The Food Journey: Introducing Solids
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Time to Read: 6 min
Introducing Solids
And just like that your little bundle is six months old. Hopefully by now your baby is (eh-hem) sleeping through the night and you’re TOTALLY rested. Something like that, right?
Honestly, I remember when people told me that time flies with children. I thought they must have had temporary memory loss related to the newborn period. But, after that fog had lifted from the first few months, I too realized that upon blinking, your children grow up at the speed of light. This means new adventures for you and your baby!
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Founded by a pediatrician and mom of three
Stainless steel is the only kid-friendly material recommended by the American Academy of Pediatrics
We are guided by a Scientific Advisory Council comprised of environmental and medical experts, guiding us in creating the safest products, following the latest science and promoting policy to protect human health and our planet
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This means new adventures for you and your baby!
The AAP recommends exclusive breast milk for the first 6 months and it turns out that many babies are ready to eat solids around that age. Signs that your baby is ready for the food journey is that he or she
- shows interest in mealtime
- shows continued hunger in between nursing/bottle feeds
- can sit up unassisted
- can hold head up independently for a considerable time
- doesn’t automatically push food out of his mouth with his tongue
- opens mouth and leans forward when offered food
While this is a fun, new adventure, remember that even after starting solids, primary nutrition will be from breast milk or formula in the first year of life. No cow’s milk or juice yet either, please! Don’t be surprised if that first bite of avocado puree puts a weird face on your baby. That doesn’t mean stop trying. Sometimes it takes babies 10-15 tries over several months to be ready for and accept a new flavor or texture. However, patterns of taste are formed as early as 9 months so offering fruits and veggies at all meals and snacks is a great idea. Maybe you will encourage a palate refined enough for your child to crave brussels sprouts as a teen! Babies who experience a variety of colors, textures and flavors tend to be less picky eaters later on - so, go ahead and offer that rainbow filled adventure during this time!
By convention, most parents start with single grain cereal, but really any baby-safe (soft) foods can be introduced. A general tip is to introduce a new food one at a time and wait 3-5 days before introducing the next to see if your child has any problems with that food, including allergies. I enjoyed making my own baby food as it was so fresh and surprisingly easy to do! If you have a blender, it’s easy to get the hang of it and you will be a pro in no time! After introducing single ingredient foods, I would look at common combinations found in the jars/squeezy packets at the store to inspire my own homemade fruit/veggie mixtures. When I got those down, it became easier to improvise with what we had in the fridge.
Remember that your baby watches you during those precious family meals! In fact, studies suggest that having dinner together as a family, on a regular basis, has positive effects on child development. Don’t forget that while you have complete control over what foods your baby eats at this age, you also have control over what YOU eat! Studies have shown that foods parents and caregivers eat have a direct effect on what baby wants to eat. As I have learned as a parent … children are ALWAYS watching us so setting good examples for good habits, particularly healthy eating, goes a long way.
The AAP’s parenting website, healthychildren.org is an amazing resource. As a physician I recommend it and use it quite often as a parent as well! They have great information on this topic and many others. Check it out for more tips and even some age appropriate sample menus.
Cinnamon Raisin Steel Cut Oats
5 min
15-20 min
2
One of my favorite recipes is something I still make my kids to this day:
1 C steel cut oats |
3 C water |
Handful of raisins |
½ T cinnamon |
Simmer on the stove for 15 - 20 minutes or throw everything in an instant pot and voila! Your kitchen will smell amazing and kids love it. You can puree it for the tiny ones and just serve as is for your toddlers. Adding a dollop of yogurt is a great way to throw some probiotics in there as well! A fabulous way to jump-start your mornings.
*pro tip - make a double batch on Sunday to feed the family for the week (it also freezes great)
Mealtime Essentials
Please let us know if there are certain topics of specific interest to you and we’ll be sure to include them while we brainstorm future posts. Whether it is about products, our website or blog, we want to hear from YOU! Parents and children will always be at the center of Ahimsa. It’s why we do what we do. We’re excited to have a platform to connect with you. Send in your thoughts and we will listen!
Dr. Manasa Mantravadi
Dr. Manasa Mantravadi is a board-certified pediatrician whose dedication to children’s health drove her to launch Ahimsa, the world's first colorful stainless steel dishes for kids. She was motivated by the American Academy of Pediatrics’ findings on harmful chemicals in plastic affecting children's well-being. Ahimsa has gained widespread recognition and been featured in media outlets such as Parents Magazine, the Today Show, The Oprah Magazine, and more.
Dr. Mantravadi received the esteemed “Physician Mentor of the Year” award at Indiana University School of Medicine in 2019. She was also named a Forbes Next 1000 Entrepreneur in 2021, with her inspiring story showcased on Good Morning America. She serves on the Council for Environmental Health and Climate Change and the Council for School Health at The American Academy of Pediatrics. She represents Ahimsa as a U.S. industry stakeholder on the Intergovernmental Negotiating Committee (INC) for the Global Plastics Treaty, led by the United Nations Environment Program. Dr. Mantravadi leads Ahimsa's social impact program, The Conscious Cafeteria Project, to reduce carbon emissions and safeguard student health as part of a national pilot of the Clinton Global Initiative.
She is dedicated to educating and empowering people to make healthier, more environmentally friendly choices at mealtime. Her mission remains to advocate for the health of all children and the one planet we will leave behind for them through real policy change within our food system.
More Mealtime Essentials
Frequently Asked Questions
Why should I use stainless steel instead of plastic? Is stainless steel better for health?
The American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) released a report in July 2018 suggesting ways that families can limit exposure to certain chemicals at mealtime, including “the use of alternatives to plastic, such as glass or stainless steel, when possible.” The report explained that “…some additives are put directly in foods, while “indirect” additives may include chemicals from plastic, glues, dyes, paper, cardboard”. Further, “Children are more sensitive to chemical exposures because they eat and drink more, relative to body weight, than adults do, and are still growing and developing.” While stainless steel items meet the recommendation to avoid plastic products in children, Ahimsa® products have the obvious advantage of not breaking like glass.
Is stainless steel better for the environment than plastic?
According to the Steel Recycling Institute, steel can be recycled over and over and over again without losing its integrity and requires less energy to recycle than to make anew. Most plastic unfortunately ends up in landfills and it is estimated to take 700 years to decompose. Our special coloring process that allows Ahimsa® products to be fully metal is environmentally friendly, so it does not produce toxic run-off into the ecosystem.
Will Ahimsa products break or peel?
No. Our steel is durable, so it won’t break or shatter with everyday use, like glass. And it won’t peel, like other colored stainless steel products you’ve seen. We use a special process that allows the colors to naturally occur in the metal.
Which Ahimsa products are best for my little one(s)?
Our products are meant to last, you can use Ahimsa at ages 1, 8 and 18! We thoughtfully design our products to be safe for little ones and our planet while reducing consumption. Once your child outgrows the Starting Solids Set and can use regular cups and utensils, the training cup is the perfect size rinse cup in the bathroom, the infant spoon doubles as a tea stirrer and the bowl is great for snacks or as an additional compartment to our modular divided plate. Our plates are great for any age as they encourage choosing a variety of healthy foods at each meal and help visualize portion sizes easily. It’s the lasting beauty of stainless steel - grows with your child and reduces waste.
