Meet the new age baby food. It’s a meal that uses a special process to retain the maximum nutrition, and then freezes it for you before it hits your hands. This product contains 5 natural ingredients with an additional 3 added organic ingredients.
Baby Food With High Fiber
Dietary fibre is mainly of two typesโsoluble and insoluble fibres. Soluble fibre dissolves in water, helps regulate the digestion and keeps one baby full for longer. It is also linked to lowering the risk of obesity in kids. Insoluble fibre doesnโt dissolve in water and adds up to the babyโs stool. It is known to regulate the bowel movement in babies and makes an ideal remedy for constipation. There are many high fibre foods for babyโs constipation that can be safely added to your babyโs diet like prunes, pears, plums, etc.
How Much Fibre is Too Much for Babies?
Although there is no particular recommendation of the amount of fibre for babies, according to the report by the US Department of Agriculture, babies need about 14 grams of dietary fibre for every 1000 calories consumed. For children between the ages of 1 and 3 years, 19 grams of fibre is necessary on a daily basis.
Ensure that you do not give your baby too much fibre as it may also lead to diarrhoea.
High Fibre-Foods for Babies
Before you introduce fibre in your babyโs diet, always consult a paediatrician to seek approval and know of any foods that you need to avoid. Once the doctor approves you can choose a range of high fibre fruits and vegetables for babies and start adding it to their diet gradually.
1. Vegetables
Vegetable fibre can be started on immediately after you wean your baby off breast milk or formula, around six to seven months of age. The best way to introduce vegetables to a baby is to serve them in a mashed or pureed form. As your baby begins teething, you can give him sautรฉed vegetables or salads. Some of the vegetables that are rich in fibre are:
- Spinach
- Broccoli
- Beans
- Peas
- Turnip greens
- Brussels sprouts
- Sweet potatoes
- Parsnips
- Raw carrots
2. Fruits
Fruits are a rich source of fibre and can be safely introduced to your baby. Ensure to let your baby try only one fruit at a time and notice how his body reacts to it. If he feels any discomfort, discontinue it and try a different fruit. Some fruits that are rich in fibre include:
- Apples
- Bananas
- Prunes
- Plums
- Apricots
- Pears
- Peaches
3. Grains
It is best to offer single-grain cereals to your baby in the beginning. However, your baby may not be a fan of the taste and may take some time to get used to it. The best way to figure out which grains are high in fibre is by checking the texture of the food. The grainier the texture, the higher the fibre content. Some grains that are good for the baby are:
- Rice
- Oats
- Barley
- Wheat
- Lentils
- Chickpeas
Once your baby starts teething, you can also give him whole grain pasta, bread, and Graham crackers.
Fibre-rich Food Recipes for Infants
You can try out these quick recipes that can add a good amount of fibre in your childโs diet.
1. Hummus Dip With Toast Recipe
Hummus is both delicious and rich in fibre. Here is an easy recipe for a hummus dip that goes well with toast. You can make this dish for your child if he is above 2 years of age.
What You Need
- Chickpeas, 400 g, drained and rinsed
- One lemon
- One clove of garlic
- Tahini (sesame paste), 2 tablespoons
- 2 tablespoons of olive oil
- 2 tablespoons of water
How to Prepare:
- Blend all the ingredients together until they form a smooth paste.
- Add water as needed for the required consistency.
2. Frozen Pineapple Recipe
This is the simplest way to increase your childโs fibre intake and requires little to no time. You can make this for your child if he is above 2 years of age.
What You Need
- Pineapple โ 1 (small)
How to Prepare
- Cut the pineapple into thin round slices and refrigerate them for your baby to chew on.
Fibre-rich foods are important for proper bowel function and when given in the right quantity can complement your babyโs diet. But before including any fibre-rich food in your little oneโs diet, do check with your babyโs paediatrician whether or not you should go ahead with it.
Health Benefits of High Fiber Foods:
- Keeps the digestive system working properly
- Prevents and treats constipation
- Is filling and doesnโt make the child hungry soon
- Prevents overeating and obesity
- Prevents diabetes
- Lowersย bad cholesterol
- Prevents heart disease
- Lowers the risk of cancer
- Ensures absorption of nutrients
Besides these benefits, eating high fiber foods for babies and toddlers also prevents nutritional deficiencies, since most fiber-rich foods are rich in minerals vitamins and antioxidants. On the other hand, not having enough fiber can lead to several problems:
- Firm, hard and dry stools
- Infrequent bowel movements
- Crying when trying to pass stools
- Unwillingness to go to the toilet
- Hard and swollen abdomen
- Abdominal pain
- Low appetite
- Bleeding while pass
In severe cases, this can cause stool retention and impaction with stool leakage.
These problems can be fixed with a diet rich in high fiber foods, sufficient water intake and physical activity. A food is considered a high fiber food if it has at least 3-5 grams per serving. It can be heard to go around calculating the individual fiber content of each food, so weโve rounded up the top high fiber foods for babies and toddler.