Before our scheduled trip to Denmark in August, nagpacheck-up muna kami sa pedia ni Summer and she advised na once 6 months na si baby, we can start feeding her with solid food na. She recommended for us to start with watery food like lugaw and then eventually upgrade to other type of food. She also informed us to avoid starting her on fruits kasi madami din tong sugar content kaya ma better na vegetables muna. 

We first fed Summer with carrots and she liked it but because we were travelling and almost always on the road especially when we travelled to Sweden, my husband picked up some bottled organic baby food from the supermarket. Summer liked it but hindi ako mapalagay. My instinct tells me na mas better pa din kapag natural food. Kaya hindi ko na pinaubos yung mga natirang bottled food noong bumalik kami sa Denmark. 

Here are the top 10 food that Summer loves: 

01     YOGURT

Yogurt is considered a super food for little ones because it is nutrient dense. Since maliit pa ang tummies ng baby, it is important to feed them with nutrient-dense food. Yogurt is also easier to digest than formula. The live and active cultures break down the milk sugar lactose into glucose and galactose (these two sugars are easily absorbed by lactose-intolerant persons). Consuming yogurt increases the absorption of calcium and B-vitamins. The lactic acid in yogurt aids in the digestion of the milk calcium. Yes, it is part of the first safe foods for babies. Ang yogurt ay mainam na source ng extra fat and and calories for brain development and growth. 

02     ZUCCHINI

Zucchini or courgette provides babies with vitamin C, manganese and other nutrients. Some babies may have a reaction to the skin of zucchini so it is best to be cautious to introduce it together with Stage 2 foods (around 8 months). In our case, we roasted zucchinis and blended it before feeding Summer and she did not have any adverse reaction.

TRIVIA: Did you know that zucchini as well as squash and tomatoes are fruits and not vegetables? 

03     SQUASH 

Summer enjoys feeding time especially when she sees an orange puree. Because we have fed her several times with squash, I guess she has associated the color with squash now. She enjoys the sweetness and creamy texture of squash. It is also a good source of vitamins A and C. 

04     AVOCADO

Avocado provides babies with essential vitamins, minerals and unsaturated fats that are easy to digest and promotes liver protection, offers antioxidants, controls inflammations, helps wounds heal faster and has antimicrobial properties. The soft and buttery texture of the fruit is very easy to prepare as baby food. The unsaturated fats from avocado helps in brain and vision development of babies.

05     SWEET POTATO

Sweet potato is an immunity booster. It is very rich in antioxidants, beta carotene, vitamin C and B-complexvitamins, iron and phosphorous. The high finer content in sweet potatoes makes it a very good intestine-friendly vegetable. The starch in sweet potatoes soothes the stomach and the intestines and helps make the movement of food much smoother. 

06     BEEF

Beef provides baby with iron, zinc and protein. Zinc is important for cell growth and is a building block in the body. It is needed for physical and cognitive development. Similarly, protein and iron are also important for baby's general growth. 

07     SALMON

Salmon has high content of omega 3 fatty acids and is essential for brain, nerve and eye development.  Based on my research, babies that are fed fish before 9-months old report lesser instances of wheezing and asthma. Considering how polluted our environment is now, I did not hesitate to include salmon as often as I can in Summer's diet.

08     GREEN PEAS

Peas are considered to be little powerhouses of nutrition especially for babies. It has a high content of protein, fiber and micronutrients. The high fiber content of peas improves bowel health. 

09     CARROTS

This is the first vegetable na pinakain namin kay Summer. We steamed two small carrots freshly picked from my father-in-law's garden and then mashed using a fork. She eagerly ate her food. We didn't expect her to show so much enthusiasm. Nakakatuwa! Even her farfar (grandpa) and farmor (grandma) were amused. 

Carrots provide dietary finer, vitamin C, calcium and iron. The vitamin A in carrots promotes healthy eyesight as well as healthy/supple skin and resistance to many infections. Carrots is also a good source of beta carotene. 

Based on my research, carrots is a good choice when introducing solid food to infants because it has a pleasant taste and because babies have that preference to sweeter food. Another advantage is that it is easy to prepare this vegetable - boil, steam or roast and then mash or puree. 

10     TOMATO

The health benefits of tomato to babies include supply of vitamin A, antioxidants, helps in building stronger bones, strengthens the immune system and reduces the chance of lead toxicity. 

Nakakatuwang pakainin si Summer kasi hindi sya mapili. Napansin ko din na she likes eating whatever it is served on our table. She smiles and giggles if I feed her something from my plate. I'm planning to introduce more fruits and vegetables in her diet and I will share whatever she likes and dislikes. 

Do you have any suggestions on what I can include in her diet?