Meat is a source of unique components that cannot be obtained by consuming other products, so parents should not even have questions about whether it is necessary to introduce meat puree into the baby’s diet as complementary foods. In addition to animal protein, this product contains healthy fats, calcium, phosphorus, and other beneficial microelements and vitamins.
Despite the fact that modern baby food manufacturers offer truly high-quality and nutritious products, a truly complete composition can only be prepared independently, at home. In this case, you need to follow important process rules that will reduce potential risks to zero and get only benefits from the product.
general information
Before we find out which meat purees are best for first feeding, let's first figure out why it is. Many people give their children a variety of foods, but pediatricians say that the best option is meat. It is rich in protein and microelements. In terms of its chemical composition, meat cannot be compared with any other product.
It contains:
- amino acids;
- iron;
- calcium;
- zinc;
- sodium;
- phosphorus;
- selenium;
- potassium;
- magnesium;
- fluorine;
- vitamins A, B, E, D and PP.
All these vitamins and microelements are vital. Because they not only influence the growth and development of children, but also participate in all chemical and biological processes occurring in the body. Therefore, it is very important to use meat puree for the first complementary feeding. You will learn further from this article which manufacturers' products are of the highest quality.
Composition and calorie content
There are absolutely no carbohydrates in beef. Meat contains quite a lot of protein, the amount of which reaches 19 g per 100 g of product. For fats, this figure is 15. This proportionality remains regardless of what category the meat belongs to and how it was prepared. But cooking affects calorie content. It is highest for boiled meat and amounts to 254 kcal, and the lowest is for baked meat, where it is only 167 kcal.
Fried meat should not be given to children, since there is a very high load on the digestive tract. In this form, the calorie content of the product reaches 400 kcal.
Beef contains a large amount of vitamins. The mineral composition is so broad that listing all the elements would take too much time. Suffice it to say that it contains a lot of iron, magnesium, potassium, and other chemical representatives.
When should you start introducing complementary foods?
Let's look at this aspect in more detail. This question worries many young parents, but there is no consensus among experts. Some argue that you can introduce additional foods as early as 5 months, while others recommend waiting until 8 months. This is due to the fact that domestic and foreign pediatricians adhere to different methods.
In our country, meat puree for the first complementary feeding is given when the baby reaches six months of age. It is during this period that the child’s body needs a large amount of protein and other nutrients. However, it is also important to consider the following factors:
- individual characteristics of the baby;
- physical indicators;
- type of feeding.
If babies are fed artificial formulas, then it is recommended to start giving meat purees earlier, since they are poorer in their chemical composition and nutritional value than mother’s milk.
When should I start introducing it?
Choosing the best meat puree for the first complementary feeding is not enough for the digestive system to accept it normally. It is necessary to correctly transfer the baby to a new diet. Now let's talk about this in more detail. Meat takes longer and is more difficult for the stomach to digest, so it should be introduced only after the baby is already eating vegetable purees normally.
In addition, the following rules must be observed:
- You should start complementary feeding only if the baby does not have any health problems.
- If you have recently introduced a new product to your baby’s diet, you need to wait at least 14 days.
- The size of the first portions should be 5-10 grams to see how the body responds. Then they are gradually increased.
- If you use canned meat puree for the first feeding, then carefully study the composition. It should not contain preservatives, dyes or GMOs.
- At first, use products that are homogeneous in composition, such as rabbit or beef.
- If you have an allergic reaction, you should stop feeding and consult your doctor.
It is worth noting that it is better to refrain from starting complementary feeding before and after the upcoming vaccination, as well as in the summer when there is extreme heat. In this case, the child will better accept the new product, and the likelihood of side effects will be much lower.
Beef selection and storage
The quality of meat is determined by the condition of the animal itself, its age, gender, and in what conditions it was kept. Beef varies by grade. It even matters from which part of the carcass the meat is cut.
Veal is a special item. This is meat from animals under 4 months of age. They have not yet received roughage, so the product has a delicate taste.
When choosing canned meat to feed children, adhere to certain rules:
• You should purchase canned goods that are homogenized.
• The product must not contain fragrances or flavoring additives.
• The first complementary food should consist of only one type of meat.
• The product must not contain substances that can cause allergic reactions in a child.
• Attention is paid to observing the shelf life of canned food.
• Once opened, canned food is stored in cold conditions for no more than a day. If the shelf life has expired, such products should not be consumed.
• Attention is paid to the integrity of the packaging. Cans with signs of bombing should not be used.
How to give meat purees correctly?
Complementary feeding should be done before breastfeeding or formula feeding. Warm the puree slightly so that it is warm but not hot. The baby is picked up so that he is in an upright position and fed with a teaspoon in small portions. Experts say that new foods should be introduced at lunchtime so that they have time to be digested before bedtime.
Required power
Blenders with a meat grinder function for home use, presented in modern stores, have different capacities. Depending on the functions that the device must perform, its power varies from 300 to 800 W.
Low-power models are designed for whipping cocktails and making smoothies. In order for the device to cope with chopping meat, its power must be at least 600 W (the higher the power of the device, the better). Only the high power of a meat blender will allow you to get a truly high-quality product.
Benefits of store-bought purees
For complementary feeding, you can use both industrial products and prepare food at home. Most people prefer the latter option, but it is not the best. This is because meat purees have many benefits. Among the main ones are the following:
- high quality;
- perfectly balanced composition;
- chemical and microbiological safety;
- They have a consistency that the baby can swallow well.
But here a completely logical question arises about which meat purees are best for the first complementary feeding. Their choice is simply huge, so many parents are lost. Read more about this below.
Is it possible to grind it?
CONTENT
Most modern models are capable of grinding meat in a blender. Now the bulky meat grinder can be put away in the closet, replacing it with a small, convenient device.
Until recently, even grinders from well-known companies could not cope with the preparation of minced meat; they lacked power and special attachments. I had to buy powerful equipment for grinding meat, which successfully coped with the task, but had only one function.
Finally this problem is a thing of the past. Modern devices are already capable of completely replacing archaic meat grinders and combines. There are two types of fillet grinding devices:
- Stationary - not a collapsible bowl with knives.
- Submersible - a hand-held device to which various attachments are attached.
Let's look at each type in more detail.
Rating of baby food manufacturers
Let's look at this in more detail. Today, many companies are engaged in the production of ready-made food for infants. The assortment includes both domestic and imported products. Experts identify several brands whose canned food is considered the best. Their rating of pureed meat for first feeding is as follows:
- “Tema” is domestically produced baby food, distinguished by a large assortment and affordable prices.
- “Agusha” - all purees contain exclusively natural and high-quality ingredients, thanks to which they have been recognized by many international communities.
- “FrutoNyanya” is another domestic ready-made product, available in many different flavors and at affordable prices.
- Heinz - meat purees from the world famous Italian brand that meet all modern quality standards.
- “Babushkino Lukoshko” is an inexpensive food that surprises with a wide variety of single- and multi-component mixtures.
If you want to choose the best meat puree for your baby for the first feeding, the company does not matter fundamentally. Each manufacturer takes their business very seriously and selects natural raw materials, and the finished product undergoes strict quality control, so it is completely safe for infants.
Homemade feeding recipes
If you don’t know which meat puree to choose for your first complementary feeding, or after a long search you still haven’t been able to make a choice, then you can prepare it yourself.
Here are some good recipes:
- Take 40 grams of beef, cut into cubes and cook for 2 hours. As soon as it is ready, pass through a meat grinder or grind with a blender. Add some vegetable broth to the mixture and bring to a boil over medium heat.
- Cook the turkey fillet for one and a half hours. When it's ready, puree in a blender and pass through a fine sieve. The meat of this bird is incredibly healthy, but very dry, so mother’s milk is added to it until the desired consistency is obtained.
- Rabbit is another good meat puree recipe for first feeding. The carcass is boiled for an hour, after which the fibers are separated from the bones and passed through a meat grinder twice. Next, add vegetable broth and bring to perfection in a blender.
This is just a small part of the recipes. To prepare baby puree at home, you can use a wide variety of meats. The main thing is that the baby does not have a food allergy from them.
Beef harm
Unfortunately, there is no way to avoid negative aspects. They boil down to the following points:
• the presence of purine bases promotes the deposition of salts, the accumulation site of which is the child’s urinary tract;
• when the meat is boiled, you can observe the transition of nitrogenous substances into the broth, but they obviously will not bring any benefit to the child;
• an allergy to beef occurs extremely rarely, but if a child has previously had intolerance to cow's milk, then he should not be given beef.
How much can you give per day?
It is advisable to familiarize yourself with this issue first. This is no less important aspect when introducing complementary foods into a baby’s diet than the choice of high-quality baby food. The serving size depends on the age category. Experts recommend adhering to the following scheme:
- 6 months - 15-20 g;
- 8 months - up to 50 g;
- 10 months - up to 70 g;
- from 12 to 24 months - 80 g.
In this case, you will have to experiment a lot with different types of purees. Some may not suit the baby’s taste, while others will cause an allergic reaction. So be prepared to try many options before you find the best one.
Beef for a child after one year
The child is growing. At the same time, his diet is expanding. If the baby has reached the age of one year, he should already receive meat 5 times a week. Both the method of preparing meat and the type of dish itself change. It is recommended to replace meat with fish 1-2 days a week.
The baby is getting teeth and should be taught to chew. By the age of 1.5 years, the baby should already have 12 teeth. They gradually move away from offering purees and prepare various other dishes for the child, for example, meatballs.
After a year, up to 2 years of age, the baby should receive from 50 to 80 g of meat daily. Food for children over one year of age should have the consistency of porridge. But, if by this age teeth have already erupted, then you can offer him whole pieces of meat.
A few words about different types of meat
Doctors advise giving young children a variety of foods so that they gradually expand their gastronomic knowledge as they grow older. In addition, all types of meat have different chemical composition and energy value, which should also be taken into account.
Let's look at the most common ones:
- Turkey and rabbit. Considered the best for making baby purees. Rich in vitamins and minerals, they are also low-fat and hypoallergenic.
- Chicken. This dietary meat is similar in properties to turkey, but is a little less digestible in the still fragile children’s intestines. However, it should not be given to babies who are allergic to egg whites.
- Beef. It is a good source of protein and many vital microelements. But to make puree at home, you can only use lean meat. Doctors recommend starting complementary foods with beef.
- Pork. The fattest compared to other types, but it is recommended for feeding infants with problems such as dermatitis and diathesis.
As for lamb and duck, they are prohibited for up to three years, since their meat is tougher and fattier, so the intestines simply cannot digest it.
Benefits of beef
The beneficial properties are due to the richness of the meat composition:
• The protein set acts as a building material for tissues. Their composition is marked by the content of elastin and collagen, which are associated with the elasticity and strength of the skin and the structure of connective tissue.
• The participation of vitamin B2 in metabolic processes is pronounced. Together with it, the skin improves its condition, and its combination with vitamin A ensures good vision.
• None of the types of metabolism can do without vitamin B5. With its help, amino acids are better absorbed, and the adrenal cortex enhances its function. The processes of hemoglobin synthesis are stimulated.
• Normal functioning of the nervous system requires the presence of vitamin B6. It helps improve the transmission of impulses along the nerve fiber. With its help, red blood cells are synthesized, which perform the role of the respiratory function of blood.
• Cyanocobalamin (vitamin B12) takes part in processes associated with hematopoiesis. If its deficiency is noted, anemia develops. In addition, it ensures active growth of muscle structures.
• The presence of potassium and sodium is necessary to maintain water and electrolyte balance.
• Vitamin PP is involved in the processes of energy formation. With its help, enzymes involved in digestion are synthesized.
• In the presence of copper, proteins and iron are better absorbed. With the help of this element, oxygen is delivered to cellular structures. In the presence of copper, connective tissue develops properly.
• The presence of ascorbic acid leads to strengthening of the vascular wall. Together with vitamin E, it leads to strengthening of the immune system.
• The presence of vitamin-mineral complexes in beef ensures good regeneration, which leads to accelerated wound healing.
What do parents say about ready-made products?
Every year, more and more young mothers are switching to store-bought meat purees for their first feeding. Reviews about them are mostly positive. Many are satisfied with the affordable price, as well as the natural and safe composition. Children not only eat them with pleasure, but also when ready-made products are introduced into the diet, food allergies are almost never observed. In addition, industrial purees are produced taking into account the recommendations of leading experts, so they are perfectly balanced and contain all the necessary vitamins and minerals. At home, even using high-quality ingredients, it will be impossible to achieve this. Therefore, you can safely buy baby food and not worry about anything.
