baby finger foods

Finger Foods for Babies

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How many times have you tried to give your baby a bite of his food and he reaches for the spoon, ready to do it himself? Probably just about every time you feed him. When your baby is about 9 months old, he has begun to develop the fine motor skills needed to start feeding himself. This is often a favorite (and very messy) activity for little ones.  It’s important to remember that finger foods for babies don’t have to be bought in the baby food aisle. Many of the things we eat can be adapted for baby! This will reduce your worry about always having something for him to eat as well as expose your baby to a new foods and textures.

Allowing your baby to feed himself as much as possible will help to encourage independent, healthy eating habits. This gives your child some control over what, and how much, they eat. There will be days that he will clean his plate, and there will be days where everything ends up on the floor…but that’s okay! He is learning the process of self-regulation and learning to recognize when his tummy is full.

 Rule number 1: Always try the food first.

Here is your finger foods checklist:

  • Is it soft?
  • Is it cooked enough so that it’s mushy? Overcook those veggies!
  • Does it melt in your mouth? (Think puffs or Ritz crackers)
  • Can you gum it? (i.e. eat it without teeth)
  • Is it cut into small pieces?

Rule number 2: Give your baby a variety of foods.

It can take up to 10 times for a baby to accept a new food into their repertoire. Don’t give up if the avocado ends up on the floor the first 4 (or 7) times.

Rule number 3: let him get messy!

Food play is an important learning experience. You have similar nerve receptors on your tongue and fingers so playing with food will help your baby experience different textures and temperatures.

With those three rules in mind here is a list of great finger foods to try with your little one!

  • Bananas-To make bananas easier to pick up, try dusting them in crushed Cheerios first.
  • Mandarin orange/peach/pear cups.
  • Grapes without the skin
  • Blueberries-If they aren’t small enough, cut them in two.
  • Watermelon (seedless, of course)
  • Cooked veggies: zucchini, carrots, sweet potato, butternut squash, etc.
  • Avocados or guacamole
  • Extra soft pasta
  • Small pieces of slow cooked or ground meats like meatballs, etc.
  • Fish
  • O-shaped cereals
  • Egg yolks-Once your baby is one year, they can have egg whites too.  Try chopping up hard boiled eggs!
  • Rice cakes
  • Cheese-Start with something bland like mozzarella or cheddar.
  • Quesadillas
  • Waffles and pancakes

Remember, now that your baby is eating these foods, the biggest issue to avoid is choking. Make sure your baby is strapped into his high chair and your eyes are on him at all times when starting these finger foods. Don’t give him any foods that could get stuck in his throat: popcorn, raisins, raw veggies, fruit with hard skin, hot dogs, etc.

Have fun with it! Get creative! And, don’t think you can only give him “baby” food!  If you have questions about your baby’s feeding, contact our Speech-Language Pathologists for answers.

Digestive Issues: How to Help with Diet

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Digestive issues are extremely common among kids and adults in our country. So common, in fact, that we often don’t give these issues much thought and accept these feelings as being sort of normal. As a registered dietitian, I can tell you that digestive issues are your body’s way of telling you that some changes need to be made to feel better.

Here are common digestive problems, along with causes and dietary cures:

Acid Reflux

Causes:  Overeating, making the stomach too full and as a result, the stomach contents push up into the esophagus. Reflux can also be caused by food sensitivities or allergies, especially in infants.
Diet Cures:  Eat smaller meals at regular intervals each day (3 meals and 2 snacks). Your stomach is about the size of your two hands cupped together (with two more hands on top to make a sphere), so try eating about this much at meals. Eliminate fried foods. Eat plenty of fruits, vegetables, whole grains and lean meats. Eliminate trigger foods such as caffeine, dairy, and other high fat foods (such as sausage pizza or “loaded” nachos). In infants, rule out food sensitivity or food allergy; common culprits related to reflux in infants are cow’s milk protein (dairy), soy, eggs, and wheat.

General Indigestion

Causes:  Overeating, poor quality of diet, chronic constipation, inflamed enterocytes (cells that line the gastrointestinal tract).
Diet Cures:  Eat smaller meals at regular intervals (see above). Reduce processed foods and focus on whole foods such as legumes, fruits, vegetables, whole grains and lean meats. Drink plenty of water (2+ liters/day). Vary your grain intake (often we eat some form of wheat at all meals and snacks throughout the day). Consume probiotics through quality food sources such as organic yogurt, fermented vegetables (sauerkraut, kimchi, etc), and kefir.

Chronic Constipation

Causes:  A diet that is high in refined carbs, low in fiber, and inadequate in fluids. Constipation worsens with inadequate physical activity and long sedentary periods. Kids may be constipated if they consume too much dairy.
Diet Cures:  Eat fresh fruit at least twice per day and vegetables at least 2-3 times per day. Replace refined grains with whole grains. Other foods high in fiber include legumes, nuts and seeds. Drink 2+ liters of water per day. Limit dairy to 12-24 oz per day. Engage in physical activity throughout the day; even walking and doing house chores are helpful.

Frequent Loose Stools

Causes:  Excessive intake of sugary beverages, including juice, as well as excessive intake of “diet sugars”. Can also be caused by food sensitivity/food allergy. Another cause may be imbalanced gut flora, which can occur after taking antibiotics or with prolonged poor quality of diet.
Diet Cures:  Eliminate sugary beverages and replace with water or milk (given dairy is tolerated). Limit diet beverages to 8 oz per day or less. Trial an elimination diet of common food allergens for two weeks to see if symptoms improve (dairy, wheat, soy, eggs, nuts, fish, shellfish). Consume quality probiotic food sources (see above), as well as soluble fiber which is found in foods such as bananas, oatmeal, applesauce, dried peas as in pea soup, carrots, cucumbers.

Stomach Pain, with Gas and Bloating

Causes:  Food intolerance, sensitivity or allergy. Also these symptoms occur with general overeating of unhealthy food choices.
Diet Cures:  Trial elimination of common culprits for two weeks, including lactose (in dairy), wheat, legumes including beans and nuts, eggs, and soy. Eliminate sugary beverages as well. If symptoms do not improve, investigate fructose intolerance by working with a registered dietitian. Eat smaller meals and regular intervals throughout the day reflecting the Healthy Plate Model.

If you didn’t see your digestive issues listed above, or for more specific questions, leave a comment in the section below. For more guidance on helping your family overcome digestive issues, make an appointment with a registered dietitian at North Shore Pediatric Therapy.

Infant Feeding: When Your Baby Is Turning One Year Old

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Your baby is a year old- what a milestone! At this time, along with many other developmental changes you’re probably witnessing, baby is ready for some advancement at mealtimes as well.  Here are the next steps as toddlerhood begins:

At one year old, transition to cow’s milk or other milk alternative, if your baby meets the following criteria:

  • Your child does not have any growth or nutrition concerns.*Feeding your one year old
  • Your child does not have history of cow’s milk protein allergy.*
  • You are planning on weaning breastfeeding in the foreseeable future. If not, be sure that your child is getting at least 12 oz of breastmilk at scheduled times (preferably immediately after meals) daily, as well as 1-2 servings of calcium foods. Avoid allowing your child to “snack” on breastmilk at this age since it may decrease appetite for food at meals.
*In these cases, it may still be appropriate to trial cow’s milk at one year old; however, this must be under supervision of your child’s physician or dietitian.

Tips for a healthy one year old diet:

  • To transition to cow’s milk, offer 4-6 oz of milk in a cup at mealtimes. If baby is adamantly rejecting it (presumably because of the taste difference from breastmilk or formula), be patient and do not stress. Stay consistent by offering milk in a cup at meals, but fill it with mostly breastmilk or formula (whichever they are used to drinking) and add a small amount of cow’s milk (ratio of 4 oz:2 oz or even 5 oz:1oz). Every day, make the ratio a little more cow’s milk and a little less of the breastmilk or formula.
  • Limit milk to no more than 24 oz per day to ensure baby has a healthy appetite for meals.
  • Offer milk at meals and water at snack time and throughout the day as needed. There is no need for juice, and in fact, juice can fill baby up with empty calories which decreases appetite for more nutrient-dense foods.
  • Begin phasing out the bottle. Stick to cups at meals and snack times. Often the bottle is most difficult to wean when it precedes a Read more

Infant Feeding Series: Starting Solids

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After the first several months of life, your baby is approaching that age when either of one of two scenarios occurs:

1. Baby is practically grabbing the spoon out of your hand when you’re eating and seems so eager to eat some of that!

2. Friends, family members, and even the pediatrician keep asking when you plan to start solids.

What is the right age, what is the right first food, and how exactly do you go from there? This blog covers a plan that is based on research, professional, and personal experience. The important thing is to follow your baby’s lead. It is up to your baby to learn to eat at his or her own pace, not up to you to make them eat.

What is the right age to start solids?

According to the current recommendations from the American Academy of Pediatrics, the age to consider starting solids is 6 months old. This is later than previous recommendations and probably later than our parents started feeding us foods. There are several reasons why this age is recommended, which include developmental milestones and readiness, digestive system maturity, and long-term studies looking at outcomes of risk for developing issues like food allergies, digestive disorders, obesity, diabetes, etc. In addition to watching the calendar for that 6-month birthday, watch your baby closely for signs of readiness as well.

Here are some things to watch for to make sure your baby is ready to transition to solids (and is more likely to be successful doing so):

  • Baby can sit with minimal support, and has very stable head control. Read more

Understanding Genetically Engineered Foods (GMOs)

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The topic of genetically engineered food is hot right now. There is a debate between food labeling advocacy groups and large food industry producers over the need to label foods that are genetically engineered (GE). The term GMO (genetically modified organism) refers to a food that has been genetically engineered. The following points can help clarify what the debate is about and why it may be important to your family to be informed.

What is a GE or a GMO?

These terms are essentially interchangeable. A genetically engineered food has had foreign DNA bred into the plant (or animal, although at this point GMOs are all crops), which results in DNA that would not otherwise naturally occur in that food. The goal of genetic engineering from an agricultural standpoint is to produce crops that tolerate pesticides or to breed pesticides into the crops. Virtually all genetically engineered seeds contain viral or antibiotic DNA (or both). Read more

Is Going Gluten Free Right for Your Family? (Recipe Ideas Included)

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Gluten free eating has gained attention and popularity in recent years. This is probably partly due to increased awareness of Celiac disease, which requires a gluten free diet for treatment. It is also likely due to increased awareness of wheat allergy and wheat intolerance, both in kids and adults. For more information about the differences between these conditions, as well as accompanying symptoms, see my previous blog, Is Gluten Bad for You?

Unless you fall into one of the above mentioned conditions, going gluten free will not necessarily improve health. In other words, eating wheat (which contains gluten) in moderation is perfectly healthy, especially if it is whole grain wheat. Some people wonder if going gluten free can help with weight loss. The answer is, not necessarily. If wheat represents a large part of your family’s caloric intake, then removing wheat without replacing it with other equally calorie-dense foods could result in weight loss. Or if your family’s diet contains a lot of high calorie processed foods made with wheat, and you remove these and replace them with lean protein, fruits, vegetables, and other whole grains, then you will definitely see health improvements. But removing wheat alone will not likely result in weight loss.

In any case, it is always good to eat a variety of foods in regular rotation of family meals. Since wheat is so prevalent in many of our households, it might take some thinking ‘outside the box’ to make gluten free meals. Read more

Help! My Infant is Refusing Solid Foods

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When it comes to feeding infants solids, it is often not a straight and narrow path to success. Sometimes you and baby will hit some bumps along the way, which may leave you feeling confused, anxious, and not sure how to make things better.  Below are several strategies to navigate this stressful time.

Tips to help navigate feeding your infant solids:

Be sure your infant is ready. As you may have heard, it is not as important to watch the calendar as it is to watch your baby. Signs of readiness include the following:

  • Baby is able to sit independently or with very minimal support.
  • Baby does not stick his tongue out as a reflex to putting the spoon in his mouth.
  • Baby seems eager to eat food, opening his mouth when you bring the spoon to him. Read more

Coconut Oil: Facts and Uses

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Coconut oil has become popular, especially for its uses in cooking. Coconut oil has some unique properties that coconut oil facts and usesdifferentiate it from other types of oil. Here are some interesting facts about coconut oil and ways to use this food.

Coconut Oil Facts and Uses:

  • It is one of the only plant sources of fat that is solid at room temperature.
  • Coconut oil is very high in medium chain triglycerides (MCTs) which are absorbed from the stomach straight into the bloodstream. Other long chain fats require a more involved digestive process and are absorbed and transported via the lymphatic system. This is helpful for people with problems digesting fat. It can also be a good source of calories in some people with inflammatory digestive issues.
  • Medium chain triglycerides are “oxidized,” or metabolized, rapidly in the liver which means they have a low tendency to be stored as adipose tissue (fat) on the body.
  • It can be used in place of butter or margarine in many recipes, especially when baking sweets, since it has a slight coconut flavor.
  • Coconut oil can be used to grease baking pans instead of other hydrogenated products.
  • It can be used in place of other cooking oils when stir frying or pan frying various foods.
  • Because it is plant-derived, coconut oil is vegan and can replace animal-based fats in recipes. Read more

Infant Soy Formula: A Review of Recommendations from the American Academy of Pediatrics

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Parents often ask me about giving their infant a soy formula when their infant shows signs of difficulty tolerating breast soy formulamilk or cow’s milk based formulas. Soy seems to be a common go-to alternative; however, there are actually only a few scenarios where soy formula is recommended. The American Academy of Pediatrics published a journal article that reviewed the use of soy based infant formulas in 2008. Here is a summary of the main points.

A Review of Infant Soy Formula:

  • Soy formula is not indicated as an alternative for breast milk or for cow’s milk based formulas except in the case of Galactosemia and hereditary lactase deficiency (both are rare diagnoses). Soy formula may also be an option for parents who desire a vegetarian diet for their infant, if breastfeeding is not possible.
  • Soy formula is not indicated for children diagnosed with cow’s milk protein allergy. Instead, an extensively hydrolyzed formula should be considered, because 10-14% of these infants will also be allergic to soy protein. Read more

Creative Ways for Kids to Get Five-a-Day

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The general recommendation for fruit and vegetable intake is five servings per day. The serving size depends on age, but5 a Day a good rule of thumb is to get your family to consume 2-3 fruits and 2-3 vegetables each day. Does this sound difficult? With a little planning and some creativity, you can achieve this healthy goal.

Tips to Get Your Family to Eat 5 Servings of Fruits and Vegetables a Day:

  • Blend fruit, and even veggies, into smoothies or popsicles. Most kids like treats that come in smoothie, milkshake, or popsicle form. Use yogurt, frozen fruit, a banana, and a handful of spinach to make a smoothie that tastes so good your kids will never guess they’re getting several servings of fruits and vegetables. Freeze into popsicle molds for a healthy frozen dessert.
  • Make fruit and vegetable dippers. Some vegetables simply taste better with a little dip. You can make an easy, healthy, savory dip by mixing plain Greek yogurt with dry Italian or Ranch seasoning packets. Have fresh vegetables chopped and ready to go for snacks or meals ahead of time. Make it more fun by arranging several different colored veggies (such as carrots, celery, baby tomatoes and yellow bell peppers), and two dips (such as hummus and the yogurt Ranch dip) in a muffin tray with six cups. Kids love this fun presentation.  Fruit can be more appealing when dipped as well. Try a flavored yogurt, or mix plain Greek yogurt with a little peanut butter, honey, and cinnamon.
  • Create designs that appeal to kids. Take advantage of the variety of colors and shapes of fruits and vegetables to make your kids more interested in them. You can make rainbows skewers using fruits and vegetables from each shade of the rainbow.  For example you can create a fruit skewer using strawberries, mini orange slices, bananas, kiwis, blueberries, and blackberries. Or have your kids make funny faces using bananas, carrots, berries, kiwis, melons or peppers. Use broccoli, olives, pineapple, a banana, tomatoes, carrots, blueberries, blackberries, strawberries, and oranges to make Sesame Street characters! This is also a great option for a child’s party or barbecue.

Fruits and vegetables provide many essential vitamins and minerals, as well as phytonutrients that provide health benefits such as reducing inflammation and preventing cancer. These healthy foods also provide fiber, which promotes healthy digestion.

Feel like you have fruits and veggies covered?  Read here for ways to sneak more whole grains into your child’s diet.  If you have concerns about your family’s diet, click here to find out more about North Shore Pediatric Therapy’s Nutrition Counseling program.

Visit us anytime at www.NSPT4kids.com