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Your Go-To Guide to Introducing Textured Food to Your Baby
Once your baby is used to smoothly pureed food, it is time to start encouraging chewing with the introduction of more textured foods. Here’s how to increase the variety in your child’s diet, plus a quick and easy recipe to inspire you and make baby smile!
For most babies the nine-month mark signals that they are ready to start eating foods that have a slightly lumpier texture. Don’t worry if your baby doesn’t yet have teeth, you’ll be surprised how good their gums are for chewing!
Various research shows that waiting beyond nine or ten months to start introducing a variety of textures could lead to selective eating and ongoing rejection of non-pureed foods. By taking this important next step in your child’s food journey you are setting them up for a lifetime of healthy food habits.
3 ways to introduce more textured foods:
- Make it a family affair
At this age you baby should be on a similar food schedule to the rest of the family – enjoying breakfast, lunch and supper with healthy snacks in between. Try to include your little one in mealtimes as this will encourage more adventurous eating.
- Include the flavours they love
When first introducing lumpier food, start by adding texture to the foods they love rather than switching flavours completely. That means adding finely chopped or shredded chicken to their favourite Squish 100% Veggie Puree, or a little cottage cheese to Squish 100% Fruit Puree. There are a variety of delicious Squish 100% Puree flavours to choose from, including Butternut + Carrot, Mixed Veg, and Sweet Potato + Pear from the Veggie range, and Banana + Prune, Banana + Strawberry, and Summer Berries from the Fruit range. Each Squish Fruit and Veggie Puree is made from 100% fruit and vegetables, and are free from preservatives, colourants, flavourants and starch – and have no added cane sugar. And the convenient screw-top packaging reduces food waste and means they are perfect for on-the-go meals and holiday times.
Other foods that are good for introducing texture include: small chunks of avo, well-cooked pasta, scrambled eggs, bread, mashed up white fish and lean meats.
- Be patient
It might take a little time for your child to get accustomed to these new textures, so don’t automatically assume that if they reject the meal, they don’t like it. Persist with different flavours and textures and give your baby time to get used to this new food adventure!
Now that you’re all set, here’s a quick, easy and delicious recipe that will introduce texture into mealtimes:
Cheesy Mixed Vegetable Egg Scramble
Packed full of protein and delicious flavours
Ingredients
2 eggs
50 ml (½ pouch) Squish Mixed Vegetable 100% Fruit + Vegetable Puree
15 ml (1 Tbsp) milk (or babies milk or prepared formula)
5 ml (1 tsp) butter
45 ml (3 Tbsp) cheddar cheese, grated
2 slices toast
Method
Crack the eggs into a bowl. Add the Squish Mixed Vegetable and milk and whisk well. Melt 2.5 ml (½ tsp) of the butter in a non-stick pan over a medium heat. Add the eggs and cook, stirring, until just cooked. Stir in the cheese. Serve warm with buttered toast.
Tip: Use a cookie cutter to cut fun shapes from the toast.