Complementary food also needs to be appropriate, meaning that it should provide enough energy and nutrition, be of smooth texture and get digested easily. Infants have high energy requirements but their stomach size is small. Therefore, the food given to them has to be packed with energy, especially if they are being offered only a few meals every day.
Most current guidelines for the gradual introduction of different foods during the complimentary feeding period are based on cultural factors and food availability. Energy requirements remain high during the first year of life. The fat content of the diet is an important determinant of its energy density. A higher proportion might be required if the appetite is poor, the infant has recurrent infections or is fed infrequently. Foods with high energy density are rich in fat, but low in water content, such as cheese, butter, ghee, eggs. Those with high water content or which absorb water during cooking have low energy density, like soups and stews, most fruits and vegetables, low-fat yogurt, boiled rice, and porridge made with water. Regularly feeding children low-energy foods may result in compromised physical strength and stamina. Their diet should contain high amount of nutrients such as vitamins, minerals and fibre.
According to experts, complementary feeding needs to be sourced from diverse food groups so that the growing child receives all essential nutrients for optimum growth and development. These groups are: (i) grains, roots and tubers, legumes and nuts; (ii) dairy products; (iii) meat, fish, and poultry; (iv) eggs; (v) fruits and vegetables rich in vitamin A, and; (vi) other fruits and vegetables. Give your child food from at least four of these groups daily to ensure well-balanced nutrition.
Complementary food needs to be prepared keeping in mind the basic parameters of safety and hygiene. Food-borne illnesses can occur if the food is not cooked thoroughly, cooked food is left at room temperature for a long time, cooking equipment is contaminated, or hands are not washed properly before feeding the infant.
Dr Pinkesh K Varma, Senior Consultant - Paediatrics, Happy Family Hospital, Chandigarh said, "Freshly cooked food is the safest for a child; otherwise, it should be consumed within one to two hours of cooking in a hot climate, unless refrigerated. It is important to cook the food thoroughly as high temperature during cooking is essential to kill harmful bacteria".
Babies need to be fed lukewarm food - neither too hot, nor too cold - using a clean plate or bowl. Many mothers reheat left-over food just to make it warm and palatable. This is a mistake because insufficiently high temperatures cannot kill harmful bacteria. Mothers should also take care not to reheat cooked food more than once.
When introducing complementary food to your child for the first time, choose products that are least likely to cause allergy. They should also not contain artificial flavours, colours, preservatives or harmful chemicals. Following good feeding practices like these will ensure you never go wrong with your child's diet.
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