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Using Family Foods

The foods that you offer to your baby can be many of the same healthy foods enjoyed by the family.  Healthy foods for the family are found in Canada’s Food Guide.

 

Advantages of Using Family Foods for your Baby

  • Allows you to control the texture as you do the mashing and chopping.
  • Allows for more variety.
  • Your baby may be more likely to eat new textures because the flavour stays the same when the texture changes.
  • Helps your baby get used to the foods your family eats.
  • Is cheaper than store-bought baby food.

Take small amounts of the healthy foods you are making for the family, and use these foods to make your baby’s meal.

  • Offer a variety of foods, so your baby can learn to enjoy many different tastes. Now is the time you may want to try some new foods for the rest of the family too, such as new vegetables and fruits.
  • Family foods will be best for your baby if you make them without adding salt (sodium). They should also be made without seasonings, sauces, or condiments that have sodium in them, such as dry soup mix, taco mix, garlic salt, soya sauce, and ketchup. Read the list of ingredients on the labels of these types of products, to see if they contain sodium or salt. For more information see the section on nutrition label reading.
  • It’s okay to give your baby family foods made with herbs and spices.  If using a herb or spice mixture, check the list of ingredients and choose one without salt (sodium).
  • Offer family foods with little or no added sugar. Foods that contain added sugar will show it on the ingredients list, sometimes in many forms, such as:
  •  sugar
  • corn syrup or other syrups
  • honey
  • molasses
  • invert sugar
  • sucrose
  • fructose
  • glucose
  • dextrose
  • maltose
  • maltodextrin
  • Some foods are not healthy choices for your baby.  These foods are found in the section “Foods to Avoid for Baby”.

Snacks for Baby

Your baby doesn’t need packaged snacks sold for babies younger than 12 months of age.  Instead, use family foods with soft textures, such as fruits, vegetables, grated cheese, plain unsweetened yogurt, toast strips and unsweetened whole grain cold cereal.  Cut foods into small pieces as needed.

Nutrition Label Reading

Use nutrition labels to compare similar foods.  This can help you make healthier choices for the whole family.  For information on food labels, contact your public health nurse or see How to use food labels to make healthier choices, from Canada’s Food Guide.