Baby food for 9-month-old babies: 5 tasty recipes

From 9 months onwards, babies eat 6 meals a day, including 2 fresh fruit porridge for morning and afternoon snacks, and 2 main porridges, prepared with vegetables, cereals, legumes and proteins, for lunch and dinner.

However, it is important to remember that breastfeeding or infant formula are still the baby’s main meals and, therefore, should be offered at snacks and other meals. Understand more about baby feeding recommendations at 9 months.

Fruit porridge is prepared only with fresh fruit that is shaved or mashed. Lunch and dinner porridge can be stewed, roasted or grilled and include natural seasonings, such as garlic, onion, rosemary and parsley. The Brazilian Society of Pediatrics advises against the use of salt or sugar in meals for 9-month-old babies.

See below 5 baby food recipes to use in the main meals of 9-month-old babies:

1. Pasta porridge with broccoli and meat

Meat is a source of protein and iron, important nutrients for growth and preventing anemia. Broccoli is rich in vitamin C and minerals that help with the baby’s body’s defenses.

Ingredients:

• 3 tablespoons of broccoli;
• 1 teaspoon of olive oil;
• 1 teaspoon of chopped onion;
• 2 tablespoons of minced meat (muscle, soft thigh, lizard);
• 1 cup (200 ml) of filtered water;
• 2 tablespoons of pasta.

Preparation mode:

Wash the broccoli well. Put a pan of water on to boil and, when it starts to boil, add the broccoli, cooking for 5 minutes. Drain and reserve. In a pan, heat the oil and sauté the onion for 2 minutes. Add the meat and sauté for another 5 minutes. Add a little water and cook for 20 minutes or until the meat is very tender and set aside. In a pan, bring 200 ml of water to boil and, as soon as it starts to boil, add the pasta and cook until very soft. Drain and reserve.

On a plate, place 1 tablespoon of cooked and finely chopped broccoli. Add 1 tablespoon of the cooked meat and shred with a fork. Finish with 1 tablespoon of cooked and chopped pasta, with a little of the meat sauce. When they are warm, serve the 3 separate preparations on a plate for the baby.

2. Chicken, rice, carrot and cabbage baby food

Carrots are a vegetable rich in vitamin A, which is an important nutrient for vision formation, as well as being a source of fiber, helping to maintain good bowel function. Rice provides the energy necessary for the baby’s growth.

Ingredients:

• 4 spoons of diced chicken;
• 1 cup of rice tea;
• 1 small carrot in cubes;
• ½ chopped butter cabbage;
• 1 teaspoon of olive oil;
• 1 teaspoon of chopped garlic;
• 2 and ¼ cups of filtered water;
• 1 teaspoon of chopped onion;
• 1 teaspoon of parsley.

Preparation mode:

In a pan, heat the oil and sauté the onion and garlic for 2 minutes. Add the diced chicken and sauté for 3 minutes. Add ¼ cup of water and the carrot to cook. When the chicken is almost ready, add the cabbage, cooking for another 4 to 5 minutes and set aside. In another pan, place the rice with 2 cups of water, heat over medium heat and cook until the grains are very soft and set aside.

After it has cooled, place 1 tablespoon of the cooked rice on a plate and knead it with a fork. Add 1 tablespoon of cooked chicken and shred. Add 1 tablespoon of cooked carrot and knead. Finally, add 1 tablespoon of finely chopped cabbage, serving the food separately on the plate for the baby.

3. Salmon porridge with sweet potatoes and zucchini

Salmon is a fish rich in omega 3, a very important nutrient for the formation of the nervous system. Zucchini and sweet potatoes are sources of vitamins and minerals, in addition to providing energy for the baby’s growth and development.

Ingredients:

• 1 fresh salmon fillet or piece;
• 1 medium sweet potato in large cubes;
• 1 medium zucchini in cubes;
• 2 teaspoons of chopped onion;
• 2 teaspoons of chopped garlic;
• 1 teaspoon of olive oil;
• 2 teaspoons of chives

Preparation mode:

Preheat the oven to 200 ºC. On a platter, place the salmon, seasoned with 1 teaspoon of onion and 1 teaspoon of chopped garlic and 1 teaspoon of chives. Place the fish in the oven and bake for 20 minutes and set aside. In a pan, heat the oil and sauté the remaining onion and garlic. Add the sweet potato, zucchini and the rest of the parsley. Add 2 cups of water and cover, letting it cook until the vegetables are very soft. Leave to cool.

On a plate, place 1 tablespoon of finely chopped zucchini. Add 1 tablespoon of sweet potato and mash with a fork. Finish by adding 1 tablespoon of the roasted salmon, boneless and shredded. It is important that the preparations are served separately on the baby’s plate.

4. Chicken liver, carrot and chayote porridge

Chicken liver is rich in vitamin A, iron and other nutrients necessary for vision development and growth. Furthermore, as it is rich in proteins, the liver also contributes to the formation of the baby’s muscles and bones.

Ingredients:

• 4 chicken livers, cleaned and cut into pieces;
• 1 small chayote in cubes;
• 1 small carrot in cubes;
• 1 cup of rice tea;
• 2 and ½ cups of filtered water;
• 1 small onion cut into cubes;
• 2 teaspoons of chopped garlic;
• 2 teaspoons of olive oil;
• 2 tablespoons chopped parsley

Preparation mode:

In a pan, heat 1 teaspoon of olive oil and 1 teaspoon of garlic, sautéing for 2 minutes. Add the chicken livers and sauté for 3 minutes. Add the carrot, chayote, parsley, ½ cup of water and cover the pan, cooking for 10 to 15 minutes. Reserve. In another pan, sauté the remaining oil, onion and garlic. Add the rice and sauté for 3 minutes. Add 2 cups of water and cook until the water dries and the grains become soft.

On a plate, place 1 tablespoon of the cooked liver and chop into very small pieces. Add 1 tablespoon of cooked carrot and knead with a whisk. Add 1 tablespoon of cooked chayote and chop into small pieces. Add 1 tablespoon of cooked rice and knead lightly. Serve the food separately on the baby’s plate.

5. Pea porridge with chicken

Peas are a vegetable rich in B vitamins, minerals and also have excellent amounts of fiber, helping to strengthen the immune system and prevent constipation in babies.

Ingredients:

• 2 tablespoons of fresh peas;
• 2 tablespoons of chopped carrot;
• 2 teaspoons of chopped onion;
• 2 teaspoons of olive oil;
• 2 and ½ cups of filtered water;
• 2 tablespoons of chicken cut into cubes;
• 1 cup of rice tea.

Preparation mode:

In a pan, heat the olive oil and sauté 1 teaspoon of onion for 2 minutes. Then add the chicken and sauté for another 3 minutes. Add the peas, carrot and cover with ½ cup of water. Cover the pan and cook until all the ingredients are very soft and set aside. In another pan, sauté the remaining oil and onion. Add the rice and sauté for 3 minutes. Add the remaining 2 cups of water and cook until the water dries up and the grains are very soft.

On a plate, place 1 tablespoon of peas and, if necessary, mash with a fork. Add 1 tablespoon of cooked carrots and chop very small or mash. Add 1 tablespoon of chicken and shred. Finally, add 1 tablespoon of the cooked rice and knead lightly, serving all the preparations warm and separated on the baby’s plate.