Hello Mamas,
“It’s All About Food, Folks” I truly enjoy discussing the approach to eating right! Supplying your baby with the best possible nutrition starts at conception. The actual building blocks of your baby’s body depend on your diet. No fast food/junk foods (Burgers, fries, hotdogs, processed meat, sodas, sugar sweets, pizza, etc.) We know that America’s addiction to “B.F.S.” – (Burgers, Fries, Soda) is a recipe for disaster – (many childhood and adult diseases.) SUGAR is Public Enemy #1 for you and your baby – please keep it out of your house! Love is a verb; put it into action by eating great, healthy foods. Some examples are: organic vegetables, fruit, eggs, S.M.A.S.H. fish(sardines, marital, anchovies, salmon, herring – all available in cans – all the small wild little swimmers are full of omega 3 oils, protein, and vitamin D3), try to use extra virgin olive oil on all foods and much as possible, also a list of important supplements is also available. We know junk food, cows’ milk, gluten, processed or preserved food – sugar, and pesticide-soaked produce is destroying the health of America. And of course avoid alcohol, smoking or second-hand smoke. Continue this diet especially through breastfeeding to give your baby the best “launch” ever. For your baby, the breast is the best! There are many studies showing how human breast milk is a truly amazing, perfect food for little ones. Immune strength, advanced cognitive development, and emotional bonding are just a few. Having a supportive, knowledgeable doctor and a lactation consultant to assure a successful experience is crucial; tongue-tie and lip clips for thick tongue and lip frenulums are a tremendous help for trouble breastfeeding. The earlier the better. This is very important. For me, seeing Mom succeed is a goal!
Babies do need Vitamin D3 and probiotic supplements. If you do use formula, discuss the options with me during your baby’s wellness check. A great resource whether nursing or seeking any information about donor milk are local lactation consultants. They are a wealth of knowledge for a successful breastfeeding experience. You can also call the Leche League group.
When your baby begins to eat try to avoid “baby cereals, jarred baby foods, and puffs”. Prepare your own food for baby with what your family eats; soft steamed organic vegetables, smashed organic fruit and berries, organic egg yolk, avocado, quinoa, and sweet potatoes, three or four times a day between nursing and at bedtime. I encourage you to web-check “Baby Lead Weening” or more accurately, “Baby Lead Feeding”. Very little spoon feeding, mostly finger food is best. Is it messy YES!!, but very educational and developmentally friendly. Introducing high-allergy food to babies can be challenging. The method of introducing these foods to the baby is peanut butter, egg, soy, and shellfish discussed at the baby’s well visit. Other great foods for little ones are; wild salmon, sardines, blueberries, chia, hummus, coconut oil and extra virgin olive oil doused on any food is a win-win. No puffs, crackers, fruit juice, processed junk food, sugary foods, Mac and cheese, bread, processed meats, pizza, and baked goods.
From one year up, almost any healthy table food that the family eats is fine for the baby; no cow’s milk (almond or coconut milk is fine). Our goal is to every day enjoy healthy, organic, clean, non-GMO REAL FOOD. This is in contrast to “Fake Food”, or processed food. This diet is “anti-inflammatory”. That’s our goal. Inflammation is the first “falling domino” that leads down the path of disease, cell death, and chronic illnesses.
Please read ingredient labels carefully and always be on the watch-out for sugar and avoid additives like high-fructose corn syrup, food colorings, and preservatives(glyphosate). By the age of three, eating habits are mostly set and defined in the baby’s behavior bank, so do a great job. All kids are different, and I would love to discuss any questions or problems you have with your little one.
-Dr. Kenneth Akey