Baby food for 8-month-old babies: 4 nutritious recipes

At 8 months, babies should have 4 meals a day, including 2 fresh fruit porridges for morning and afternoon snacks, and 2 main porridges for lunch and dinner. However, it is important to remember that breast milk, or infant formula, are still the baby’s main meals and should be offered throughout the day and at other meals.

Food should be scraped or mashed with a fork and kept separate on the plate, to encourage chewing and recognition of the different flavors and textures of the food. Furthermore, offering foods separately makes it easier to identify foods that may cause allergies or intolerances in your child.

The 8-month-old baby can now sit better and pick up a spoon, being more active during meals. Food preparation may include natural seasonings, such as chives, parsley, thyme, onion and garlic, but salt and sugar should not be added to the preparations. See what your baby’s diet might be like at 8 months.

See below 4 recipes for complementary feeding for an 8-month-old baby:

1. Rice and chicken porridge

Rice and chicken are foods rich in protein and energy, essential for the baby’s development. Rice also provides fiber, which helps keep the intestines functioning properly.

Ingredients:

• 1 tablespoon of cooked rice;
• 1 tablespoon of cooked beans;
• 2 tablespoons of shredded cooked chicken;
• ½ unit of chopped chayote;
• ½ unit of chopped tomato;
• 1 teaspoon of olive oil;
• 1 teaspoon of garlic;
• 1 teaspoon of chopped fresh parsley;
• 1 cup of water.

Preparation mode:

In a pan, sauté the garlic in olive oil and add the chicken. Add the chayote and tomato and cook until soft. Wait for it to cool before serving.

On a plate, place 1 spoon of cooked rice and knead with a fork. Add 1 tablespoon of cooked beans and mash. Finally, add 2 tablespoons of the chicken stew with chayote and tomato and knead. It is important that all foods are separated on the plate to make it easier for the baby to recognize the different textures and flavors.

2. Apple porridge

The apple is a fruit rich in minerals, which help in the formation of bones and teeth. In addition, the fruit is also a great source of fiber, which helps maintain proper bowel function and prevents constipation in the baby.

Ingredients:

• ½ piece of fresh apple.

Preparation mode:

Wash well, split in half and remove the seeds from the apple. Scrape the fruit with a spoon and give it to the baby.

3. Pea, pasta and meat porridge

Peas are a legume rich in fiber, proteins and minerals that are essential nutrients for the growth and formation of the baby’s bones and teeth. Meat is rich in iron, helping to prevent the onset of anemia.

Ingredients:

• 1 tablespoon of dry peas;
• 2 tablespoons of cooked pasta;
• 2 tablespoons of ground meat;
• ½ unit of cooked carrot;
• 1 spoon of green scented coffee;
• 1 teaspoon of garlic;
• 1 teaspoon of olive oil.

Preparation mode:

Leave the peas to soak in water overnight. Drain the peas and place them in a pan, covering with 2 inches of water above the grains. Cook for 20 minutes, turn off the heat and set aside. In another pan, sauté the garlic in olive oil and add the ground meat. Cook for 20 minutes and add the green scent. Wait for it to cool before serving.

On a plate, place 1 tablespoon of peas, 1 tablespoon of cooked pasta, 1 tablespoon of carrot and 1 tablespoon of ground beef. Mash with a fork and place the food on the plate separately for the baby.

4. Chicken, potato, carrot and spinach baby food

Chicken is a food rich in protein and iron, important nutrients for the baby’s development and to prevent anemia. Furthermore, this baby food is rich in vegetables that are sources of fiber, vitamins and minerals that help strengthen the baby’s immune system.

Ingredients:

• 1/2 skinless, boneless chicken breast fillet;
• 1/4 chopped onion;
• 2 chopped potatoes;
• 1 chopped carrot;
• 20 chopped spinach leaves;
• 1 dessert spoon of fresh parsley;
• 1 dessert spoon of olive oil;
• 1/2 cup of water.

Preparation mode:

In a pan, sauté the onion in olive oil. Add the chicken breast and cook for 15 minutes. Add the potatoes, carrots and water. Cook well for 10 minutes or until the potatoes and carrots are soft. Add the spinach leaves and parsley and cook for another 2 minutes.

When warm, place 1 tablespoon of chicken breast, 1 tablespoon of carrot, 1 tablespoon of potato and 1 tablespoon of spinach on a plate. Knead and serve separate foods to the baby.