Turkey For Babies: Is It Good For Your Baby?
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Isn’t it an exciting time when your baby starts eating solid food? After exclusively feeding them breast milk for the first six months, you then shift to solid foods along with breast milk for the next six months of your baby’s life. During this time, what kind of solid food you give them is essential because it provides them with the necessary nutrition. However, you have to keep it light and not give them complex foods that might mess with their digestion. Babies have a delicate digestive system that has to be carefully introduced to new foods. Turkey is a good option because it is lean meat and an excellent protein source for your baby. If cooked the right way, it is easy to digest. Always ensure that you give your baby freshly cooked turkey instead of store-bought or processed ones. Another thing to keep in mind is to grind the meat into a fine paste, so your baby does not choke on the meat.
Is Turkey A Common Allergen?
Turkey is not a common allergen. However, please consult your doctor about your decision to give your baby turkey if you are concerned about allergies. Also, watch out for any allergic reaction your baby might have after feeding in small doses.
How To Prepare Turkey For Babies?
Babies develop at their own pace. Therefore, if you want to know if your baby is ready to have some turkey, it’s best to speak to your pediatrician. Your doctor knows best and will assess if your baby can be given meat depending on how old your baby is and their growth and development. Scroll below to know how to prepare turkey based on your baby’s age:
6-9 Months:
Clean the turkey and remove the skin, grizzle, and any bones from the meat. Make sure you have removed the cartilage too. Cook the meat and make large strips that are about the length of two adult fingers. If you can get your hands on a small turkey, it would be preferred for a baby. You could also grind the turkey to a fine paste and serve it with yogurt or applesauce. Make sure that you feed your baby in small portions to avoid any choking hazard.
9-12 Months:
The best kind of food for your little one is freshly cooked food. Turkey breasts can be shred or finely chopped after cooking. Remove the skin and lose grizzle and serve the meat along with a sauce that is suitable for the baby. You could also stuff it into other dishes or make soup or mashed rice with the meat.
12-24 Months:
Once your baby crosses the 12-month milestone, they can be given more solid foods. Ensure that you are still giving your baby freshly cooked meat rather than processed or packaged turkey. By this age, your baby can eat a whole turkey drumstick, which can be a treat to watch. Again, ensure that your baby is not fed skin, grizzle, bones, and cartilage when they enjoy the drumstick. You could also add shredded turkey to casseroles, rice, soups, and stews.
Here Is A Bonus Recipe For Turkey Meatballs That Is Baby Safe
What You’ll Need:
- Onion
- Olive oil
- Garlic clove
- 1lb ground turkey
- Sauce or dip (optional)
How To Make:
- In a pan with medium heat, saute chopped onions with olive oil. Add garlic cloves to the pan with onions and cook until golden brown.
- In a large bowl, mix cooked onions with the ground turkey with your hands. Make sure you remove any lumps, skin, or bones that you find.
- Make small balls with the mix and cook until thoroughly done. To check if it’s ready, cut a piece of the meatball. It should not be pink. Serve once it’s less hot.
It’s normal for parents to be nervous about what they feed their baby. But you have to start somewhere. Therefore, always get a green signal from your doctor so you’ll feel confident to feed your little one delicious food. Comment below and let us know if your baby enjoyed turkey meatballs.
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