Amna's First Food Tutorial

Amna has started her solid food last week. After getting prepared for almost 2 months, readings (online and offline reading hehe), researches etc., I decided to let it be HOMEMADE. FYI, on-the-shelves jar-foods for your baby are claimed nutritious, sugarless, etc. but then when we read back the ingredients, god knows what they put inside with hard-to-pronounce acids, food conditioners, additives, colourings, added sugars (glucose, maltose, etc), aaaannnnndddd salt/sodium. Since babies under 2 years old are not to be introduced additives unless natural flavours from the food itself (natural salt - sodium and natural sweetener - fructose in fruits), it's a healthy choice for Amna because I had GDM during my pregnancy, a risk factor that Amna inherits diabetic trait from my side -__-".

So, I bought some pears and avocados last week. I avoided apples as her introductory food because BRAT (Banana, Rice, Applesauce and Toast) are considered as constipation-inducer (if the word ever existed haha).

1. Wash the pears thoroughly and peel off the skin. This is to avoid pesticides-infested skin and for easier digestion :D
2. Cut into small wedges or dice them up in equal size.
3. Lay them in the steamer and cook until they're soft. Why steam? Because when we boil fruits, the vitamins will actually leak out into the water. Unless you feel like using the water as juice for your baby, then you may boil. (Owh, this is not applicable for carrots due to nitrate in the carrots. Boil the carrots and throw the water away ok?)
4. Blend them in the food processor. Even if your baby has teeth already (like Amna), do puree things up because you can't be expecting your baby to eat large chunks of food and not choking on them. Plus, it is an INTRODUCTORY to food, not a food fest :P
5. Pour into strainer for smooth texture, easy to swallow and digest for the young tummy :D
6. Missed the larger chunks? Fret not. Mash them up using a spoon or mortar if available.
7. Ready to pack.
8. Please apply the 4-days rule. Give the 1 type of food for 4 days to see whether the food suitable/allergies-causer and after the baby passed the 4 days, can introduce another fruit/vege. After the second fruit/vege is done, you can mix the first and the second food as a combo for the next session :D). Read more here.

Reminder :

When introducing first solid food to the baby, it does not have to be in large amount. Enough as once-a-day meal only. Besides, you baby still need mommy's milk as her main course heheheh~ 2 tablespoon is equivalently enough :D

Don't worry if your baby won't eat much and keep on spitting out almost everything. Enjoy the bonding moments :D