One of the important products necessary for feeding infants is low-fat sea and river fish, which contains fish oil, amino acids, vitamins F, A, D, E, B-12, which are very beneficial for the body, and minerals that promote proper metabolism: iodine , manganese, zinc, copper, boron, iron, fluorine, etc.
The choice of fish for a child's diet should be taken very seriously: if possible, use fresh fish; when buying whole fish, you should pay attention to the scales (high-quality fish have shiny ones), gills (without mucus), when buying fillets - to the color (white or pale -pink). Sea fish is safe and very healthy, as it is rich in minerals (primarily iodine and fluorine), as well as omega-3 fats; but it can usually only be bought frozen. Of river fish, which is more accessible and easier to digest by the body, nutritionists give preference to trout (it lives only in clean water and, therefore, does not contain harmful substances) and fish grown in artificial reservoirs.
When to introduce fish to an infant
Fish is introduced into the diet of infants later than other foods, as it can cause allergies. Nutritionists advise giving your child fish only after he has become accustomed to eating meat - at 9-10 months. You need to introduce fish into your baby’s menu gradually: start with 5-10 grams per day and increase the daily intake to 70 grams by 12 months. It must be remembered that fish broth contains substances that are harmful to the child’s body and are released during the cooking process, so fish soups are recommended to be given to children from 1.5-3 years old. You should also not feed infants fried, smoked, salted fish or fatty fish (all salmon, sturgeon, herring).
In order not to overload the child’s digestive system, you should alternate fish and meat days during the week, avoiding preparing these dishes on the same day; cook fish dishes no more than 2 times a week.
If eating fish has caused an allergy in a child, you should exclude it from the diet for two weeks, then try to cook a different type of fish (an allergy to both all fish and a specific type is possible).
How to cook fish for babies
Until a child is one year old, it is preferable to cook exclusively white fish, at least until 10 months.
If you are boiling fish, then after freezing it and rinsing it in cold water, immediately place it in boiling water, remembering to reduce the gas to minimum.
How to cook fish for babies
When preparing fish for infants, several rules must be followed:
- defrost the fish in salted water (this will prevent bacteria from forming on it), and immediately begin heat treatment;
- Before cooking, rinse the fish well;
- be sure to check the fillet for bones;
- cook fish in two ways: in a double boiler or boiling in a large amount of water (cooking time for small pieces - 10-15 minutes, for whole fish - 20-25 minutes).
Fish recipe for babies
Fish puree for babies
It is better to introduce fish into a baby’s diet in the form of puree. To prepare it, you need to boil 100 g of lean fish: hake, pollock, cod, haddock, flounder - and grind in a blender. Add 1 tsp to the fish. milk and vegetable oil. Mix the resulting mass well and boil for 2 minutes.
To the fish puree, especially during the first feedings, you can add a little ready-made potato or vegetable puree, to which the child is already accustomed.
Fish pudding
Boil the fillet, chop, then mix well with half an egg beaten with salt and mashed potatoes (ingredients: 1 potato, 2-3 tbsp milk, 2 tsp vegetable oil). Transfer the resulting mass into a mold and steam or steam for half an hour.
Fish meatballs
Grind (using a meat grinder or blender) 60 g of fish fillet and 10 g of soaked white bread, add ¼ of the egg yolk, 1 tsp. vegetable oil. Form balls from the resulting mass, fill them halfway with water and simmer for half an hour.
Children usually like these dishes because they can be held in their hands.
When and what kind of fish should you start giving your child?
Fish– a very useful product. It contains Omega-3 unsaturated fatty acids, which the human body cannot produce on its own. And these acids are necessary for good immunity. Fish also contains A and D, zinc, magnesium, phosphorus, selenium and copper, which are simply necessary for the baby’s growing body for the heart, brain, bones and vision.
Therefore, undoubtedly, the baby must be introduced to this useful product.
When can you start? baby fish?
Fish– complementary feeding is late, so it is offered to the baby after vegetables, cereals, dairy products and meat have appeared on his menu.
What fish should you start feeding with?
Experts advise including only sea fish in your baby’s diet, since river fish absorb heavy metal salts and toxins from polluted river water. By the way, the title of the cleanest freshwater fish is given to trout, because it is not found even in muddy water, let alone dirty water. So What kind of fish should I start feeding with?? Preference should be given to lean white varieties fish eg sea bass, blue whiting, hake, pollock or cod.
Hake contains a lot of vitamins A, C, E, PP and group B, magnesium, manganese, cobalt, potassium and calcium - everything that is necessary for strong immunity, smooth functioning of the intestines and stomach. Blue whiting is absolutely in no way inferior to many other types of fish: it contains a lot of A and D, phosphorus and sodium, iodine, manganese and cobalt.
Cod has a pleasant taste and tender meat. It contains many B vitamins, vitamins D and A. Pollock liver contains a lot of vitamin A, which is important for healthy hair and skin, nails and teeth.
According to experts, the optimal fish nutrition for a child under one year old is industrially produced canned fish for children, which correspond to the baby’s age. Since fresh sea fish is not available everywhere, and frozen fish has not been defrosted and frozen many times, canned food is the safest. It is produced from fresh fish in compliance with hygienic requirements and standards and undergoes a number of thorough checks, and this, you see, is a serious guarantee of safety.
By the way, there aren’t that many “monofish” canned food for children. Mainly fish along with vegetables. For example, “Trout with vegetables”, “Tuna with vegetables”. They contain about 10-15 percent fish, the remaining 85-90 percent are vegetables and cereals. When choosing such a puree, pay attention to the composition so that it does not contain vegetables that the baby has not yet tried, or that cause an allergic reaction in the baby.
How to cook fish for a baby?
If you prefer cook fish for a child yourself, remember: proper preparation and storage of fish determine the safety and value of the dish. For baby food, you can use frozen fish, but it must be fresh. In order to reduce the loss of nutrients during defrosting, it is better to use a saline solution (10 g of table salt per 1 liter of water). It is not recommended to defrost the fillet completely. Slightly thawed fish is washed in cold water, placed in boiling water, and the heat is immediately reduced. Boil for about 10-15 minutes, remove the peel, seeds and puree to a puree consistency, to which you can add a couple of drops of vegetable oil. You can steam the fish. Ready fish puree can be stored in a closed container in the refrigerator for no more than two days, so cook a small portion of fish. Before serving to the baby, mix the required amount of fish puree with vegetables or porridge already familiar to the baby. But there is no need to rush with fish broth; you can try it after three years.
How much fish food should I give my child?
Like everything new that you introduce into your baby’s diet, fish should be introduced little by little, starting with half a teaspoon and carefully observing the baby’s reaction to the new complementary foods. It is important not to introduce any other new products during this period in order to correctly understand how the baby perceived the new dish. When introducing fish, like any other new product, treat your baby to it in the first half of the day. It is not advisable to introduce innovations closer to the evening in order to be able to observe the reaction of the baby’s body.
If the first test passed without consequences, then within a few weeks you can increase the amount of new complementary foods to normal. For fish-vegetable puree it is 100-150 g per day, and for fish “in its pure form” - 50 g per day. In the future, it is recommended to give your baby fish puree instead of meat puree once or twice a week (not more often).
What to do, if fish the child didn't like it?
Don't try to force feed him! Take a break for a few weeks and then try again. It is quite possible that the baby will appreciate the new taste as if it were already familiar, and will positively evaluate healthy complementary foods. When the child grows up, fish puree can be replaced with fish cutlets, casseroles, salads, zrazy, or simply stewed fish with onions and carrots. Of course, the advantages of fish are difficult to overestimate: there are no films in it, like in meat, and fish is digested and absorbed faster and better than meat. The human body absorbs meat proteins by 87-88 percent, and fish by 93-99 percent.
Bon appetit to our kids!
Fish is an excellent source of protein and polyunsaturated fatty acids, which are very beneficial for a growing body. However, due to its high allergenicity, it is introduced into the baby’s diet gradually and in small portions. In this article we will talk about what kind of fish to start feeding your baby with.
The benefits of fish for the body
Fish is one of the most valuable foods and should be included in the menu of both adults and children. In addition to protein and polyunsaturated fatty acids (Omega-3 and Omega-6), it contains iodine, calcium, magnesium, potassium - all the microelements that a child needs for full development. But despite this, it is not recommended to choose fish for the first feeding. It should be introduced into the baby’s diet no earlier than he is 8–10 months old, that is, after the baby has tried vegetable and fruit purees, cereals, etc. Fish is considered one of the most powerful allergens. Therefore, after eating, it is necessary to carefully monitor the child’s condition. If he develops a rash or problems with the digestive system (diarrhea, bloating, etc.), the fish dish should be immediately excluded from the menu. If a baby has already had cases of food allergies to other foods, fish can be given to him no earlier than one year.What should be the volume of one child's portion?
When introducing a new product into a child’s diet, the mother must follow the basic rules.The baby should try a new product if he feels well.
- No vaccinations should be scheduled at the time the fish are introduced.
- It is advisable to give the child a new dish in the morning once or twice a week, replacing it with meat puree.
- The first portion should be only 5 g, after which the child can be supplemented with vegetable puree. For the next feeding on this day, it is recommended to give meat puree, to which the baby is already accustomed. If the child tolerated the new product well, you can continue to introduce fish into the diet and increase the volume to 30–60 g (depending on age) and give him such food 1–2 times a week.
- After feeding the child a fish dish, the mother should monitor the baby’s condition for the next 2-3 days. Which fish is best for complementary feeding?
Which fish should be introduced first?
A question that interests many young mothers. To introduce your baby to this product, it is best to choose lean varieties of fish: flounder, cod, pollock or hake. They contain only 4% fat. In pink salmon, chum salmon and trout it is slightly higher - from 4 to 9%. The fattest varieties include salmon, mackerel and herring - in them the figure exceeds 10%. Fish of medium fat content and higher can be introduced into a child’s diet only after a year, so as not to cause problems with the digestive system. Your pediatrician will be able to give you an accurate answer about which fish for first feeding is right for your baby.This might be interesting
Fish is an excellent source of protein and polyunsaturated fatty acids, which are very beneficial for a growing body. However, due to its high allergenicity, it is introduced into the baby’s diet gradually and in small portions...
Despite its usefulness, fish is different in that it contains many allergens that very young children cannot cope with. And some parents don’t know when to introduce fish into complementary foods.
So, fish is considered to be a late complementary feeding. Most pediatricians agree that fish should appear on a baby’s menu no earlier than eight months. If a child shows signs of an allergy, this product will have to be put off for a long time - at least two or three years, until the body gets stronger. Since fish is a late complementary food, before it appears in the diet, the baby must get used to cereals, meat and dairy products. If you delay in introducing these foods, you will have to wait with fish - first prepare the child’s body for the simplest food, and only after that move on to the heavy one.
Introducing fish into the diet correctly
The rules for introducing fish into a child’s diet are very important and no one has canceled them, so we will definitely list the most important ones:
- you need to start complementary feeding with half a teaspoon, then increase the dose;
- During the first two weeks, fish should not be given more than twice a week;
- In no case should you give more than the established norm, because an allergy may appear.
Fish for first feeding
It is important to know exactly what kind of fish to start feeding your child with, because not all varieties are suitable for the first feeding. Let us list the properties that characterize the ideal fish for a small child:
- dietary;
- low calorie;
- fresh;
- low-allergenic.
In addition, many experts argue that only sea fish should be in a baby’s diet, citing the fact that river fish absorbs too many toxins and heavy metal salts, which are found in large quantities in our polluted rivers. An exception, perhaps, can be considered trout, which never lives in dirty water and always moves to more environmentally friendly areas of reservoirs and rivers.
Moving on to specifics, let's say that when feeding for the first time you can focus on the following types of fish: sea bass, hake, cod, pollock. These are lean white fish varieties that are highly digestible.
Hake has a lot of vitamins, calcium and potassium. Eating this fish strengthens the immune system and promotes better functioning of the stomach and intestines. A good option is whiting, which can give a head start to many types of fish in terms of sodium, manganese, iodine and cobalt content. Cod has the most tender meat and a very pleasant taste, so even the pickiest baby will definitely like it (note to those who constantly have problems introducing new foods to their diet). In addition, cod contains vitamins A and D. Pollock is no less healthy, and its liver is the best source of vitamin A, which plays a key role in maintaining healthy skin, hair, teeth and nails.
Fish is the main source of vitamins PP, B1, B6, B12 and phosphorus; a lack of these substances threatens the baby in the blood, resulting in a disruption in the body’s oxygen supply.
A little later, you can offer your baby varieties of fish with medium fat content. These include trout, catfish, and carp. They are no less useful than the varieties already listed, but their fat content does not allow them to be introduced into the diet until the child’s digestive tract is not sufficiently developed.
The advantage of children's canned fish
Finding truly fresh fish nowadays is not so easy, because even fishermen at the market cannot always be trusted, and stores mostly bring frozen fish, which may have been frozen and defrosted many times during transportation. Therefore, conscientious parents can only rely on canned children's food, which is produced on an industrial scale. In their production, only fresh fish is used, which passes all sanitary checks. Hygiene standards established by the Ministry of Health are also observed.
Note to parents: pure fish canned food for children is not very common. Mostly mixture products are produced, for example, “Tuna with vegetables”, “Trout with vegetables”. In such canned food, the fish content ranges from 10 to 15 percent. The remaining 90 percent is occupied by various cereals or vegetables. When choosing canned food, it is very important to read its composition - it should not contain products that are not already present in the child’s diet or that may cause an allergic reaction.
How much fish can a child eat depending on age?
The age of a child greatly influences the amount of food his body needs. If you don't know how much fish a child can eat at 1 year or 8 months, there is a risk that you will overfeed him and cause an allergy that might not exist. A table will help you avoid making mistakes, which will indicate the number of fish for different ages.
What should you avoid when introducing fish into your baby’s diet?
Firstly, until the child is one year old, he should never be given caviar, because it is very difficult for the body and most often causes allergic reactions.
Secondly, the baby should not eat dried, salted, smoked fish and canned fish, which are not part of commercially produced baby food.
Thirdly, it is better not to experiment with other seafood (shrimp, mussels, crabs, rare varieties of fish, fish with red meat) until the child is at least one and a half years old.
Found a useful article!!!
Complementary food - fish
Our kids grow very quickly - we just bought new overalls or boots, and after a month or two they are already small.
For the full growth of a child's body, proteins are needed most of all. They help cells divide and ensure energy metabolism. Proteins are the very building blocks from which the cells of the body are built.
It is known that the source of complete animal protein is meat and fish, while protein from fish is absorbed much faster and easier to digest.
An important advantage of fish is its delicate structure. Fish does not contain refractory fats and connective tissue, which are not yet strong enough for the baby’s fragile enzyme system. In addition, fish products are low in calories compared to meat products. Fish contains more essential (those that are not produced in the body) amino acids than meat, and they are absorbed, unlike “meat” ones, almost 100%. Fish also contains polyunsaturated fatty acids, including omega-3. They have a beneficial effect on the baby’s metabolism, cardiovascular and nervous systems. Scientists have found that these substances improve brain activity and stimulate intelligence. Polyunsaturated acids are especially needed by those children who were bottle-fed.
Fish contains vitamins A, D, E and microelements, including very rare fluorine and phosphorus. Fluoride is involved in the formation of tooth enamel, and without phosphorus, normal development of the brain and skeletal system is impossible. Fish meat is rich in potassium, zinc, magnesium and iron, which are required for normal metabolic processes. Iron is especially important for the prevention of anemia.
Sea fish contains iodine, which is necessary for the development of the thyroid gland.
Fish must be present in the diet of children in their first year of life.
When to start?
Pediatricians recommend introducing fish dishes (meatballs, cutlets, casseroles) no earlier than 8–9 months, after the baby has already mastered meat feeding.
Fish belongs to the group of allergenic foods, so even children who are not prone to allergic reactions are not advised to give it more than twice a week. Like other complementary foods, it is necessary to introduce fish products into your baby’s diet gradually, starting with minimal portions.
Which one should I start with?
The first fish should be lean and not red. It is better to give preference to sea fish - it contains more microelements and is less allergenic. Cod, hake, haddock, and flounder are suitable; river species include pike perch, trout, and silver carp.
If the fish is frozen, it is better to thaw it in salt water to reduce the loss of minerals (8–10 g of table salt per 1 liter of water). It is not recommended to completely defrost the fillet; slightly thawed fish is washed in cold water, then cut into small pieces and placed in boiling water (this preserves more useful substances), after which the heat is immediately reduced. When boiling too high, the fish becomes overcooked and tasteless. Boil the fish for about 10-15 minutes, and then puree until it has a puree consistency. The finished puree can be stored for no more than 48 hours in a sealed container at a temperature of 2–6 degrees.
You can also use ready-made fish purees - they are not only easy to prepare and save the mother’s time, but also guarantee complete and safe nutrition for the baby. This product can be offered to babies from 8 months. For babies 11–12 months old, coarse purees are made, and for babies 12–18 months old, chunky purees are suitable.
The share of fish in the finished puree ranges from 10 to 50%, the rest is vegetables (potatoes, carrots, cabbage, legumes) or cereals (rice, corn, pearl barley, etc.). Fish with vegetables is better absorbed by the body, and children like this combination more. Thus, the baby immediately receives a ready-made, balanced lunch.
It should be noted that baby nutrition experts carefully develop the recipe for canned products, so such fish purees contain the optimal ratio of substances necessary for the baby. Baby food is ready to eat: the contents of the jar just need to be heated and transferred to the baby in a plate.
If the baby is prone to allergies, fish should be introduced into the diet in small portions from the age of one. At this time, you should not introduce any other new types of food into your baby’s diet in order to correctly determine the tolerance of a fish dish. It happens that a child is allergic to certain types of fish. Be careful!
In the first week, give your baby 1/2 teaspoon of puree before breastfeeding or bottle feeding. During the day, monitor the child’s body’s reaction to a new product. If allergies do not appear, then next time offer a teaspoon of fish puree and gradually bring it up to the age norm.
A child in the first year of life can be given 30–60 g of fish puree per feeding, and an older baby can be given 85–90 g of fish in the form of puree, cutlets, or boiled fish. In the future, nutritionists advise replacing meat puree with fish puree 1-2 times a week.
Fried fish, like fish broth, is not recommended for young children.
Nutritionists do not recommend introducing seafood and caviar into the diet of children under 3 years of age.
Consultant: Vladimir YAKOVLEV, manager
for the development of new Heinz products
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