Originally published November 30 2008
Feeding Your Baby a Rainbow of Nutrition
by Sheryl Walters
(NaturalNews) Have you noticed that your baby gets completely absorbed when looking at bright colors? Vibrant colors stimulate learning and development. Research shows that making your baby's plate of food as colorful as the mobile hung above his/her bed is the best way to ensure your child is getting all the nutrients needed to begin eating solid food.
Why eat a rainbow?
Here's why the rainbow approach works best for baby's first foods:
�Starting your baby out on brightly colored fruits and vegetables that the child can connect with visually can make this process exciting and stimulating for both of you.
�Nutritional experts agree that fruits or vegetables are the perfect foods for making this transition, since they contain vitamins, minerals, and other nourishment essential for your baby's wellbeing.
�Brightly colored fruits and vegetables are also packed with antioxidants, which will help your baby defend him/herself against pollution and other environmental toxins. Intensely colored plants have more of these protective antioxidants than paler ones do.
�Each color provides different nutrients and antioxidants, which work synergistically together.
So the best way to ensure that your whole family, including your baby is getting all of nutrition they need is to feed them a range of colorful fruits and vegetables.
Good first foods
As less milk is given, food becomes a more essential part of their nourishment. When babies first begin to eat, they consume very little, so slowly build up the amount of different colors that you offer them.
�It doesn't matter whether you start your child out on fruit or vegetables. Here are some bright ideas:
�Peaches, bananas, pears, green beans, carrots and squash are good beginning foods.
�If they tried a dazzling green zucchini last week, try giving them a radiant orange carrot this week so that your child has access to a growing range of nourishment.
�Mash some avocado into a sweet potato, to mix up two varieties of colorful food
�Blend up some blueberries, bananas and strawberries for vibrant hues.
�Bright green broccoli makes excellent finger food as it has a built in handle, and it is packed with nutrition.
�Once your baby has developed their pincer grip, sweetcorn kernels and peas make great nibbles
Good Habits
Introducing these healthy plants that are filled with vitality at an early age is also getting your child into good habits and making them aware of how delicious these foods are. Even if they decide later that they don't like all fruit and vegetables (as some children do,) at least you know that those first few years their bodies were enjoying optimum nutrition.
Furthermore, feeding your baby a range of nature's lovely colors can make the transition to solids fun and stimulating. After all, babies are attracted to bright colors and will delight in a plate full of nutritious, vibrantly colored food.
About the author
Sheryl is a kinesiologist, nutritionist and holistic practitioner.
Her website www.younglivingguide.com provides the latest research on preventing disease, looking naturally gorgeous, and feeling emotionally and physically fabulous. You can also find some of the most powerful super foods on the planet including raw chocolate, purple corn, and many others.
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