Raw food diet for babies

Transition from breastfeeding to complementary food - how do I start?

The first meal of porridge is best given at midday. Then the baby is rested and happy and accepts the new food more easily. And please don't despair: the first porridge will most likely end up everywhere - except in your child's stomach.

Up to 6 months, babies have a strong sucking reflex and a protective reflex to spit out unfamiliar food. However, this does not mean that he does not like complementary foods. It is a slow process of getting to know the new consistency and flavour. It can take one to two weeks before the child learns to actively swallow the porridge.

Which porridge does the baby like?

A carrot porridge is very suitable for the start. It has a sweet flavour and is eaten with pleasure by most babies. Fennel or cauliflower are also suitable for the first porridge meal. It can happen that a child develops digestive problems when starting complementary food. If these last longer, try a different vegetable.

How much variety does my baby need?

As little as possible! The first porridge is a completely new taste experience for your child. Give him time to get to know this new flavour and get used to it.

It is completely sufficient if you introduce one new vegetable per week. This way you can also find out whether the child is allergic to a particular food. If your child gets to know five to six types of fruit and vegetables by its first birthday, that's quite enough.

What temperature should the porridge be?

Breast milk has a temperature of 37°C. The porridge you feed should be similarly warm. Heat it up to 40°C. This is when it is most nutritious for the baby from a physiological point of view.

How do I prepare baby food?

Food from controlled organic cultivation is the best choice for preparing baby food. In this case, the contamination with pesticides and preservatives is much lower than with conventionally grown fruit and vegetables. Nevertheless, always wash fruit and vegetables thoroughly!

Always puree the food very finely in the first few weeks. This is no problem with a high-performance blender, even when raw. Then place the vegetables in a water bath at 60 to 70°C. This heats the porridge to below 40°C and ensures it is well absorbed by the baby's digestive tract.

The more teeth grow, the coarser the food can be. Grate an apple or mash soft vegetables with a fork. In this way, the child slowly gets used to the chewing movements.

Which is better - buying jars or making them yourself?

A great gift you can give your baby is good nutrition. That's why infant formula should always be freshly prepared if possible. It sounds like a lot of work at first - but it's not. You will quickly get used to the new routine and conjure up a delicious meal in no time at all.

There are a lot of things to consider when buying jars:

• Organic
• No added sugar
• No synthetic sweeteners
• No salt or other spices
• No adventurous flavours

Which appliances do I need to prepare complementary foods?

In the first few months, baby food must be very finely pureed so that the child does not choke on coarse pieces or fibres. With a high-performance blender, for example from Vitamix, you can easily overcome this hurdle and turn raw vegetables into a creamy porridge in no time at all.

When the first teeth appear, you can coarsely grate apples and other types of fruit and vegetables with a grater. This not only tastes good - it also helps to practise the chewing movement and train the jaw.

With a grain mill, you can grind the desired amount of grain fresh and process it directly into a porridge. Don't have your own mill? No problem! You can also have your grain ground at a health food shop or health food store.

Which water should I use to prepare baby food?

To prevent the porridge from becoming too thick, it is best to add plain water. Pour this into the blender until the porridge reaches the desired consistency. Various waters are suitable for preparation.

Baby water: So-called baby water is ideal for preparing baby food. Strict controls ensure that the limits for ingredients and harmful substances are not exceeded. The disadvantage: Baby water is available either in plastic bottles or in tetrapaks.

Another way to play it safe is to use a water filter. Installation is child's play and you no longer need to worry about lead and copper residues.

Still mineral water :Still mineral water is also suitable for preparing baby food. When buying it, make sure it has a low sodium and nitrate content.

Tap water is another strictly controlled foodstuff. However, before you use your tap water to prepare baby food, you should check whether your water flows through lead or copper pipes. If your landlord cannot give you a satisfactory answer, contact the public health department.

Salt and sugar in baby food - can I add flavouring?

No. The pure flavour of the vegetable or fruit porridge is exciting enough for the baby. In addition, his kidneys are not yet able to cope with large amounts of table salt. Should I add oil to the baby food?

Yes, babies have an increased energy requirement that needs to be covered by sufficient fat. If you prepare a low-fat porridge, add a mild, cold-pressed oil. This also makes it easier for the baby to absorb important, fat-soluble vitamins.

What is a good plant-based substitute for cow's milk?

There are high-quality, plant-based alternatives to animal milk for making baby food. A cereal porridge prepared with a plant-based milk is an important contribution to the good development of your child.

Rice milk: Rice milk in combination with almond milk is a nutritious substitute for cow's milk. However, rice milk is not suitable for exclusive baby nutrition.

Almond milk: A drink made from almond paste and water is very suitable for infant nutrition. Almond milk is easy to digest, well tolerated and well utilised by the body. Made with raw almond paste, it contains many important nutrients that support your baby's healthy development.

Tip: Add some unsalted sesame paste (tahini) to the almond milk. It is also very digestible and easy to use, but is not suitable for pure sesame milk due to its bitter flavour. A good mixing ratio is to mix two thirds almond butter and one third sesame butter.

Soya milk: Soya milk is also suitable for feeding babies. However, it should not be fed every day, as soya can lead to intolerances.

To recognise early on whether your baby is developing an allergy, always feed soy milk alone as a bottle feed and do not combine it with other foods.

Do I have to brush my baby's teeth?

Yes, baby teeth should also be well cared for right from the start. This is because tooth decay is not only caused by a high-sugar diet. Carbohydrates in the form of starch and fructose are also found in healthy foods. And if your child learns right from the start that brushing their teeth is part of their routine, it will be easier to persuade them to clean their teeth later on.