When it comes to feeding your baby, there's no top 10 list of super foods for moms to print out, stick on the fridge and stick to. (Sorry!) But experts agree that limiting your little one to a few "best" foods in her first year (or any year, for that matter) would actually do her a disservice.
"The first year of life is when the palate is trained," says Tina Ruggiero, MS, RD, LD, coauthor of "The Best Homemade Baby Food on the Planet." "The three rules I tell my clients to follow are: Go for color, think fresh and introduce new flavors and different textures at age-appropriate stages."
And while you'll also want to talk with your baby's pediatrician for guidance, adding the following options to your baby's diet will get her off to a healthy start.
Breast milk: "The very best food for the first year is breast milk," says Loraine Stern, MD, FAAP, coauthor of the book "Nutrition: What Every Parent Needs to Know."
Best age: Birth and older
Iron-fortified cereal: Your baby is born with a natural supply of iron, but it'll be depleted by the time she's around 6 months old, Stern says, so introducing iron-rich foods is essential. One that fits the bill: iron-fortified cereal. It doesn't have to be the traditional first food of rice cereal — oatmeal and barley are good options too — just make sure you start with a single-grain formula.
Best age: 4 to 6 months
Avocados: A great first fruit to offer, because they're loaded with monounsaturated fats and have a mild taste and smooth consistency. They're super-easy to prepare too: Simply mash a very ripe avocado with a little breast milk or formula until it reaches a pureed consistency.
Best age: 6 months and older
Sweet potatoes: They're rich in beta-carotene, which the body converts to vitamin A, which is "important for good vision, healthy skin, normal growth and protection from infections," according to "The Best Homemade Baby Food on the Planet."
Best age: 6 months and older
Meat: Meat — like chicken, lamb or beef — is an excellent source of protein, as well as iron, riboflavin, niacin, vitamin B6 and zinc. Just make sure it's pureed to a smooth texture.
Best age: 7 to 10 months and older
Beets: "Beets are an extraordinary nutrient source," says Ruggiero. "They're a good source of folic acid, high in potassium and beta-carotene, and they're a sweet veggie — which babies take a liking to quickly." Roast or steam them until they're super-soft; then mash them.
Best age: 11 months and older
Yogurt: Plain (not vanilla) whole-milk yogurt is another protein-rich option — plus, it contains calcium and beneficial live active cultures.
Best age: 9 months and older
Cheerios: Believe it or not, many experts love good old-fashioned Cheerios. The little O's in the yellow box are a good source of fiber.
Best age: 9 months and older
Distributed by MCT Information Services
"The first year of life is when the palate is trained," says Tina Ruggiero, MS, RD, LD, coauthor of "The Best Homemade Baby Food on the Planet." "The three rules I tell my clients to follow are: Go for color, think fresh and introduce new flavors and different textures at age-appropriate stages."
And while you'll also want to talk with your baby's pediatrician for guidance, adding the following options to your baby's diet will get her off to a healthy start.
Breast milk: "The very best food for the first year is breast milk," says Loraine Stern, MD, FAAP, coauthor of the book "Nutrition: What Every Parent Needs to Know."
Best age: Birth and older
Iron-fortified cereal: Your baby is born with a natural supply of iron, but it'll be depleted by the time she's around 6 months old, Stern says, so introducing iron-rich foods is essential. One that fits the bill: iron-fortified cereal. It doesn't have to be the traditional first food of rice cereal — oatmeal and barley are good options too — just make sure you start with a single-grain formula.
Best age: 4 to 6 months
Avocados: A great first fruit to offer, because they're loaded with monounsaturated fats and have a mild taste and smooth consistency. They're super-easy to prepare too: Simply mash a very ripe avocado with a little breast milk or formula until it reaches a pureed consistency.
Best age: 6 months and older
Sweet potatoes: They're rich in beta-carotene, which the body converts to vitamin A, which is "important for good vision, healthy skin, normal growth and protection from infections," according to "The Best Homemade Baby Food on the Planet."
Best age: 6 months and older
Meat: Meat — like chicken, lamb or beef — is an excellent source of protein, as well as iron, riboflavin, niacin, vitamin B6 and zinc. Just make sure it's pureed to a smooth texture.
Best age: 7 to 10 months and older
Beets: "Beets are an extraordinary nutrient source," says Ruggiero. "They're a good source of folic acid, high in potassium and beta-carotene, and they're a sweet veggie — which babies take a liking to quickly." Roast or steam them until they're super-soft; then mash them.
Best age: 11 months and older
Yogurt: Plain (not vanilla) whole-milk yogurt is another protein-rich option — plus, it contains calcium and beneficial live active cultures.
Best age: 9 months and older
Cheerios: Believe it or not, many experts love good old-fashioned Cheerios. The little O's in the yellow box are a good source of fiber.
Best age: 9 months and older
Distributed by MCT Information Services
