SAEDNEWS: Soup: A Nutritious and Simple Dish That Supports Infant Nutrition and Weight Gain
According to the Family Service of Saed News and quoting Nini Site, one of the first complementary foods you can introduce to your baby is soup. Soup is a simple and nutritious meal that can effectively meet your baby’s dietary needs and support healthy weight gain. Nutrition experts recommend starting with a slightly thicker soup than breast milk and gradually increasing its consistency over time. Begin with two to three teaspoons per day and slowly increase the amount. From six months onward, you can prepare soup as a complementary food and familiarize your baby with it.
One of the most suitable soups for a 6-month-old baby is vegetable soup.
Ingredients:
A small piece of chicken or meat
1 teaspoon rice
1/3 of a medium carrot, diced
1 small potato, diced
Preparation:
Boil the chicken or meat in water until fully cooked.
Add the carrot, potato, and rice to the pot and cook until all ingredients are soft.
After cooling slightly, mash everything together with a hand blender and serve in the baby’s bowl. If the soup has cooled too much, you can warm it gently on the stove.
Lentil soup is an ideal complementary food for babies from seven months onward, as their digestive systems can handle lentils at this stage. This is a perfect time to introduce this healthy legume in soup form.
Ingredients:
1 tablespoon lentils
1 tablespoon rice
1 tablespoon chicken
1/2 teaspoon vegetable oil
1 small onion
1/8 teaspoon salt
Preparation:
Soak the lentils overnight to remove any potential gas.
In a small pot, cook the chicken with some water and onion until fully cooked.
Add the lentils and rice, and cook until soft.
Stir in the oil and salt. Remove the onion, then blend all ingredients with a hand blender until smooth and creamy.
You can start serving barley soup to babies from eight months onward. It is nutritious, easy to prepare, and gentle on your baby’s digestive system.
Ingredients:
1/4 cup peeled barley or pearl barley
Small piece of lamb or chicken (about half a matchbox size)
1 teaspoon diced carrot
1 small chopped onion
1 tablespoon wheat flour
1 cup pasteurized milk
1 teaspoon vegetable oil
1 teaspoon parsley (optional after 9 months)
1/8 teaspoon salt
Preparation:
Soak the barley in water for two hours, then drain.
In a small pot, bring water to a boil, then add the meat, barley, and onion.
Once the meat is tender, add the diced carrot.
Add salt and cook until the soup thickens.
In a separate pan, mix the flour with milk and heat until it boils. Add vegetable oil and let it simmer briefly.
Combine this white sauce with the soup and blend until completely smooth.
After nine months, parsley can be added for extra flavor.
To add variety, introduce a new vegetable each time, such as zucchini, pumpkin, celery, or green beans—but only after your baby turns one, when all vegetables are safe to consume.
Avoid spinach in baby soup before one year of age.
It’s best to cook firmer vegetables like zucchini, celery, or green beans first, then add them to the soup.
