When starting the introduction of solid, complementary foods, mothers often wonder what foods and spices are allowed for the baby and at what age. For most foods, pediatricians agree on the choices, such as preferring cocoa over chocolate, using raw materials with controlled origins, and avoiding all products that contain artificial colors and flavors.
And very often, every mother asks herself the question – should I prepare food for my baby myself, or can I buy it? Is it okay to add something to enhance the flavor?
Cocoa in Baby’s Diet
Some mothers choose to introduce solid foods earlier, some later, following the advice of a pediatrician. It is important that when solid food begins to dominate the baby’s diet, it is rich in nutrients to support their emotional, nutritional, and physical development.
From the period after the eighth month to the first year, when the baby receives one meal of fruit puree, vegetable puree, or milk puree (which can also be rice, rich in carbohydrates), you can offer them vanilla and cocoa as additions to the sweet puree.
Cocoa contains a large number of vitamins (A, B, C, E), minerals (magnesium, zinc, iron), and antioxidants, and thus has exceptional significance for health. Since cocoa is an allergen, it should be introduced gradually and in small amounts into the baby’s diet.
Is It Allowed to Give a Baby Biscuits as Part of Cereal Puree?
There has been much discussion about cereals in baby nutrition, especially about their importance in the nutrition of the youngest as the main source of complex carbohydrates, which are the primary source of energy, growth, and development because they contain significant minerals and vitamins. Enriched with iron, they are an important part of a baby’s diet during the introduction of complementary foods when iron reserves are depleted. They also contain very important dietary fibers that influence good peristalsis and digestion in general.
After six months, you can offer your baby combined cereals that contain wheat, oats, rye, with added fruit and biscuits. When giving biscuits, it is important to ensure that they are intended for babies. In addition to important nutrients, baby food, especially if you choose to buy it, must be made from high-quality raw materials, without additives, artificial colors, and flavors.
