It is well-known that certain foods have more health benefits than others. The choices you make regarding the food you feed your children can have a significant impact on their development and health. Parents are often found researching superfoods for their babies. Superfoods are nutrient-rich foods that have been shown to significantly benefit the body, brain, and immune system. They contain high levels of protein, healthy fats, vitamins, minerals, antioxidants, fiber, and other nutrients. Greek Yogurt Yogurt contains live probiotic bacteria which aids digestion and boosts immunity. It contains two to three times the protein of regular yogurt and is also lower in sugar. Avocado Avocado is one of the most nutritious baby foods. Avocado is rich in monounsaturated fat, which is good for your heart. It also contains soluble fiber, vitamin E and potassium. Avocados can be pureed or mashed for babies. Toddlers may prefer avocado as a finger food while older siblings may prefer avocado as a dip for raw veggies. Oatmeal Oatmeal, a whole grain, is high in fiber and contains a lot of iron. A 1/4 cup of oatmeal provides almost 8% of the iron your baby needs (6-12 months). Oatmeal's health benefits are preserved during cooking. The additional iron is beneficial for nursed babies. Black Beans For babies, black beans can be mashed or puréed. Older babies can also use them as finger food. Black beans are a great source of protein and rich in fiber, magnesium, and folate. Kale Kale is 25% more bioavailable than milk, but has more calcium per weight than milk. Kale also contains high levels of vitamins A, C and K as well as iron. However, the FDA recommends that infants shouldn’t consume kale or any other dark leafy greens such as Swiss-chard before they turn seven months. Blueberries Blueberries are rich in vitamins A, E and C. They also have zinc, potassium and selenium. Blueberries are high in flavonoids and carotenoids. They also contain healthy fiber. For babies who are just starting to eat finger foods, you can purée blueberries. Once they reach the age of two, you can reduce their choking risk by cutting them in half. Bananas Bananas are a great superfood. They are often one of the first fruits a baby eats. A great finger food is also cut ripe bananas. Bananas are rich in vitamins A, B6, potassium, and vitamin C. They can be introduced as early as four months old, or as soon after your baby begins solid food.
