Baby’s First Foods based on Traditional Chinese Medicine

Guest Blog Written By: Tara from Edible Nourshment

When I had my son, I entered a steep learning curve on how to be a parent. Once I graduated from the newborn days, I thought the worst of it was behind me. Oh boy was I wrong. I was now entering the complex world of food and what was the best way to introduce it to my boy. The information was vast and contradicting and I was very confused and frustrated.

Being an acupuncturist, I turned to Traditional Chinese Medicine to guide me on my path, so I began to look at TCM food cures to guide me on baby’s first foods.

The concept is simple: offer foods that protect the integrity of the digestive tract and are easy to digest and assimilate.

Apple, Fig, and Red Cabbage. Blend into an apple sauce.
Protects the digestive tract, treats/prevents constipation, and is delicious.

From a TCM perspective, that would include foods that nourish and protect the Spleen and Stomach. Think sweet and starchy foods that are yellow or orange in colour.

SPLEEN NOURISHING FOODS – first baby foods (6-8 months)

sweet potatoes & yams
yellow beets
peas
all winter squash (pumpkin, acorn, kobocha, butternut, etc)
zucchini (especially yellow zucchini)
pattypan squash
cabbage
parsnip & turnip
carrots
cooked apples
cooked cherries

Make sure all of the above foods are baked or steamed and then pureed for baby. Only introduce one food at a time for at least 3 days before introducing the next food. Look for signs of intolerance such as: redness around mouth, anus or diaper area, mood changes, excessive gas, diarrhea, rash or hives, increased spitting up or vomiting, and increased mucous or nasal discharge.

Apple sauce with dried cranberries (soaked first)
and green cabbage. Has more vitamin C in it than oranges.
Also prevents blood sugar spikes.

SPLEEN NOURISHING FOODS – (7-9 months)

broccoli, cauliflower, kale, bok choy
avocado
wild salmon
organic chicken
homemade chicken stock – simmer whole bird for a few hours – when cooled the stock should be jelly like (bone broth) – very nourishing, adds more sustenance for baby, and great flavour.
dried figs (soaked in water and cooked with other fruits)
egg yolk – organic
virgin coconut oil – organic
butter – organic
avocado oil – organic
yellow split peas (cook as a dal)

Again, make sure all foods are baked or steamed. Baby may want to start eating more solid foods, so you can cut foods into soft chunks and allow them to enjoy.

Adding fats to their meals (butter, coconut/avocado oil) will keep them satisfied and also nourish their brain and keep their digestive track protected (oils are warm in nature).

SPLEEN NOURISHING FOODS – (9-12 months)

oats – certified gluten free (slow cook with twice the amount of water)
rice – organic (soak overnight in water, dump water and cook as mentioned above)
quinoa – organic (soak overnight in water, dump water and cook as mentioned above)
red lentils
berries (cooked)
potatoes
pumpkin, chia, flax, sunflower seeds (ground into a powder and mixed into foods)
nutritional yeast

Be sure to soak the above grains overnight in water to break them down and increase their digestibility. Slow cook them in at least twice the amount of water to create a porridge or congee. You can add in some spleen nourishing vegetables and warming spices (fennel, black pepper, ginger, cinnamon).

Kale Pesto with Quinoa topped with nutritional yeast.
My 11 old son gobbled this up with gusto.
Be sure to soak quinoa overnight first to increase digestibility.

FOODS TO AVOID FOR THE FIRST 12-24 months

gluten (includes wheat, rye, barley, spelt, kamut, wait until 2 yrs old)
corn (even though it’s a spleen nourishing food – it’s highly allergenic for most people. wait until 2 yrs old)
tofu (very cold in nature, wait until 2 yrs old. However, tempeh can be consumed by 18 months)
bananas (cold in nature, wait until 12 months OR cook the banana and serve with other cooked fruits and cinnamon after 8-9 months)
tomatoes (cold in nature, wait until 12 months)
spinach (cold in nature, wait until 12 months)
oranges (cold in nature and causes phlegm, wait until 12-18 months)
cow dairy (choose organic goat milk instead – it is closer to breast milk in properties and easier on digestion – you can introduce a small amount of goat milk between 9-12 months)
ice cold drinks (let smoothies and water be room temperature before consuming)
peanuts (common allergen, wait until 2 yrs old)
shellfish (common allergen, wait until 2 yrs old)