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Baby food recipes

(Suitable for children aged 6-23 months)

Baby food and nutrition play an important role in the normal growth and development of the baby. Unhealthily prepared baby food is adversely affecting the physical and mental growth of the child and the child is getting sick more often. When the baby reaches six months, weight gain usually stops because the baby gets enough nutrients from mother's milk till six months. After 6 months, 400 calories come from mother's milk and children aged 6 to 8 months need an extra 200 calories, 9 to 11 months need 300 calories and 12 to 23 months need an extra 550 calories. Therefore, if the child's needs are not met from complementary foods at this time, the child's physical growth is disrupted, the chances of frequent infectious diseases and severe malnutrition increase.

Although breastfeeding practices are very good in Bangladesh, only 64% of children are exclusively breastfed up to 6 months. After 6 months of age (after 180 days) supplementary feeding is started. But its quantity and quality are not satisfactory. According to the survey, only 21% of children receive minimum acceptable food. (eg – 3-4 meals a day as needed from at least 4 food categories).

Lack of proper knowledge and skills in preparing and feeding child food is one of the main causes of unhealthy eating habits, along with inadequacy of appropriate complementary foods. In many families, children are fed enough family food but parents do not know what ingredients are right for the child and how to prepare nutritious complementary foods with household ingredients.

The right mix of 7 internationally recognized food groups to make nutritious food for children ensures a variety of nutrients in the diet. These 7 food categories and their key nutrients are given below:

1. Grains and grain foods, roots and tubers (energetic)

2. Pulses, seeds, and nuts (meat and energy sources)

3. Milk and milk-like foods, such as yogurt, cheese, etc. (Mineral salts necessary for meat and bone formation)

4. Meat foods like fish, beef/beef, chicken liver etc. (non-vegetarian)

5. Eggs (meat, vitamin A, iron, zinc and others)

6. Vitamin A fruits and vegetables.

7. Other fruits and vegetables (vitamin C and other micronutrients)

Complementary food will be more nutritious and varied if at least 4 of the 7 food groups mentioned above are prepared. Therefore, the baby food recipe section contains several high-quality delicious food recipes made from these food groups and scientifically, which are suitable for the three age groups of the baby. Classes (6-8, 9-11 and 12-23) can meet essential nutrient requirements based on strength, adequate nutrition and density. These baby food recipes are made with locally available, science-based, varied and acceptable foods.

The recipes are adapted from the booklet “Homemade Complementary Food Preparation for Children 6-23 Months” developed from research manual development on complementary foods for Bangladesh. The study was conducted by Bangladesh Breastfeeding Foundation. Technical support for the study was provided by FAO and financial support was provided by the European Union and USAID.