TOP BABY FOODS- 1

Nuts can be introduced to babies as young as 6 months of age, once they have had exposure to a few typical first foods like cereals, fruit and vegetables. This is great news because nuts and nut butters like peanut, cashew, and almond are nutrition powerhouses, providing protein, beneficial fatty acids, vitamin E and minerals like manganese, potassium and iron. Lumps of nut butters are a choking hazard for small babies so try mixing a small amount into a cereal or puree or spread a thin layer over a long strip of toast to serve as a finger food. You may need to talk to your allergist before introducing these foods if there is a history of nut allergies in the family.

Eggs are a nearly perfect first food. They are easily digestible, and they offer the important nutrition your baby needs--iron, folate and choline, high-quality protein, plus vitamins A, D and E. And, happily for busy moms, eggs are a cinch to prepare. Just hard-cook an egg, mash the yolk and thin it with breast milk, formula or water to the consistency your baby can handle. Hard-boiled and chopped egg white is a perfect finger food, as are scrambled eggs or omelets cut into thin strips.

Choose an organic brand of butter, as fat helps babies meet their caloric needs, contributes to satiety, and helps absorb fat-soluble vitamins and boosts nutrition. And it makes food taste good! . you can also include other sources of fat in your child's diet like avocado, olive oil, full-fat yogurt and cheese.

Fish used to be a no-no for small babies because of allergy concerns, but not anymore. You can include cold-water fish like salmon, herring, canned tuna or sardines to your baby's menu, these are outstanding sources of DHA. DHA plays a crucial role in retinal and brain development and is especially important for children in the first two years of life.Introducing fish to your baby is simple. Just bake or steam a boneless fillet, puree it and thin it to a desired consistency using breast milk, formula or water. Few more coming next.....

- Prathyusha