Plain Whole Milk Yogurt
Plain Whole Milk Yogurt For Your Baby
Yogurt is an excellent first food because it has bacteria which are good for intestinal health. Yogurt makers use these bacteria to ferment the milk to produce yogurt. Why can you give your baby yogurt at 6 months but you cannot give your baby whole milk? The fermenting process breaks down the lactose and proteins that could irritate baby's stomach. For example, adults with lactose intolerance can eat yogurt and most cheese without a problem.
Feed your baby the whole milk variety of yogurt (though it can be difficult to find in stores because it all seems to be low-fat) and don't add anything to it to start. If baby finds the plain yogurt too sour go ahead and mix in some sweet potato or banana to make it more palatable. You may be surprised when your baby actually likes a really sour taste that you find offensive.
This is a good time to talk about flavored yogurts which may quickly become one of your toddler's favorite snacks. They can contain a large amount of added sugar that make them fall into the "dessert" category of foods instead of the "healthy snack" category. Some parents continue to buy plain yogurt as their child matures and add maple syrup or jam to control the sweetness of the snack.
If your baby is at risk for food allergies, (for example: if they have eczema, asthma, allergies or if they have other family members with these conditions) then you should avoid all dairy products until your baby is at least one year old.
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When is baby ready?
6 months old
How to buy
Look for plain whole milk yogurt that does not contain RGBH hormones. YoBaby (Stonyfield farms) sells a plain version in little cups. Greek yogurt is a good choice as well.
Homemade Baby Food Recipe
If you believe that your baby finds plain yogurt too sour then mash some banana or sweet potato to sweeten it up a bit. Do not add sugar or buy yogurts with flavors.
How to store
Keep in refrigerator for 3 days after printed freshness date on container. Yogurt is much less perishable than milk because it is already "cooked" with bacteria.
Are there baby food jars?
No.
Should I buy organic?
Yes. Organic milk products mean that there are no pesticides, no growth hormones, and no antibiotics. The cost is justified if you can do it.
Adult Recipe
As yogurt eaters, most of us eat the pre-flavored containers that are come in the lowfat and no-fat varieties. But, even as adults our bodies need fat (just not too much of it). You might find that when you eat your baby's whole milk yogurt that you need less of it to feel satisfied. Mix it with your cereal in the morning or other fruits for a mid afternoon snack.
Here is a good side dish using that yogurt you bought for baby:
Cucumber Yogurt Salad
(serves 2)
1 cup plain yogurt
1/2 pound cucumber
coarse salt
dill or parsley - chopped
Half cucumber and remove seeds. Chop and dust with salt. Put in a colander and let set 10 minutes to one hour. Rinse cucumber, pat dry, and mix with yogurt - add dill (if you have it), parsley, and/or pepper.
Yogurt is in Week 3 of Babyfood101's Course - Please Join Us
