Baby weaning is a process that every nursing mother has to go through. But some new mums hardly know what meal combinations to begin with.
At 6 months, nursing mothers are advised to start introducing their infants to solid albeit simple foods, in order for them to complete their nutritional needs.
Luckily, there are many Nigerian recipes that are super-rich (nutrient wise), easy to make, and cheekily delicious.
Weaning a baby seldom gets better than this.
Take a look:
1. Pap
Highly economical, healthy, and popular; this is a proper Nigerian meal made from processed corn.
And in all forms, whether white, yellow, or brown, it is super nutritious, simple to make, and equally simple for weaning baby to consume.
According to many mums, it is the most suitable substitute for breast milk.
To make pap even more nutritious for your baby, you should add other nutritious foods such as soya beans, even beverages.
You can also be involved in the making of this meal from scratch by choosing the type and colour of corn you want to be used in its preparation.
2. Yam And Peas Puree
Yam is a known staple food in most Nigerian homes.
It is a very rich source of carbohydrates and can be cooked to any level of deliciousness with a pinch of salt to taste.
A pureed slice with nutritious ingredients like peas is the perfect recipe for a healthy baby weaning meal.
3. Amala And Okra Soup
Vegetables are rich in iron and antioxidants, Vitamins A, C, vitamin K and calcium, which makes Okra (blended for the infant) a great choice for weaning a baby.
Besides, it can also be easily fed upon by a toothless baby. Include ingredients like chopped up onions, crayfish, and mackerel for extra deliciousness and nutrient boost.
A great ‘swallow’ option to accompany this babies’ choice weaning soup is Amala, made to required softness.
This delicacy popular in the Western region of Nigeria is a rich source of carbohydrates and dietary fiber. You should strongly consider it.
4. Ripe Plantain And Carrot
This yum meal is another tasty source of Vitamin A, C, and fiber for your growing baby.
You might want to hold up on the fried dodo thought to a much later date though because as you know, oil and babies at the weaning stage aren’t such great buddies yet.
Have both the plantain and carrot(s) boiled and mashed or pureed and watch your baby nibble on in absolute delight.
5. Noodles
This is arguably one of the most popular meals used by Nigerian mothers to wean their babies.
That noodles really simple and quick to prepare and can be easily softened by hand is most likely the reason for this.
They are also relatively cheap, tasty and infants just seem to love this meal. In terms of nutritional value, noodles do not stand a chance compared to pap, oats, or soups.
However, its nutritional contents can be augmented by condiments such as ginger, garlic, onions, tomatoes, eggs, sardine, or any other kind of fish.
Note that the spices should be blended not sliced into the food- a six-month-old baby is not yet ready to chew.
When the food is ready, you can simply mash with the fingers and feed your baby.
6. Beans And Sweet Potato
Beans contain an abundant amount of antioxidants and fiber, which is functional in preventing your baby from having constipation.
After this, you can look into the dense protein value of this food.
Just ensure it is well-cooked to softness before giving it to your child.
Potatoes are a great source of carbohydrate to the body.
However, when feeding your baby potato, you must ensure that it is well cooked (super soft). Potato that is not soft enough will be a punishment for a baby that is yet to grow teeth.
Preferably, this sweet combo should be mashed together with ground crayfish, onions, and sardine for that extra deliciousness and nutritional delight.
7. Banana And Avocado Puree
Fruits contain lots of vitamins and minerals and are essential to both adults and children for healthy living.
For your infant that is still toothless however, fruits like banana and avocado are a great place to start a healthy journey.
Well-ripe banana and avocado can be mashed with a fork or a blender. You can also add a little bit of boiled water to make it less thick.
8. Tender Chicken puree
The chicken meal is very delicious, as it is nutritious.
It is one of the best ways to introduce your child to meat.
For the preparation of this dish you need: a piece of fresh chicken fillet or breast.
Have it thoroughly washed, get rid of the skin, bones, cartilages, and cut meat into small pieces.
With a little salt to taste, boil to desired softness. Then take out the pieces of chicken and grind. You can do this either with a blender and a meat grinder.
Have you read our article on Yoruba, Igbo, Hausa, Calabar, Urhobo Nigeria Baby Names, Their Meanings?
Feel free to add the meat stock until the desired consistency is obtained.
Ready-made chicken puree can be offered to the child as an independent dish or with mashed vegetables or potatoes.
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