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Solid Foods

How to Get Your Baby Started on Solid Foods

From the first time they smile to their first tooth, everything that happens to your baby should be documented as a milestone. Getting your baby off exclusive breastfeeding, and started on solids is a feat that you should get right at the first go. The fact is solid food is not breast-milk.  It has to contain all the elements that will make it nutritious, delicious and palatable for your baby. Another thing you need to know is if your baby is ready for it. While doctors recommend that you feed your baby breast-milk for six months, some babies are ready to take solids sooner than that. So, how do you know when your baby is ready? There are some tell-tale signs that will give you an incline whether to start solid foods or not. Some Signs your Baby is Ready Good head and neck control When the baby is able to sit up in a chair They reach out for food When they weigh twice their birth weight Normally, when babies are not ready for solids, they do not have the ability to swallow. At this point, you see them push the baby cereal back with their tongues. When your baby is ready for solids, they gradually start to lose this tongue-thrusting reflex. The moment you see these signs, you should know that your baby is ready for more than breast-milk. How do you start? One thing you need to remember is your baby’s health and nutrition are the priority. You can start out with iron-rich baby cereal. It is best you feed your baby the cereal with a baby spoon, rather than in a bottle. No matter what, solid foods, or, cereal, should be fed after you breastfeed your baby. This way your baby still enjoys the goodies of breast-milk and at the same time, can get acquainted with solids. You may be tempted to introduce veggies and other foods immediately after the first success. But, you need to wait and give these foods gradually. Sometimes your baby may be allergic to these new foods, and giving them all at once will not help you identify the allergen. Another thing about giving your baby solid foods is you may need to serve it in small forms. There are a lot of great and nutritious recipes for your baby you can try. You may be itching to ask if you can give your baby fresh fruit juices. Fruit juices are an absolute big no for babies. The reason is that they pose to be more harmful than good. Juices add extra calories and sugars without giving your baby the needed balanced nutrition. In addition, drinking too much will cause diarrhea in babies, lead to tooth decay, and excess weight. It’s That Simple Breastfeeding your baby, although very beneficial, is tiring, especially if your baby nurses a lot at short intervals. If your baby is between 4-6 months, and 6 months to 1 year, giving solids is only meant to supplement breast-milk, not replace it. Read Also: You Need To Avoid These Foods For Breakfast 7 Surprising Benefits Of Alkaline Foods Eating Good Quality Foods For Diet

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Foods

You Need to Avoid These Foods for Breakfast

Although breakfast is the most important meal of the day, it does not mean you can eat anything you want. Yes, you are burning what you eat early during the day, but the food could still end up as stored fats that are not good for your health. These are some of the foods you need to avoid in the morning. Breakfast cereals When you were young, you thought that breakfast meant cereal. It was easy to prepare, and your mom probably had the same meal for you when you woke up. The truth is that even if the labels suggest that cereals contain whole grains, they are not necessarily the healthiest option for you. Even if some brands may contain nutrients your body needs, most of them hold a whole lot of sugar. Even granola and oats contain loads of sugar you need to avoid. Pancakes and waffles Again, when you were young, you were excited when you had pancakes and waffles on the table. The essential ingredients are sugar, milk, and eggs. They might be okay for breakfast, but the amount of refined flour present in making them is not good for your health. Add to that the toppings that you have like maple syrup, butter, or honey. They contain too much sugar that is unhealthy. Toast with margarine When you think about toast with margarine, you might feel even more excited about eating breakfast. Unfortunately, margarine is a terrible choice. It does not contain any significant nutrients, plus it has saturated fat and sugar. The bread is essentially refined carbs that will make the sugar in your blood spike quickly. Elevated blood sugar levels could lead to weight gain. Muffins Muffins have a reputation for being healthy, but they are not. They are technically cakes that contain lots of refined flour and sugar. Apart from eggs, nothing else is healthy in a muffin. If you buy the muffin mix in a box, it may contain more sugar and flour than the ones you prepare at home. The added sugar for flavors like chocolate chips and dried fruits make muffins even worse. Fruit juice You think that fruit juices are okay, but they are terrible for your health. The juices you purchase typically contain very little juice, and more fructose or corn syrup. They are the reason why you have increased sugar levels in your blood. They could also increase your chances of putting on weight. Unless you prepare the juice at home with real fruits and nothing else, you cannot have fruit juice in the morning, or at all. Given these reasons, you need to evaluate what you are eating in the morning. If you eat the right food for breakfast, you can have steak at night if you wish. You can check out upper west side restaurants for the best meals available. When you are careful with what you eat during the day, you will not mind eating a lot at night. Read Also: 7 Surprising Benefits Of Alkaline Foods Where You Can Find The Most Fresh And Health Raw Fruit And Processed Fruit Stay Away From These Foods To Remain Healthy

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