I'm a first time mom, and I would like to share with you on how I introduced fruits to my ZD bear.
My Zd bear is a picky eater, he loves to eat if he likes the foods. Like you, it's tough for me to find what is the right food to give my Zd. But, as long as I can I want him to eat a healthy food just for him to maintain his daily diets.
My Zd bear started eating cereal when he was 4 months old. I tried the grilled rice with monggo and its really good for him. We know that four to six months old are the best time to start or introduce the solid foods for our child, it's because their digestive system can ready and handle solids. But every child is unique and different I can't tell that your child also can start to solid foods as early as four months old like my ZD.
Zd's first fruit was the Canistel fruit. We have this fruit in our province when Zd was 4 months old. I still remember when I was still pregnant, every morning I walk along the farm and I always stare this Canistel fruit tree standing beside the road bearing the color yellow fruit that I really wanted to collect them all. If I were not a pregnant I'm sure I climbed it already and harvest all the fruits of
Canistel hahah!
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| Canistel Fruit (this photo was taken last 2014) |
What is Canistel fruit?
According to the wikipedia, the canistel grows up to 10 meters (33 ft) high, and produces orange-yellow fruit, also called yellow sapote, up to 7 centimeters (2.8 in) long, which are edible raw. Canistel flesh is sweet, with a texture often compared to that of a hard-boiled egg yolk, hence its colloquial name "eggfruit"
Nutritional Value:
Canistels are rich in niacin and carotene and have a fair amount of ascorbic acid. 100 g. of edible fruit contains 138 calories, 2 g protein, .13 g. fat, .10 g fiber and 36.69g carbohydrates. It also yields 26.5 mg calcium, 37.3 mg phosphorus, 32 mg carotene, 3.7 mg niacin and 58.1 mg vitamin C.
Here are some tips on how to introduce fruits to your child.
1. Let him/her taste
When my Zd is four months old, I let him taste all kinds of the fruits that we have in the house. The first fruit he tasted was the Canistel fruit. And I don't know if you're familiar on that fruit and he likes it. Second was mango and ponkan. I noticed that my Zd likes the fruits, specially those juicy fruits like mango, orange, water melon, pineapple and so forth through the reaction of his face and it's very exciting.
2. Give him at least one fruit a day
Everyday I gave at-least one fruit a day for my ZD, why one? My reason is because sometimes my Zd bear has an allergic of some watery fruits so I tried the other one. Second, ayaw kong halo-halo ang kinakain nya na fruits a day and will cause him a stomach ache.
And as long as I can it is better to give my child at least 1 piece of fruit instead of giving him a candy, a biscuit, Ice cream. It's more healthy than that.
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| ZD bear loves the Grapes |
3. Bring him on the fruit-stand
Every time I buy fruits I want to buy with my Zd and let him choose what he want and let him pick. And I discover that my Zd enjoys the fruits and he is excited. Bringing your child to the fruit stand since we don't have a fruit tree here in the city helps the child to explore and
get to know about more fruits.
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| The Papaya |
4. Learning while enjoying the fruits
While my Zd's enjoying the fruits he is learning too. I involved him in preparation and during the presentation I teach him the name of the fruits, the colors, the shapes and the taste of the fruits.
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| The Apple |
5. Don't force your kid to eat that so
Some kids are fussy with fruits and some are not. Moms may worry if their child will not to eat fruits or veggies from time to time. But don't worry its not harmful. In the right time your kid will eat that fruit also. Don't force them to eat because it will cause them to hate the fruits but try to encourage them as well.
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| Banana while talking to his papa |
Before giving your child the fruits make sure it's clean, wash all the fruits. Guide your kid to reduce the risk of choking.
Fruits offer our child a variety of vitamins such as folic acids and Vitamins C. The benefits of eating fruits also it helps our kid to reduce the risk of cancers and heart disease.
Introducing fruits to your kids is like introducing vegetables also. Sometimes its tough but the best way that we can is to enjoy the fruits as a daily part of our whole family's diet.
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| Happy Kiddo! |
So what are your child's favorite fruits?
I am excited to share it below momies :)
Thank you and have a nice day!
