Beyond Bland Baby Food - Escaping the Rice Cereal Rut

What parent hasn't slipped a taste of their baby's foodbaby might enjoy them, so do not let your own taste
and marveled at how bland and tasteless it is? Mostbuds interfere with what you offer baby at this
baby foods are very plain and fed in a repetitiveformative time.
pattern that makes eating looking like torture.As a special note, the recommendations in this article
Smashed, unseasoned peas, rice cereal, smashed,should be chopped, ground, pureed, or mashed for
unseasoned carrots, rice cereal, bananas, riceyour particular baby depending on his swallowing and
cereal...and don't forget the rice cereal! While thesechewing skills - be sure to take that into account when
foods are healthy for baby, exposing your baby to realintroducing any new food to your baby.
flavors is a treat that takes him beyond bland baby· Sour fruits. It does not have to be sweet for baby
food. And in fact, exposing baby to different tasty (butto enjoy it! Many kids love to eat foods that have a
healthy) foods now may prevent him from becomingsour flavor. Test your baby's love for things that make
fixated on unhealthy kid-style foods later on down theyour mouth pucker by pureeing some cherries (pits
road (like sugary drinks, pasta, cookies and more) thatremoved) or cutting cherries into chunks for finger
are not healthy for him.foods in older babies or toddlers. You might also
Childhood obesity is on the rise, and some pediatriciansconsider introducing plums, which have a tart but
believe that the act of exposing babies to foods thatsweet taste.
are healthy at a young age has never been more· Non-traditional veggies. Who said babies will only like
crucial.or should only be fed traditional veggies like green
Introducing New Tastesbeans, carrots, peas and sweet potatoes? Babies also
While some pediatricians still recommend waiting until alove broccoli, kale, Brussels sprouts and cabbage,
baby is at least a year old before introducing so-calledamong other veggie choices. What's more, these
"allergenic foods", others say it is okay and importantgreen choices are brimming with important nutrients.
to do so, although all of them agree that it is good toTry mashed turnips, pureed cauliflower or even
do so gradually, waiting a few days between thesmashed sauerkraut.
introductions of new foods.· Fish. Pediatricians no longer say that babies cannot
In this way, you will be able to tell if a particular foodeat fish. Babies older than six months can have fish
caused a problem. It is always optimal to go by theprovided they do not show any signs of an allergy to
advice of your own pediatrician when making decisionsfish, like eczema. Skinless, boneless salmon is a great
regarding feeding your baby.source of DHA, which is an omega-3 fatty acid.
Escaping the Rice Cereal ConundrumThese are just a few of the food choices that you
We will now look at food and flavor choices that youcan add to baby's diet to add some flavor and fun to
might not ordinarily consider for your baby. And evenmealtime!
though you might not enjoy some of these foods, your