: Carbohydrate, carotenes, potassium
  12. Pears: Vitamin C, fibre, fruit sugars
  13. Kiwi: Vitamin C, fluid, enzymes
  14. Green peas: Iron, fibre, chlorophyll, calcium

Nine Months
Substantial growth and maturation of tissues occur at nine months. Iron and zinc foods are emphasized as well as maintaining hypo-allergenicity in food choices. High bulk and fibre are encouraged for good intestinal health. The intestinal bacteria change as we add more foods from Bifido-Bacterium bifidus to Bacteriodes, clostridium, staphylococcus, E. coli, and other lactobacillus species. A high fibre diet encourages a smooth transformation to these bacterial types. Introduce these foods one at a time, watching for reactions such as diaper rash, behavioural changes, skin rashes on body or mouth, runny nose, or watery eyes.

Following are the foods to be introduced at nine months:

  1. Papaya: Vitamin C
  2. Oatmeal: Zinc, protein
  3. Lima beans: Zinc, protein
  4. Split pea soup: Zinc, protein
  5. Mashed potatoes: Complex carbohydrate, protein
  6. Basmati rice: Complex carbohydrate, protein
  7. Artichoke: Carbohydrate, protein, vitamin A, phosphorus, potassium
  8. Cabbage: Fibre, vitamin A, potassium
  9. Sweet potato: Carbohydrate, carotenes, fibre, potassium
  10. Millet: Complex: carbohydrate, protein
  11. String beans: Bulk, magnesium
  12. Blueberries: Fibre, Vitamin C
  13. Nectarines: Vitamin A, potassium
  14. Chard: Magnesium, chlorophyll, bulk

Twelve Month Foods 
Twelve month foods, like nine month foods, are high in fibre, zinc, and complex carbohydrates. Again, check for allergic-type reactions such as skin rashes, runny nose and behaviour changes. Protein and iron are also emphasized.

  1.  Acorn squash: Carbohydrate, fibre
  2. Blackstrap molasses: Iron
  3.  Tofu: Protein
  4.  Asparagus: Fibre, protein, vitamin A, niacin, potassium, manganese
  5.  Avocado: Oils and good fats
  6. Barley: Carbohydrate, phosphorus, magnesium, protein
  7. Spirulina: Protein, chlorophyll
  8. Brown rice: Carbohydrate, protein, fibre, vitamin B complex, potassium
  9. Swiss chard: Magnesium, fibre
  10. Parsnips: Bulk, vitamin A, plant pigments
  11. Goat’s milk: Protein, vitamin A, vitamin B complex, potassium, calcium, zinc
  12. Yogurt: Calcium, protein, some B vitamins, zinc
  13. Hubbard squash: Carbohydrate, protein, vitamin A, potassium

Eighteen Month Foods
The eighteen month foods include foods high in protein. The molecular structures are getting more complex. These foods emphasize calcium and B vitamins as well.

  1. Tahini: Oils, protein, iron
  2. Kelp: Protein, trace minerals
  3. Beet greens: Chlorophyll, fibre, pigments, some iron
  4. Beans: Carbohydrate, protein
  5. Lamb: Protein, iron
  6. Eggplant: Fibre, carbohydrate
  7. Chicken: Protein, B vitamins
  8. Fish (all kinds, introduced one at a time): Protein, iron
  9. Spaghetti squash: Carbohydrate
  10. Various greens: Magnesium, fibre
  11. Rye: Carbohydrate, protein, fibre, sodium
  12. Mushrooms: Fibre, copper, zinc
  13. Rutabaga: Carbohydrate, pigments, carotenes
  14. Buckwheat: Carbohydrate, fibre, B vitamins

Twenty-one Month Foods

At this stage, much growth is occurring. Here we begin to fill out the proteins so that the protein foods can be rotated. Essential fatty acid rich nuts are introduced as nut butters.

  1. Eggs: B12, protein, cholesterol
  2. Beef liver: B12, iron, protein, B vitamins
  3. Cashew butter: Protein, essential fatty acids
  4. Almond butter: Protein, essential fatty acids
  5. Game hen: Protein
  6. Salmon: Protein
  7. Oranges: Vitamin C, bioflavonoids
  8. Turkey: Protein
  9. Pineapple: Vitamin C
  10. Brewer’s yeast: B3 vitamins
  11. Crushed walnuts: Essential fatty acids, protein
  12. Wheat (sprouted Essene bread is good): Enzymes, sugars, proteins

Twenty-four Month Foods

This completes the list of foods. Any fruit or vegetable may be added that has not appeared on previous lists. Be sure to continue to watch for allergic symptoms as mentioned above.

  1. Sunflower seeds: Essential fatty acids, protein
  2. Peanut butter: Essential fatty acids, protein
  3. Lentils: Fibre, protein
  4. Duck: Protein
  5. Clams: Minerals, protein
  6. Cottage cheese: Calcium, protein
  7. Lamb liver: Iron, protein
  8. Soy (all forms): Calcium, protein
  9. Cheese (all types, introduce one at a time): Calcium, protein
  10. Rabbit: Protein