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patient handout (nutrition)
infant food introductions: vegetarian
nutrition

definition

vegetarian infant food introductions:

»
age: 4-5 months
introduce:
ripe bananas, avocado, papaya, mango, sweet potatoes, and/or yogurt; all foods should be thoroughly mashed or pureed
amounts:
single food per meal, one meal per day; breastfeeding as the main source of food

» age: 5-6.5 months
introduce: grains (rice, barley, millet, oatmeal), vegetables (peas, lima beans, green beans, squash), more fruits and fruit juices; all foods should be thoroughly mashed
amounts: one or two foods at a meal, two meals a day, juice for a snack once a day; breastfeeding still major source of food

» age: 6.5-8 months
introduce: egg yolks, stronger vegetables (cabbage, spinach, kale, collard greens)
amounts: two to three meals a day, or two meals and finger food snacks; breastfeeding at least twice a day

» age: 8-9 months
introduce: legumes, tofu, nut and seed butters, cheese, bulghar, any other vegetables, fruits or grains that have not been introduced previously. Meals can be in a less pureed form, but there should be no large or hard chunks. Finger food can be chunkier
amounts: three meals a day plus finger food snacks; breastfeeding twice a day, especially if no milk products are being given at meals

» note: opinions vary as to when citrus fruits should be introduced; usually somewhere between 7 months and one year

(Yntema, p. 160)
Reprinted with permission from Vegetarian Baby, © 1980 by McBooks Press, 908 Steam Mill Road, Ithaca, NY 14850.


footnotes