Knowing what to feed baby for breakfast ensures they start their day with balanced nutrition and energy. The first meal of the day is very important for your baby’s healthy growth and development, as it pave the way for the energy levels, mood, and overall health. Choosing what to feed baby for breakfast is a difficult job for new parents.
A healthy breakfast is nutritious as it provides essential vitamins, minerals, and energy that are important for a baby’s rapid growth and cognitive development. But, as so many options are available, so, do not be worried about baby’s first meal of the day.
This blog post will help you understand, What to give and How much to be fed to your baby in the morning, along with the nutritional benefits of each option.
How Much Should I Feed My Baby for Breakfast?
How much to feed a baby for breakfast entirely depends on their age, appetite, and developmental stage. For a little one of 6-month-old who has just starting solids, a few spoonfuls of puree or soft foods will be enough. As your baby grows, their appetite will continue to increase, and when they reach 9–12 months, they may be eating small portions similar to those of a toddler.
On average, a baby who is in between 6–12 months, usually requires about 300–400 calories for breakfast, which comprise a combination of carbohydrates, proteins, fats, and micronutrients. However, it is not a thumb rule as, some day he/she may eat more, and other days eat less. Remember not to implement forced feeding, as babies are wise enough at regulating their own intake when provided with healthy foods for breakfast.
3 Healthy Breakfast Foods for Babies
1. Banana Pancakes
Giving Banana pancakes to your baby for breakfast is a great choice, as they blend the sweetness of bananas with the nutritious benefits of eggs and whole-grain flour. They are easily digestible and perfect for eating with your fingers.
How to Make It
You need 3 constituents such as a banana, an egg and oat or wheat flour. Mix a ripe banana, an egg, and a tablespoon of oat or wheat flour by mashing them together. Fry small amounts of this mixture in a non-stick skillet until it becomes golden brown on both sides.
Nutritional Value of Banana Pancakes
It is interesting to know that two small banana pancakes contain about 100 calories, 3 grams of protein, 15 grams of carbohydrates, and 2 grams of healthy fats. Further, this breakfast meal also offers potassium, vitamin C, and B6, while the flour provides fiber and iron.
Health Benefits
Banana Pancakes provide a combination of protein, nutritious carbohydrates, and fats that are useful for making baby energetic and enhancing growth. Use of Bananas in your baby’s breakfast reduces the chances of abnormal blood pressure and muscle function. Furthermore, the fiber helps with digestion and avoids constipation.
Deficiencies It Overcomes
The iron in whole-grain flour prevents iron-deficiency anemia, while the potassium promotes heart health. The egg contains choline, which is necessary for the development of the brain.
What Research Says
As mentioned in a research article in Pediatric Research, bananas are a good source of potassium that improves heart issues and muscle function in babies. Further, research revealed that, kids who usually eat bananas in breakfast experience rarely face issues of muscle cramps and fatigue.
Parents Experience
It was found that babies who consume breakfast meals with bananas, such as banana pancakes, had higher potassium levels, which eliminates the risk of dehydration during illness as compared to those who did not eat bananas.
2. Pureed Lentils
Regular use of lentils in a baby’s breakfast is useful because, they are a rich source of nutrition, fortified with protein, fiber, and essential minerals, which make baby breakfast nutritious. Pureed lentils are regarded beneficial for infants who do not eat meat or are at high risk of iron deficiency.
How to Prepare It
Cook red or yellow lentils in water until they become soft. Then blend them into a smooth puree, adding a little water or breast milk (according to your taste).
Nutritional Value
A ½ cup serving of pureed lentils contain about 9 grams of protein, 20 grams of carbohydrates, 8 grams of fiber, and at the same time rich in iron, magnesium, and folate.
Health Benefits
Lentils are rich source of plant-based protein of baby’s breakfast meal, which is highly necessary for a baby growth and muscle development. As contain iron so, helps content helps in preventing anemia, and the fiber aids in digestive health especially constipation.
Deficiencies It Overcomes
Lentils can help reduce the chances of iron-deficiency anemia and boost digestive function due to their fiber content. Folate in lentils is needed t for DNA synthesis and cell growth, which makes healing or repair process rapid
What Research Says
Research revealed that lentils are enriched in iron and folate, critical nutrients for reducing the chances of occurrence of anemia in infants. A study published in The American Journal of Clinical Nutrition found that children who consume lentils regularly (Preferably in Breakfast) have a lower risk of developing iron-deficiency anemia.
Experimental Based Study
A study conducted in rural India, in which lentil-based meals were given to 200 infants, resulting in a 30% decrease in occurrence of serious health problem of anemia rates over one year. This strategy was proved useful in improving the overall health and development of these children .
3. Peach and Cottage Cheese
Peach paired with cottage cheese has high nutritive value as makes protein-packed, calcium-rich baby’s breakfast. It can be easily and quickly prepared in minutes.
How to Make It
Puree or finely chop ripe peaches and mix them with a small serving of cottage cheese. Be careful that the cottage cheese should be low in sodium and is pasteurized.
Nutritional Value
A ½ cup serving of peach and cottage cheese provides approximately 100 calories, 6 grams of protein, 10 grams of carbohydrates, which makes baby’s breakfast meal nutritious.
Health Benefits
The mixture is very useful as it supports bone health due to the calcium in cottage cheese. Vitamin A in peaches improves eye health. Moreover, enhance the muscle growth and repair due to its protein content.
Deficiencies It Overcomes
As mentioned above, fills the calcium and vitamin-A deficiency, which is crucial for strong bones and teeth. Vitamin A strengthens healthy vision and immune function.
What Research Says
A study in the Journal of Dairy Science found that the calcium, protein, vitamins and fiber in peaches create a balanced meal which improves bone health and digestion in infants.
Case Study
A clinical trial with 80 babies at a New York hospital, revealed babies who regularly consume a diet including cottage cheese and fruit had a 20% increase in bone density over 12 months compared to a control group.
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