This is an automatically translated article.
The article was professionally consulted with Specialist Doctor I Bui Thi Ha - Pediatrician - Neonatologist - Department of Pediatrics - Neonatology - Vinmec Ha Long International General Hospital.When the child starts to enter the 5th - 8th month, parents can already apply a menu for the baby to eat solid foods in addition to breastfeeding. The menu for children 5 to 8 months old needs to be more diverse, requiring mothers to pay attention to care and prepare carefully for each child's meal.
1. Nutritional needs for children from 5-8 months old
This is the period when a child's nutritional needs begin to increase compared to the first months of life. Besides the main source of nutrition is breast milk, parents need to pay attention to provide more necessary nutrients through the menu for children 5-8 months to support the comprehensive development of both physical and intellectual.
Some essential nutrients that are needed in the menu for children to eat solids for 5-8 months to help them eat well and gain weight are:
Protein: This is one of the important nutrients in developing the brain and strengthening the system. Children's immunity is the basic substance that helps to maintain the life of all cells in the body. Children with protein deficiency are very susceptible to malnutrition. However, consuming too much protein can also have negative effects on a child's overall health. Iron: Plays an essential role in making blood cells, often found in red meat and dark green leafy vegetables, legumes, and whole grains. Iron deficiency will lead to fatigue, children easily get sick, slow growth. Zinc: An essential micronutrient in the menu for a 5-month-old child, it plays a particularly important role in the child's development during the first period of life. When zinc is deficient, children are more susceptible to bacterial infections. Foods high in zinc include beef, lamb, turkey, shrimp, fruits like pumpkin, sesame seeds, lentils, asparagus, and yogurt. Omega-3: This is a type of fatty acid that plays an important role in the development of the baby's brain, eyes, heart and skin. To provide omega-3 for children, parents should add to the menu for 8-month-old children foods such as catfish, sea fish, seaweed or dried nuts such as chia seeds, walnuts, etc. ... by pureeing and then adding to flour, porridge for easy absorption by children. Vitamins: Vitamins C, A, D... are all essential vitamins for the development of children. Vitamins are involved in the body's metabolism, including the synthesis, use and metabolism of nutrients at the cellular and body levels. The full addition of essential vitamins in the menu for children from 5 to 8 months will ensure stable and balanced development in the first years of life.
2. Suggested weaning menu for 5-8 months baby
To build a nutritious menu for a 5-8 month baby, mothers can refer to some of the following suggested dishes:2.1. Pork Chowder Porridge Prepare ingredients: White porridge, 1 tablespoon finely chopped kohlrabi, 1 tablespoon minced pork, 1 tablespoon cooking oil.
Method: Boil pork with water until it boils, then add the broccoli and cook, then turn off the heat. Add white porridge and cooking oil, mix it up and the baby can eat it.
Thực đơn cho trẻ 8 tháng với món cháo thịt heo cải ngọt
Method: Boil vegetables with water, then add shrimp and cook until cooked, then turn off the heat. Continue to add white porridge and cooking oil, mix well and feed to the child.
2.3. Tofu Tofu Porridge Prepare Ingredients: White Porridge; 1 tablespoon seeded tomatoes, finely chopped; 1 tablespoon minced young tofu; 1 tablespoon cooking oil.
How to do: Cook tomatoes, tofu with water, then turn off the stove, then add white porridge with 1 tablespoon of cooking oil and mix it up so that your child can eat it right away.
2.4. Straw mushroom pork porridge Prepare ingredients: White porridge, 1 tablespoon minced straw mushrooms, 1 tablespoon minced pork, 1 tablespoon cooking oil
Method: Cook pork with water, when the meat is cooked, add mushrooms Bring to a boil and then turn off the heat. After that, add white porridge to cook together, add a spoon of cooking oil, and the child can use it immediately.
2.3. Pumpkin Pork Porridge Prepare ingredients: White porridge, peeled squash, seeds removed, minced, minced pork, 1 tablespoon cooking oil
Method: Heat the meat with water until boiling, then add the squash Cook together until the squash is soft, then add porridge and cooking oil to mix it up for children to eat.
In summary, in addition to nutrition from breast milk, 5-8 months old children also need to be supplemented with important nutrients from many other food sources to develop both physically and intellectually. Therefore, when building a menu for a child of 5-8 months, parents need to pay attention to choosing dishes to ensure adequate and balanced supply of nutritional groups necessary for the comprehensive development of the child. , creating a feeling of excitement for children with meals.
The period of baby eating solid foods is an extremely important period to help children develop comprehensively. Children who do not eat properly are at risk of micro-mineral deficiencies, causing anorexia, growth retardation, malabsorption, etc. If they notice the above signs, parents should supplement their children with supportive products. The supplement contains lysine, essential micro-minerals and vitamins such as zinc, chromium, selenium, and B vitamins to help fully meet the nutritional needs of children. At the same time, these essential vitamins also support digestion, enhance nutrient absorption, help improve anorexia, and help children eat well.
Parents can learn more:
Signs of zinc deficiency in children
Micronutrient deficiency and failure to gain weight in children
Please regularly visit Vinmec.com website and update useful information to take care of your child. Take care of the baby and the whole family.
