Dear parents, is your little one starting to eat complementary feeding? If so, you can begin introducing fish-based menus for your child’s complementary feeding. As one of the best foods for babies, fish offers excellent health benefits. Its savory and delicious taste, combined with its high nutritional value, makes fish a perfect choice for complementary feeding menus.

Here are some important tips to help you prepare nutritious and safe fish-based complementary feeding for your little one. Let’s take a look:

1. Introduce it at the right age

Fish-based complementary feeding can be served in the form of puree or porridge when the baby is around 6 months old. However, since fish is known to be a potential allergen, it’s advisable to start with a small amount and observe your child’s reaction. It is recommended to introduce complementary feeding with other foods such as cereals, vegetables, and non-allergenic fruits.

2. Choose fresh fish and avoid mercury

When purchasing fish for your little one’s meals, make sure to select fresh fish that is free from mercury. As most fish contain some methylmercury, a form of mercury that can be toxic to the brain when consumed in large amounts, it’s important to be cautious. According to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA), King Mackerel and Tilefish are types of fish that should be avoided. On the other hand, Salmon and Tilapia are considered safe choices for babies, children, and pregnant women.

3. Prepare it hygienically

Before cooking fish for your baby’s complementary feeding, ensure that the fish has been properly cleaned. Since only the meat is used for complementary feeding, you can opt for easily prepared and served fish fillets, such as Naturally Better Tilapia Fillets from Regal Springs.

4. Serve fish in the form of puree or fish porridge

To introduce fish-based complementary feeding to your little one, it’s recommended to prepare it in the form of puree. Here’s a simple fish puree recipe you can try for your child:

Ingredients:

• 100g of Naturally Better Tilapia Fillets from Regal Springs, steamed until tender
• ¼ cup of breast milk, formula milk, or water
• 1 peeled and boiled carrot, cooked until tender

Preparation:

• Put the steamed fish and the liquid of your choice into a blender.
• Add the cooked carrot to add flavor variation.
• Blend until you achieve the desired consistency.

These are some tips you can apply to start introducing fish-based complementary feeding to your little one. Provide complementary feeding with the best ingredients to support your child’s growth and development.