How much should my 9 month old be eating?

Question

Hi, Just wondered how much (quantity wise) my 9 month old son should be eating. He's just above the avarage weight and yes I know they're all different but I just wondered!! Thanks
for reading,
S x

Answer 1

Superfoods for Babies: 9-12 Months
Your baby will probably be much more proficient at chewing, and chopped or mashed food can replace purees. Many babies refuse to be spoon-fed, so finger foods become an important part of the diet.
(By Annabel Karmel)

• Vegetables and Fruits
• Cheese and Carbs; Recipe

VEGETABLES AND FRUITS
In her book Superfoods for Babies and Children (Atria Books), bestselling author Annabel Karmel details which are the best foods for your 9- to 12-month-old baby, and why.

• What Are Superfoods? >>>>>>below the recipe

Spinach
is rich in chlorophyll, the green pigment found in plants that helps prevent and treat anemia. Spinach is a good source of beta-carotene and vitamin C, so do not overcook it or you will destroy a lot of its content. But despite popular opinion -- and Popeye -- it is not a particularly good source of iron.

Broccoli
is king of the healthy vegetable superstars. Its phytochemicals have important properties, especially against cancer. It provides an excellent source of vitamin C and beta-carotene. The darker the florets, the higher the amount of antioxidants. Broccoli should be steamed, as boiling almost halves its vitamin C content. Broccoli eaten three times a week is believed to lower the risk of cancer. This is because broccoli contains glucosinolate, which triggers the production of cancer-fighting enzymes.

Carrots
are more nutritious when cooked, unlike many other vegetables. Cooking breaks open the plant cells so antioxidants and other plant chemicals can be absorbed much better. Carrots contain large amounts of carotene, an antioxidant that gives carrots their orange color.

Tomatoes
contain lycopene, a powerful pigment important in the prevention of cancer. Men who have a high level of lycopene in their fat stores are half as likely to have a heart attack. Tomatoes are rich in lycopene and potassium, which is important for healthy blood and helps counteract the negative effects of salt. One of the factors of the good health of the Mediterranean people may be that their diet is rich in fruit and vegetables, including tomatoes.

Raspberries
are rich in vitamin C, which is needed for growth, healthy skin, bones, and teeth, and also helps the body to absorb iron from food. Raspberries are higher in folic acid and zinc than most fruits.

Avocados
are sometimes thought of as a vegetable but they are actually a fruit and contain more nutrients than any other fruit. Avocados have the highest protein content of any fruit and are rich in monounsaturated fat, the "good" type of fat, which helps prevent heart disease. The high calorie content of avocados makes them a good food for growing children.

Butternut squash
is rich in beta-carotene, the plant form of vitamin A, which helps protect against cancer and boosts your child's immune system.

CHEESE AND CARBS; Recipe
Swiss cheese
has a slightly sweet taste that appeals to babies. Cheese is a good source of concentrated calories, protein, and calcium.

Eggs
are packed with goodness. Remember, they contain all the nutrients needed to support a chick. Eggs provide an excellent source of protein, zinc, and vitamins A, D, E, and B12. Don't worry about their high cholesterol -- in the long run, it has very little effect compared to things like obesity and smoking.

Couscous
is made from semolina wheat and is popular in Middle Eastern cuisine. You can find it in most supermarkets next to the rice section. It's fairly high in minerals and vitamins, and has a mild taste and wonderful soft texture. It is also very quick and easy to prepare.

Pasta
is a great energy food, packed full of carbohydrates, which are broken down to supply all the cells in our bodies with fuel. Sixty percent of the adult diet should be carbohydrates, and introducing starchy-type foods early on is a good idea.


Recipe:
Tiny Pasta with Swiss Cheese, Spinach, and Corn
Spinach has quite a strong taste on its own but blends well with a cheese sauce, and the corn adds a slightly sweet taste that babies like. You can choose any tiny pasta shape, but I particularly like orzo, which is a pasta that looks like grains of rice.

Ingredients:
3 tablespoons orzo or other small pasta shape
1 tablespoon unsalted butter
1 tablespoon all-purpose flour
1/2 cup your baby's usual milk
1/2 cup grated Swiss cheese

Directions:
Cook the pasta according to the instructions on the package. Melt the butter, stir in the flour, and cook for 30 seconds. Gradually whisk in the milk to make a smooth white sauce. Bring to a boil and simmer for 1 to 2 minutes. Remove from the heat and stir in the cheese until melted. If using fresh spinach, carefully wash it and put in a saucepan, sprinkle with a little water, and cook until tender (about 3 minutes). Squeeze out all the water. Combine the spinach (fresh or frozen) with the cheese sauce and puree in a food mill. Stir the cooked pasta and corn into the spinach and cheese sauce.

What Are Superfoods?
Superfoods are foods that have roles other than supplying the basic components of our diet -- carbohydrates, protein, and fat. These roles vary from boosting energy and brain power to prevention of illness and even repair of damage. Research shows that one-third of cancer cases are related to what we eat, and the evidence is that fiber and fresh fruit and vegetables are in surprisingly short supply in the Western diet. Researchers estimate that diets filled with fruits and vegetables instead of fats, along with exercise, could reduce cancer incidence by 30 to 40 percent.

The Makeup of Superfoods
So what exactly is it that makes Superfoods so great? The answer is the chemical structures we know as vitamins, minerals, and trace elements, also known collectively as phytonutrients, one of nature's many miracles. Many fruits and vegetables are packed full of these powerful natural chemicals, which have very important functions in healing and preventing illness and diseases, such as cancer and heart disease.

The incidence of cancer is increasing tremendously in Western society, as well as the incidence of obesity among children. Fruit and vegetable consumption among schoolchildren is woefully low. The latest research shows that one in five young people aged 4 to 18 eats no fruit or vegetables, and less than half have the recommended five portions a day. Eating at least five portions of fruit and vegetables per day is vital to good health, and we should be incorporating fruit and vegetables into our children's diet from a very young age so these foods become a completely normal part of life.

Another reason for the health-giving benefits of fruit and vegetables is the presence of antioxidants. These are a group of substances that include:


Vitamins C and E

Beta-carotene (the orange color found in plants), which the body converts into vitamin A

The minerals iron, selenium, zinc, and copper


Antioxidants play a key role in protecting our bodies from the damage that can cause serious illness, particularly heart disease and cancer. Antioxidants effectively disarm certain harmful molecules known as free radicals, which can cause damage and disease. Many fruits and vegetables are rich in antioxidants, and the key to making sure you are getting a good supply of antioxidants is to choose a good variety of brightly colored fruits and vegetables to eat each day. The time to start stocking up with these protective nutrients is in childhood -- it can never be too early.

Eating by the Rainbow
It is easy to make sure children get all the Superfoods they need, simply by using the lists of fruit and vegetables below to plan colorful meals.

RED
baked beans
cherries
grapes
guava
papaya
plums
raspberries
red bell pepper
red/pink grapefruit
strawberries
tomatoes
watermelon

ORANGE/YELLOW
apricots
cantaloupes
carrots
lemons
mangoes
oranges
passion fruit
peaches
pumpkins
rutabagas
squash
sweet potatoes

GREEN
avocados
broccoli
brussels sprouts
cabbage
fava beans
kale
lettuce
peas
spinach
watercress

DARK BLUE/PURPLE
beets
blackberries
black currants
blueberries
eggplant
grapes
plums
prunes

WHITE
apples
cauliflower
mushrooms
onions
potatoes

or you may surf this for recipe
http://www.healthykids.com/hk/recipe/

references=
http://www.americanbaby.com

http://www.babycenter.com/baby/babyfeeding/index#startsolidsBkmk

http://www.babytips.co.uk/searchtips/baby_feeding_3.htm

Answer 2

This is difficult a baby can eat what seems like a ton one day then maybe not at all the next, as long as you offer food often every couple hours Little tummies get empty fast as well as full.
My baby at nine months ate usually 1 or 2 scrambled eggs, and about 1/2 a cup of whatever at lunch and dinner along with snacks.. Loved and still loves the little diced graduate fruit and beans they are soft and easy to pick up for self feeding

Answer 3

Your 9 month old baby should have breakfast e.g. baby porridge, toast (make sure you make the pieces small so he doesn't choke), lunch and a tea he can eat food that you eat but make sure it has no salt in it and also make sure that you blend it. Oh and if he is still hungry give him a rusk or some milk or one of those baby biscuit you can get (the cow and gate ones), but after you give him his lunch and tea give him some pudding, e.g. baby yogurt's or fruit mainly bananas as they are soft and chewy for him. I know this because i am a nursery nurse and feed babies of your sons age everyday and younger. Hope i have helped you.

Answer 4

As long as you are feeding him the right kinds of foods - ie plenty of vegetables and protein - then I really wouldn't worry, especially if he's in that central 25%-to-75% range.

Kids work these things out for themselves, and it's only when their bodies are confronted with a diet they didn't evolve to cope with - processed sugars and fat-soaked starches - that they go wrong. And he'll soon run off any extra pounds once he starts toddling!

Answer 5

The way that I see it just as long as the baby is healthy than the rest really doesnt matter, becuase when they start walking all that baby fat will start to disappear. Just do what satisfies you and your baby and dont worry about it if anyone says anything. Its your baby and its your decision that matters the most.

Answer 6

I'm sure he'll be fine, if you're still concerned I'd go with W's answer, he seems to be in the know about feeding! His answer is very informative and is also very true! He deserves Best Answer for his efforts!

Answer 7

This is maybe a question for your district nurse or midwife or doctor. I think as long as baby is still being weighed and is healthy then you have noo worries.