Brief Answer:
A step by step systematic approach needs to be taken.

Detailed Answer:

Hi,

You can start with thick liquids like dal water or fruit juices, gradually move over to semi-solids or mashed foods, and subsequently start with pounded food. Consider your ABCs - applesauce, bananas, and cereal (rice, biscuits dipped in milk, or roti, or ragi softened with milk/water). Boiled rice and dal with vegetables and give in mashed form. Gradually increase the amount and frequency. Introduce one new food item per week and stick to it at least for the week.

When you introduce ragi start with half a cup twice a day, then increase the amount as feasible. Eventually, move to mashed fruits. As you increase the number of items, gradually make sure to include the following food principles. For proper development your child needs the following nutrients:

* Grains: Grains are an essential part of a healthy diet, that offer nutrients and energy for a child's normal growth and development. You must include a wide variety of whole grains and/or high fiber varieties of bread, cereals, rice, pasta, noodles, and oats. You should exclude grains like refined grain (cereal) food products with high level of added sugar, fat (particularly saturated fats) and/or salt/sodium, like cakes and biscuits.

* Fruits and Vegetables: They are rich in colored pigments, water, vitamins and minerals and are also good sources of fiber, sans high calories. A child should consume 5 portions of fruits and vegetables every day.

* Fats and oils: They are an essential part of your kid or teen's diet as they play an important role in the development of your kid's brain, helping them in reaching their maximum growth potential. Fat is used in our body as fuel and helps the body absorb the fat soluble vitamin A, D, E and K. Fatty foods are often associated with overweight, obesity, heart disease and stroke but eating the right fats can provide the body with health benefits. Get your oils from fish, nuts, avocados and liquid oil such as corn oil, soybean oil, olive oil and canola oil.

* Milk and dairy products: They are an excellent source of Vitamin A, D, B1, B2 and B12 and minerals particularly calcium. This is especially important for children and adolescents. A good bone balance can be achieved during childhood and teenage years if borrowing from the bones is minimized and daily calcium needs are met.

* Meat and Beans: Meat, poultry, fish, beans, peas, eggs, nuts and seeds supply many nutrients and are an important part of healthy eating. These foods are a rich source of proteins. Proteins are needed for a variety of functions in your body, therefore, it is important to include it in your diet.

A diet plan is not feasible because this is a period of going step by step. Introduce one food principle a week and maintain it at least for the week. Starting with two semi-solid meals per day gradually increase the number while you still continue breastfeeding. Give feeds every 2-3 hours initially and gradually the gap will increase to 3-4 hours. The contents of the feeds would be as above.

Hope I have answered your query.

Let me know if I could help further.

Regards,
Dr. Diptanshu Das, Pediatrician

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Brief Answer:
Salt is optional.

Detailed Answer:

Hi,

You can add salt for taste, but it is optional. You can skip the salt. You can use Cerelac from time to time but home made food would be more preferable. Feel free to give any fruit or vegetable. Make sure to introduce them one after the other and not all together.

Hope I have answered your query. Let me know if I can assist you further.

Regards,
Dr. Diptanshu Das, Pediatrician

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Brief Answer:
Rationale explained.

Detailed Answer:

Hi,

Babies and children only need a very small amount of salt in their diet. However, because salt is added to a lot of the food you buy, such as bread, baked beans, and even biscuits, it is easy to have too much. That is the reason your friends in the USA and abroad have told you to avoid salt and they are right about it.

The body's microbiome is made up of trillions of good bacteria that digest food, produce vitamins and protect it from germs and disease. But when kids consume too much sugar, it can alter the balance between good and bad bacteria and weaken their immune systems. Therefore adding sugar too is not recommendable.

Hope I have answered your query.

Regards,
Dr. Diptanshu Das, Pediatrician

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