vegetarian baby food advice
Posted by SnowQueen690 on May 17, 2009 · Member since Jun 2005 · 1569 posts
My baby is just about to turn 8 months old and it is time to introduce him to "meat". So far he breastfeeds and eats one meal a day, baby food either fruit or veggie and oatmeal. No meat dairy or eggs. But I know at 8 months old it is time to introduce "meat". But of course, I don't want to give him meat, so what can I give him instead. He doesn't have a huge interest in eating yet, but he does like to have his one meal of solid food a day. I want to start giving him two meals a day but he doesn't like that idea. He is sitting up all on his own now but not crawling or climbing yet.
All I can say is, invest in a copy of The Super Baby Food Book by Ruth Yarrow. Its worth every penny. You will be able to make your own cereals and know what to add to make every meal have lots of nutritional punch. Its not totally vegan but she agrees that babies do not need meat before 1 year, or any time, really. I don't know where you are getting the information but I've never heard that 8 months is meat time. Seriously, just get that book. I love it.
All my children only ate bananas or avacado along with milk until one year old and they are still all alive, all seven of them!!
Why would babies need meat? Is this a commonly held belief? I know there can be a few, easily remedied, problems when they are raised vegan from day 0, but lots of kids are brought up vegetarian...
well....I was breast fed until two (being in a coma @ 9 mo, meant I had to relearn everything.....). BUT I think it wasn't until I was 3 or 4 'till I actually had any fish (I'm pescatarian, reared as one)....I'd say start feeding him cooked beans and rice/'corn mush' (cornmeal w/ creamed corn and milk baked for a little bit). I'm in agreement w/ everyone else though....there is NO reason to feed/introduce meat into the child's diet if you're planning on rearing him veg*n. The only reason (from my somewhat limited understanding) to introduce such things in the diet now is to train the child's body to produce the enzymes necessary to digest various items. I think when people say meat, they really just mean more 'solid' foods.
i think it's time for more 'protein' foods such as beans that have been cooked until soft (mushed even), tofu (cubes, smooshed, etc), seed/nut pastes (steer away from peanuts), avocado, etc..... check out 'Raising Vegan in a Non-Vegan World' ... ;)b
That's good to know, Printer guy. My 10 month old is turning out to be a HORRIBLE eater! He's so picky! The only thing he consistently likes is bananas. He did like avocado but now he pulls it out of his mouth.
My older son ate everything and anything we gave him. This is new territory for me! :P
If he stops liking bananas, we're in big trouble.
l2a - i got my friend that book you suggested and she was really excited about it - i hope she uses it lots!
l2a - i got my friend that book you suggested and she was really excited about it - i hope she uses it lots!
great! It really is awesome. I think its especially good for picky eaters....I'm combining proteins in his cereal so at least he gets that, even if he won't eat any veggies :-\
My 9 month old eats only food she can feed herself. that was her choice, after about a month of cereal and pureed veggies she only wants stuff she can pick up on her own. Besides the formula, she eats soft pasta (whole grain), canned organic veggies, carrots, peas, beans both green and like black and pinto, also vegan baked beans. Beets, all fruits, avacado, tofu cubes, she also likes freeze dried fruit.
Basically anything super soft, because they are just learning to chew and don't have back teeth yet, and stuff has to be small enough that if they swallow it w/out chewing they won't choke.
I would stay away from nuts and seeds till a year, though, they are really high allergens, and there are so many other things they can eat. We also let her try just about anything I make for the rest of us, enchaladas, lasagna, etc.
She's vegan all the way.
Another great thing to try is a mesh feeding teether. It has a ring on one end and a small pouch where you can put soft food for baby to mush with his gums, but not get big chunks. This lets them try new flavors and is something they can do on their own. You can get them almost everywhere, too.
Also, I have been told numerous times that it can take up to 15 or more times of offering a food before a child may try it, and even longer before they like/request it. The thing is to give them one thing they like and one or two new foods, and then keep offering it. It can take a while, even with older kids. My three and four year olds I still do this to. One day I hope they eat veggies. But they did just try mellon for the first time, so yeah!
And praise like crazy if they even put the food to their lips. Positive reinforcement never hurts.
Another great thing to try is a mesh feeding teether. It has a ring on one end and a small pouch where you can put soft food for baby to mush with his gums, but not get big chunks. This lets them try new flavors and is something they can do on their own. You can get them almost everywhere, too.
Also, I have been told numerous times that it can take up to 15 or more times of offering a food before a child may try it, and even longer before they like/request it. The thing is to give them one thing they like and one or two new foods, and then keep offering it. It can take a while, even with older kids. My three and four year olds I still do this to. One day I hope they eat veggies. But they did just try mellon for the first time, so yeah!
And praise like crazy if they even put the food to their lips. Positive reinforcement never hurts.
good advice! I am just so baffled because our older son ate anything and everything! Never made a funny face, always wanted more. My younger one is 10 months and ~whew! I can see that he is super picky already. Today was good though. The sweet potato he turned away yesterday, he ate today. He's more into finger foods too, but he still likes his cereal. He really likes banana bread and corn bread, I discovered. Oh, and get this-he doesn't like pasta! I will have to try that one again.
My kids only like pasta with "sauce". Pesto, marinara, even s+p and EB. Just not plain. Also my middle is very shape specific: Spaghetti, fine, elbows, fine, shells, not fine. I have no idea why.
My kids like almost anything, except veggies (sigh) with "dips". Ketchup, Marinara, soy yogurt, pb, salsa, you name it. Apparently it is better if you can dip it in something before eating it.
My oldest, who has the most food struggles, has started not eating bread. Only burger buns. My mom gave him Mc Donalds and now he will only eat his Peanut butter on a bun. So I buy him whole wheat ones.
Much to my delight he only ate the bun and would not touch the burger or cheese portion of the burger. Oh and he ate the fries, too.
why would your mom give a veg kid mcdonalds? ???
When I was little I only liked specific shaped pasta and my preference seemed to be the same as your middle child. definitely no shells.