Your Baby needs different tastes from nine months onwards

When your baby steps into nine months its time to be creative in food you make for your little one. They are ready to chew with their new teeth and will be no more interested in boring mashed food. By now, your baby will happily enjoy three solid meals a day. Try chopping their food rather than mashing it, and encourage them to feed themselves. By the time they are a year old, they will be eating many of the same foods that your family normally eat. Make sure your baby's diet includes full fat dairy products, and remember they only have small tummies so feed smaller meals at regular intervals.

Here is an example Diet Chart for your baby.

Later Afternoon: Breast milk or Iron-fortified formula 6-8 oz. 

Evening: Breast milk or Iron-fortified formula 6-8 oz. However feeding is optional depending upon the amount of food your baby had throughout the rest of the day.

Some food products which can be healthy for your baby:

Meat alternatives:

• Tofu
• Split pea or any lentil soup

Try to make baby food yourself at home, to make sure you are you are feeding them healthy. So here are some great recipes to get you started!  

Chickpeas, spinach and tofu dip.

Good source of vitamin E, folate and calcium

Ingredients

• 4-5 spinach leaves, washed well
• 2 tbsp chickpeas soaked in water overnight and then pressure cooked till very soft.
• 2 tbsp soft tofu, crumbled
• 2-3 cashew nuts or almonds soaked in 4 tbsp of warm water (optional)
• 1 tsp lemon juice
• Pinch of salt
• Pinch of cumin powder

Method

1. Bring 300 ml water to boil and immerse the washed spinach leaves into it for about 2-3 minutes. Drain and cool slightly.
2. Drain the cashew nuts or almonds and blend with all the ingredients.
3. Use as a dip with baby bread sticks and cooked carrot slices.

Sweet potato, carrot and cheese mash

Good source of betacarotene, calcium and vitamin C

Ingredients

• 120g sweet potato , peeled and diced
• 1 medium carrot, peeled and diced
• 25g hard cheese, such as cheddar, grated
  

Method

1. Boil the vegetables together until just tender, then mash or puree along with the cheese.

Cottage cheese and pea mash

Contains iron, Good source of vitamin C

Ingredients

• 50g fresh or frozen peas
• 50g cottage cheese
• Salt to taste

Method

1. Cook the peas until just tender.
2. Mash together with the cottage cheese and serve with fingers of bread or crispy rice sticks.

Lentil soup Contains iron, Good source of betacarotene and vitamin C Ingredients 100g lentils 300ml water 1 medium tomato chopped fine 1 clove garlic chopped fine Pinch of turmeric powder Pinch of cinnamon powder (optional) Pinch of cumin powder

Method

1. Pour water over the lentils; add the tomato, turmeric and garlic.
2. Cover and cook gently for 20 minutes or pressure cook until the lentils are soft and mushy.
3. Drain off a little fluid using a sieve, reserve the fluid and mash or whisk the lentil tomato mixture till smooth.
4. Add the reserved fluid, a pinch of salt (if you are very particular) and return the soup to the pan.
5. Stir in the cinnamon powder or cumin powder and return briefly to the heat.
   Serve warm with rice.

Mince with peas

Good source of B vitamins and vitamin C, Excellent source iron

Ingredients

• 200g lamb/chicken mince
• Quarter cup shelled peas, fresh or frozen
• 100ml water
• 1 onion chopped
• 1 clove garlic minced
• 1" piece ginger grated
• Pinch of cinnamon powder (optional)
• Pinch of cumin powder
• 1 tbsp fresh coriander chopped
• 1 tsp oil

Method

1. Heat the oil in a pan; add the onions and garlic and saut? for 3-4 minutes till the onion is soft.
2. Add the mince, cumin powder, cinnamon powder and ginger and fry for 5 minutes until it has browned all over or no longer pink.
3. Drain off the excess oil, add water and continue cooking covered for about 15 -20 minutes till well cooked.
4. Add the peas and coriander leaves, stir and continue to simmer for another 5 minutes till the peas are cooked.
5. Blend to a suitable consistency, and serve with mashed potato.

If your baby doesn't seem to want to try all of these foods just yet, then don't worry. Give it a week or two, and then try again. His taste buds are developing all the time - the meal he adamantly refuses today may be his absolute favorite food next week.

(Sources: babycenter.in, healthunit.org, homemade-baby-recipes.com)