RAMS FOOD MENU

Sample Meals for Baby: 6-9 months of age

By the time your baby is 9 months old, offer 2 to 3 meals and 1 to 2 snacks a day. As well as breast milk, offer:

Mealtimes Sample Meals

iron fortified infant cereal

Breakfast strawberries, mashed or cut-up
water in a cup

Lunch chicken, minced or chickpeas, mashed

cooked sweet potato, mashed
water in a cup

Snack pear, mashed

Dinner ground beef or lentils

brown rice
cooked broccoli, mashed
water in a cup
Sample Meals for Baby: 9-12 months of age
By the time your baby is 12 months old, offer 3 meals and 1 to 2 snacks a day. As
well as breast milk, offer:

Mealtimes Sample Meals

iron fortified infant cereal

Breakfast kiwi, chopped
water in a cup

Snack whole wheat toast with thinly spread peanut butter, cut into
strips

Lunch canned salmon, mashed

cooked carrot, chopped
avocado, chopped
yogurt
water in a cup

Snack whole grain crackers

Dinner chicken, chopped

brown rice
cooked green beans, chopped
cantaloupe, chopped
water in a cup
According to the Food and Nutrition Research Institute (FNRI), the top 10 best food for
babies are:

1. Breastmilk

Breastmilk is considered by the FNRI and other health organizations as the most
natural and perfect first food for a baby. It contains the correct proportions of necessary
nutrients such as protein, vitamins, and minerals to meet the babys needs for the first 6
months of life.

2. Cereals

Colloquially referred to as lugaw, this can be the first semi-solid food babies can
consume. When they hit the 8th month, they can be fed thicker lugaw or even soft-
cooked rice. At 10 months, they can be fed the same type of rice as the familys.
Cereals can be made more nutritious and delicious at the same time by adding
breastmilk.

3. Rootcrops

Rootcrops such as kamote and potato are rich with energy and fiber. These can be
mashed and enriched with milk for babies.

4. Fruits

Fruits provide a wide variety of nutrients for a babys good health. Mango and papaya
are prime sources of vitamin C which can help keep gums healthy, prevent bruising,
and keep infections away from the body. Mango, papaya, banana (especially ripe
latundan at first) provide a variety of nutrients for good health.

5. Vegetables

Vegetables are rich in various nutrients that can contribute to better bodily functions of a
baby. Yellow vegetables like carrots and squash contain beta-carotene that can develop
a baby's healthy skin, clear eyesight, good growth, glossy hair, and better immune
system. Meanwhile, green leafy vegetables like kamote tops, kangkong, pechay,
and malunggay are best sources of b-carotene. They contain minerals such as iron for
healthy blood and calcium for strong bone and teeth.
6. Eggs

One-half cooked eggyolk can be given to your baby at 7 months old. However, due to
allergy-producing qualities of eggwhites, one should wait until the baby is 11 months
old. Eggs are filled with protein that can build and repair muscles and vitamin D which
helps the body absorb calcium.

7. Legumes/beans

These are cheaper sources of protein, B-complex vitamins, and iron. Mashed beans
can be served to babies aged 19 to 11 months and can be enriched with milk.

8. Meat/Fish/Poultry

These provide protein for growth and repair of body tissues, iron for healthy blood, and
other vitamins and minerals such as zinc for a better immune system. When a child is 6
months old, it is best to introduce foods with a "chewier" texture like minced or finely
chopped meat, fish, and poultry.

9. Water and beverages

A baby usually begins learning to drink from a cup around 6 to 7 months old. Aside from
water, juices are acceptable but take note that these should be placed in a cup as
drinking juices through feeding bottles may result in early childhood tooth decay.
However, fruit juice should be part of a meal or snack and not consumed throughout the
day. Too much drinking can lead to diarrhea as babies do not easily digest juice.

10. Gelatin and biscuits

Simple food such as custards, puddings, and plain gulaman can be served to babies for
extra fiber. Biscuits are best given to babies when they start teething.
Responsible feeding

When feeding babies, it is important to be really careful because of their sensitive

digestive system.

Introduce food one at a time and in small amounts for them to get used to. It usually
takes about 3 days to see if there is any allergic reaction.

Be sure that you only give food that is age-appropriate. Do not add salt to babies' food
until the age of one as their kidneys cannot handle it.

Most importantly, ensure the cleanliness of the food youre serving babies. Pay attention
to good hygiene when preparing meals.

Keep these tips in mind, combined with regular trips to a pediatrician, and your bundle
of joy will remain happy and healthy for years to come. Rappler.com

This forbidden food chart will remain on Wholesome Baby Food for those parents interested in
learning about what foods may pose issues and for posterity. Several of the recommendations
on the chart are there because delaying the introduction of certain foods is not due to possible
allergic reactions. These recommendations are due to other possible health risks. As we
mentioned prior, many foods listed should not be given until a certain age due to possible health
issues:

Honey for example, could cause prompt infant botulism due to the immaturity of a
babys intestinal tract.
Whole milk should not be introduced as a replacement for breast milk or formula until
after 12 months. This recommendation is due to the fact that whole cow milk cannot
properly sustain a growing infant. It simply does not have all the nutritional components
needed for healthy growth and development. There is also a bit of difficulty in the
digestion of whole milk proteins. Yogurt and cheese are cultured and thus tend to be
more easily digested.
Citrus is very acidic and many infants under the age of 12 months old suffer rashes and
tummy upsets due to the acidity. This has nothing to do with allergies.
Strawberries and Shell Fish, and even Peanuts, can prompt severe, life threatening
allergic reactions. The recommendation continues to be one of caution and delay.
Here are a few other examples of why it might be prudent to delay the introduction of
certain foods. Broccoli for example is known to cause gas in many people. Offering
broccoli to an infant who is 6 months of age is really not a good idea. You may not want
offer a 6 month old baby beans either, as these too may cause painful gas.