Foods For Children

This is a general guide to introducing babies and young children to different foods. Opinions vary as to the most appropriate age for certain foods especially dairy products, wheat and nuts. Those parents who wish to follow a particular approach such as that of Rudolf Steiner (Anthroposophy) may find the references listed at the end helpful.

4–6 Months

Breast milk is a complete food for your baby. Breast milk or formula is all that is needed for at least the first 4-6 months and will continue to be an important part of the baby's diet for some time afterwards. The mother needs to ensure that her diet is balanced and nutritious.

After 4–6 Months

Your baby may be ready to try solid food. Offer it after the breast feed. Foods from the following may be introduced — try small amounts at a time offering the same food for a few days so any reaction can be detected: Lohra Thermo Millet or Rice Semolina — make with breast milk; mashed ripe banana or avocado, pureed apple or pear (without sugar), cooked pureed vegetables — pumpkin, carrot, kumara (unsalted), prepared baby foods e.g. Only Organic, Organic Baby

6–8 Months

These foods can be added:

Lohra wheat free semolinas — buckwheat, oats, quinoa; egg yolks, pureed cooked dried apricots and prunes in small amounts, fruits — melon, nectarine, plums (remove skins), apricots, peaches, nashi; rusks — made from organic bread, wheat free if preferred, split red lentils — well cooked. Meat may be offered at this stage if desired.

Babies need some extra iron at this age so if meat is not included offer iron-rich foods such as egg yolks, cooked dried apricots, cereals and split red lentils. Absorption of iron is aided by eating foods rich in Vitamin C at the same time.

10 Months

Foods can be mashed, chopped or finely grated rather than pureed.

The following foods can be added:

Wheat bread — in small quantities; if preferred wheat can be left until 1 year — substitute with wheat free breads (including dinkel/spelt flour breads); plain yoghurt and soft cheeses, butter and cold-pressed oils in small amounts, tofu, pasta — vary base grains if possible; other legumes — cook very well and watch for any reaction; well cooked kibbled grains — rice, millet, buckwheat, oats; toasted nut spreads — tahini, hazelnut, almond (not peanut at this stage); wide variety of fruits and cooked vegetables. Finger foods — cooked vegetables, ripe fruit, rusks, Earth's Best Teething Biscuits (including wheat free)

1 Year

A wide range of foods will be enjoyed.

These foods can be added:

Organic cow's milk, goat's milk, hard cheeses, soy milk and other soy products, egg white, wheat breads, whole well cooked grains, smooth peanut butter (see note below), most fruits and vegetables, fish, meat if desired (some parents prefer to leave the introduction of meat until later or it may not be included in the diet at all)

Note

  1. If there is a family history of allergies to peanuts leave them until 3 years.

  2. If there is a family history of allergies to other particular foods e.g. dairy products, soy products, leave them until after 1 year.
  3. Avoid honey until 1 year old. If necessary food can be sweetened with a little molasses, fruit juice or cooked pureed dried fruits.
  4. Many children of this age can share family meals but avoid very high fibre foods or food that is highly spiced.

2 Years + Favourite Foods for Older Children

This is a totally subjective selection based on parents' comments and our observations of foods in the shop that especially appeal to children. Keep in mind that your children may have different ideas!

Breads — Breadman cheesesticks and dinkel bread, Breadworks ciabatta and hamburger buns, Delphi panini and pita breads, Dovedale currant buns, Pataka spelt bread, Purebread potato bread, pizza bases and raisin bread

Breakfast Foods — Envirokidz cereals, Erewhon Apple Stroodles, Banana O's and Crispy Brown Rice Cereal, Nature's Breakfast Fruit Juice Sweetened Cornflakes and Wheat Biscuits

Cakes, Biscuits and Crackers — Corn Thins, Kea biscuits, muffins and cakes, rice cakes and crackers

Confectionery — most of it

Dried Fruits and Nuts — most of them. Be aware of allergies to nuts.

Drinks — flavoured soy milks, fruit juices, Phoenix ginger beer, lemonade and natural cola

Fruit and Vegetables — avocado, bean sprouts, broccoli, capsicum, carrots, cucumber, green beans, kumara, sweetcorn, tomatoes, apricots, berryfruits, mandarins, plums, watermelon

Grains — couscous, millet, rice

Nut Butters — peanut and other nut butters, tahini

Pasta — most sorts; usually very popular with children

Sauces — pasta sauces, tomato sauces and ketchups

Snack Foods — corn chips, vege chips, hummus, popcorn, potato chips and wedges (frozen)

Sweeteners — jams, honeys, maple syrup, chocolate hazelnut spread, hazelmalt spread

Tinned Foods — baked beans, corn, spaghetti in tomato sauce (gluten free)

References

Elliot, Rose Rose Elliot's Mother and Baby Book, Fontana, London, 1989

Lohra, Guide for When to Introduce Certain Foods to Your Children — approaches subject from point of view of Rudolf Steiner and Anthroposophy. Available from CSO.

Ministry of Health, Food and Nutrition Guidelines for Healthy Infants and Toddlers (0-2 Years), 1999. Available from Plunket.

Moll, Lucy, Vegetarian Child : Complete Guide for Parents, Berkeley Publishing Group, New York, 1997

Salter, Joan, The Incarnating Child, Hawthorn Press, UK, 1987

Salter, Joan, Mothering with the Soul : Raising Children as Special Work, Hawthorn Press, UK, 1998