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Parenting can be challenging and thinking of what to feed a 6-month old baby can be overwhelming especially if you are a new mom. The current global Infant and Young Child Feeding (IYCF) recommendation is that infants be exclusively breastfed for the first six months of life and thereafter receive safe and nutritionally adequate complementary foods while breastfeeding continues up to two years of age or beyond. There is abundance of evidence that optimal IYCF has both short-term and long-term benefits, particularly protecting children from morbidity and mortality and also ensures a child is protected from both under- and over-nutrition and their consequences later in life.

After exclusively breastfeeding for six months, the child is expected to eat complementary foods that contain adequate nutrients in addition to breast milk. Knowing what foods to combine can be a herculean task for caregivers. A nutrient filled diet should contain the five star classes of food; Carbohydrates, protein, Vitamin A rich fruits and foods, Legumes and Orange flesh fruits and vegetables. Every child deserves to be loved, cared for and definitely, well prepared meals and meal times should not be a challenge.

Here’s five best recipes for a 6 month plus baby.

Carrots, Fish and Sweet Potatoes Puree: 

1. Put the carrots and potatoes in a pot, add water, leave to cook for about 15 to 20 minutes or until very tender.
2. When cooked, blend vegetables in a blender, using some of the liquid in the pot.
3. Add crayfish and blend.
4. In a clean pot, pour in the mixture and cook for about 3 minutes, pour in the coconut oil and stir.
5. Spoon a little in to your baby’s bowl and serve lukewarm. Freeze the remaining.

Vegetables and chicken puree

1. Wash the carrots, then chop the carrots, wash the tomatoes, remove the peels and seeds from the tomatoes and cucumbers then chop them into small pieces.
2. Wash the chicken breast and cut into small pieces. Put the chopped carrots, tomatoes and chicken breast in a pot, pour water up to the level of the contents of the pot and start cooking.
3. Leave to boil for 15 to 20 minutes on medium heat. Add the cucumber and olive oil and stir.
4. Cover the pot and leave to boil for 5 more minutes then turn off the heat and leave to cool down.
5. When the cooked vegetables have cooled down, blend into a fine puree using a clean liquid blender (you may need to do this in batches).
6. Return the puree to a rinsed out pan and warm over a low heat for 5 minutes. Serve warm.

Plain sweet potatoes puree

1. Put the sweet potatoes in a pot, add water, leave to cook for about 15 minutes or until very tender.
2. When cooked, peel skin and mash with a pestle or spoon or blend with milk.
3. Serve warm.

Plantain with Vegetables and fish puree

1. Wash your hands. Put the carrots, onions and fish in a clean pot. Pour water up to the level of the contents of the pot and start cooking over a medium heat, stirring, for 3 minutes until slightly softened.
2. Add plantain and allow to boil for 10 to 15 minutes on medium heat. Add the cucumber and olive oil.
3. Cover the pot and leave to boil for 5 more minutes then turn off the heat and leave to cool.
4. When the cooked vegetables have cooled down, blend into a fine puree using a clean liquid blender.

Potatoes and salmon puree

1. Wash your hands
2. Heat the oil in a sauce. Add onion, sweet potato and carrot. Fry for about 4 minutes.
3. Add the stock, cover and simmer for 10minutes
4. Add salmon, spinach and chili. Simmer for 5 minutes. Blend to a chunky and cool consistency.

Purees should be fed to the baby with a spoon. The Vegetable Puree can last for up to 48 hours if well refrigerated. Warm and then allow to cool to a safe temperature before feeding baby. Olive Oil is the best oil for recipes but it can be replaced with any healthy vegetable oil of your choice.