The most awaited season of the year is here! While we all love winters and the coziness that comes with it, this is also a season when our children are most prone to infections. And if you have babies at home, it is time to be extra careful.
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Infections aside, as a parent to a one-year-old, I was more curious about the winter fruits and veggies I would and should introduce to my son this year. Winter is the best season to buy fruits and veggies, as they are all fresh and moist. So lay your hands on some of the seasonal fruits and vegetables and put aside the usual apples and potatoes. So, what can you introduce that will help your baby enjoy his meal plus go easy on his stomach?
Here’s a sneak peek into your baby’s winter meal plan!
1. Sweet Potato
If you wish to retain your apple routine, you could do so with this wonder food. Sweet potatoes are piled high in supermarkets this season, so don’t forget to pick a few. You could simply boil them, add a little jaggery and feed your baby or you could also make a puree of sweet potato and apple. Rich in vitamin A, B, C and fiber, sweet potatoes will be a perfect winter fuel for you baby. These wonder foods are great even for the early solid starters.
Ways to use sweet potato in an Indian diet for baby: Sweet potato khichadi, Sweet potato and apple puree, steamed sweet potato, apple, carrot puree. Here are few baby-friendly sweet potato recipes.
Image Source: Livestrong.com
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2. Pumpkin
Pumpkins are loaded with some of the best nutrients for your baby. Low in calories and high in fibre, pumpkins are easily palatable and digestible for babies as they have a high water content. Babies can begin to eat pumpkin as young as when they are 6 months old. You could serve them in the form of soups, purees or mix it with home-made cereals and other fruits. Pumpkins are rich in beta-carotenes, which when digested, turns into Vitamin A. Apart from this pumpkins also aid in digestion, boost energy and help your baby sleep better.
Ways to use pumpkin in an Indian diet for baby: Pumpkin soup, Pumpkin, dal shorba, pumpkin -carrot khichadi, add them to your muffins.  Click here for easy pumpkin recipes.
Image source: Pinterest
3. Blueberries
Blueberries are bursting with antioxidants and also benefit your baby’s eyes, brain, and urinary tract. So remember to pick this blue fruit when you head to the supermarket. You could simply make a pretty blue puree out of it or also add it along with yogurt. Be rest assured you baby is going to love the slight tanginess and also make that cute face as he savours it.
Ways to use blueberries in an Indian diet for baby: Blueberry puree with curd, smoothie, blueberry-banana puree, blueberry-strawberry puree. Click here for Yummy blueberry baby food recipes
Image source:Â gosanangelo.com
4. Broccoli
Introducing your baby to broccoli will let you pack in fiber, calcium, folate and a whole lot of nutrients your growing baby will need. On the other hand, it will also let you develop a lifetime love for green, leafy veggies. If your baby likes finger foods, just give him a piece of well-steamed broccoli or you could simply make a puree. In fact, you could also make a meal for the whole family using broccoli and cheese and watch how it vanishes in minutes!
Ways to use broccoli in an Indian diet for baby: Lightly steam and add to khichdi. Add it to dalia or rava upma along with potatoes.
Image source:Â castironcookie.com
5. Prunes
Call them prunes or dried plums, these are magic foods during winter. Constipation is one of the key problems for babies, especially during winters. Packed with fibres, prunes aid digestion and keep things moving. You could introduce them in various ways including purees or by simply adding them in other foods like oatmeal or cereal. If your baby is badly constipated, add a teaspoon or two of prune juice to formula or expressed breast milk.
Ways to use prunes in an Indian diet for baby: Mix apples and prunes together and make a puree. Add prune puree to cereal or simply make a prune juice.
Image source:Â bodichoice.com.au
6. Avocado
Avocado makes a great first food for baby due to its texture and creaminess. It’s a wonderful “good fatâ€_x009d_ food for baby’s brain and physical development and has a high nutrient content. Mash some avocado and banana and watch your baby just lap it up.  They are very easy to digest so you don’t have to worry about your baby’s tummy. Click here for some avocado mash-ups.
Ways to use avocado in an Indian diet for baby: Mix avocado with steamed rice and cauliflower, sweet potato and avocado puree, avocado with cream cheese, make a thick paste of avocado and use it as a spread on bread.
Image Source: medicalnewstoday.com
7. Rice Congee
In a lot of East Asian countries, congee is one of the first semi-solid food babies eat after milk. It is easy on the stomach and is extremely digestible. It provides the baby with carbohydrates for energy and helps the body absorbs the nutrients of the added ingredients; not to mention the warmth it provides in these cold winter months. You could add vegetables, chicken, tofu or fish to make this mouth-watering rice porridge. You can find an interesting variety of rice congee recipes here.
Ways to use rice congee in an Indian diet for baby: Add some ginger and veggies and make it a nice winter soup. Swap white rice for brown rice and add in some blueberries, make a kher by adding some saffron strands and elaichi powder.
Image source: itadakimasuanime.files.wordpress.com
Keep These In Mind
1. Consult your doctor before you decide to start anything new on your baby.
2. Always introduce new foods during the day. Night time might only call for unwanted tummy problems.
3. Watch your baby’s reaction to the food. Every baby can react differently to every food. So watch out and check for allergies especially on the skin.
4. Take advice from elders or your mother before you start on a new dish. This is only to be double sure your baby’s gut is ready and can digest the food given. So taking advice at this point is an absolute must.
5. Introduce one food at a time. If you plan to start with sweet potato, ensure you stick to it at least for a week or two. Introducing too many new foods at the same time can irritate your baby’s palate and also trouble the stomach.
6. Keep trying! Don’t ditch any new food if your baby winces after tasting. Babies need time to try and accept anything new. So try at least 10 times before you decide to let go.
Image Source: littlerock.com.mt
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Mansi Zaveri
Parul Gupta
Gauravi Vinay
