\nIn the first six months is very important for babies to have a milk-based diet. Infant formula is the only alternative to breastfeeding for feeding babies below six months of age. After this age, you can vary their diet, including other four food groups: proteins, carbohydrates, fruits and vegetables and milk and dairy foods.<\/p>\n
Protein<\/strong> Carbohydrates<\/strong> Dairy and calcium<\/strong> Fats<\/strong> Iron<\/strong> <\/p>\n Fibre<\/strong> Vitamin A<\/strong> Vitamin C<\/strong>
\nProtein is essential in a baby\u2019s diet because it affects growth, brain development, and healthy bones. The best proteins are the animal ones: chicken, turkey, fish, beef, eggs, milk, yogurt and cheese. These contain 10 amino acids that toddlers need. You can give them plant proteins too (legumes, lentils, tofu, soya products), but you have to combine them in order to achieve the full spectrum of amino acids.<\/p>\n![\"Protein](\"https:\/\/www.findaupair.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/09\/protein-main.jpg\")
<\/a>
\nFruit and vegetables
\n<\/strong>They contain many nutrients, like vitamins, minerals, antioxidants, starch and fibre. Introduce them in your baby\u2019s diet in a variety of colours. This way you will be sure that your child is getting all the nutrients he needs.<\/p>\n<\/a><\/p>\n
\nThese are the body’s most important source of energy – and we all know that kids need a lot of energy! Carbohydrates help a child’s body to use fat and protein for building and repairing tissue. Be careful, though: children under 13 months may struggle to digest whole grain varieties of carbohydrates. Foods that contain carbohydrates: bread, cereals, rice, crackers, pasta, potatoes.<\/p>\n<\/a><\/p>\n
\nDuring childhood, bones are growing and developing and your child needs to get sufficient calcium daily. Foods like milk, cheese, and yogurt are an adequate source of calcium and will help your child to develop strong bones.<\/p>\n<\/a><\/p>\n
\nYour child will also need some fat to grow and develop. Be careful not to go overboard though. Foods that contain this nutrient are: whole-milk dairy products, cooking oils, meat, fish, nuts.<\/p>\n<\/a><\/p>\n
\nThis nutrient is very important in building a healthy blood. Foods that contain iron are red meats, liver, poultry, shellfish, whole grains, beans, nuts, iron-fortified cereals.<\/p>\n<\/a><\/p>\n
\nFibre helps produce bowel regularity in a child. Another benefit that this nutrient brings is that it reduces the chances of heart disease and cancer. Fibre-rich foods: whole-grain cereals, chickpeas, lentils, kidney beans, seeds, nuts.<\/p>\n<\/a><\/p>\n
\nThis vitamin has a lot of benefits: helps growth, keeps skin healthy, prevents infections. You should introduce the following foods in your child’s diet: carrots, sweet potatoes, squash, apricots, spinach, broccoli, cabbage, fish oils, egg yolks.<\/p>\n<\/a><\/p>\n
\nVitamin C helps your child to develop strong bones and teeth, holds the body’s cells together, strengthens the walls of blood vessels, helps the body heal wounds. Fruits and vegetables like citrus fruits, strawberries, tomatoes, potatoes, melons, cabbage, cauliflower, spinach, papayas and mangos contain high levels of Vitamin C.<\/p>\n