Milk: By the sixth month of life, the frequency of breast feeding is reduced to 3 or 4 times per day and animal milk is substituted.
Fresh fruit juice: Oranges, tomatoes, sweet lime, grapes serve to supplement the protective nutrients which are not present in sufficient amounts in breast milk as well as in animal milk.
Soup from green leafy vegetables: In case fresh fruits are not available, green leafy vegetables may be used as an alternative. Strained soup can be given in the beginning and later unstrained soup can be given.
Solid supplements
Mashed food is given around 7th or 8th month of life.
Cereal and starchy gruels: To meet the increasing demands of calories and protein, well cooked mashed cereals mixed with milk and sugar can be given.
Vegetables: Cooked, mashed vegetables like potato, green leafy vegetables and carrots can be introduced to get vitamins and minerals and colours in the diet.
Fruits: All fruits, with the exception of banana which is mashed, must be stewed and served for one year old baby.
Non-vegetarian: A small amount of hard boiled yolk of egg is given to start with and if the infant tolerates, the amount may be gradually increased to a complete yolk of an egg. Minced and cooked meat or boiled fish may be fed 3 to 4 times a week.
Pulses: soft cooked pulses along with cereals in the form of kichidi/ pongal/porridge.
Solid supplements unmashed When the baby starts cutting his teeth it is time to start giving chopped foods. Cooked cereals, pulses and vegetables can be given to the child. Solids like idli; idiappam, bread, chapathi, rice, dhal can be given after the child gets used to semi -solids. Mixes prepared at home like cereal + pulses + nuts + jaggery with or without milk powder etc.
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