Introducing New Flavors
Introducing new foods to your baby is exciting! Fruits and vegetables provide your infant with great nutrition and exposure to new flavors, colors and textures. Whether you want to make your own homemade baby purees, offer finger foods or learn about food safety and storage for infant foods, WIC has tips to help.
Getting Started
When getting started, work with your health care provider or WIC nutritionist to determine if your baby is ready for solid foods.
Watch for signs of readiness such as:
- Sitting up with some help.
- Holding up their head with good control.
- Showing interest in food.
Place your baby in a safe, upright sitting position for meals. Never leave your baby unattended while eating. Learn more about introducing solid foods with our lesson, Baby’s First Bites.
Have an older infant? Find advice for offering more advanced foods with Infants 8-12 Months.
Homemade Baby Purees
Making homemade baby purees can be a great way to introduce fruits and vegetables to your infant. Follow these steps to turn fruits and vegetables into tasty purees.
1. Wash fruits and vegetables and remove skins, peels, pits and seeds.
2. Steam, boil, bake or microwave fruits and vegetables until soft and tender.
3. Puree in a blender or mash with a fork. Add small amounts of breastmilk, prepared formula or water to reach desired texture.
4. Start with thin, soupy purees. As your baby grows, offer thicker and chunkier blends.
WIC has baby food recipes to help you get started! Offer your infant yummy flavors like Spiced Apple Pear, Mixed Green Veggie or Savory Carrot Squash blends.
Finger Foods
Finger foods help your baby explore new textures and practice motor skills. Turn fruits and vegetables into safe finger foods with these steps.
1. Choose soft or cooked fruits and vegetables that can be easily mashed with your fingers.
2. For infants 6-8 months, offer strips of food that are about 3 inches long and the width of two adult fingers. Let older infants practice with small, bite-sized pieces.
3. Avoid choking hazards such as hard, slippery, raw or round fruits and vegetables. Cut grapes, berries and other round foods into quarters.
Find more finger food ideas with our lesson, Feeding Your Older Baby Table Foods.
Food Safety and Storage
Food safety is important when making baby food. Your infant’s immune system is still developing, making it harder to fight off foodborne illnesses and bacteria. Keep food safe with these tips.
Clean: Wash hands, utensils and surfaces with soap and hot water before preparing baby food.
Separate: Serve only the amount you think your baby will eat. Throw out any food left in your baby’s bowl.
Store: Refrigerate baby food for up to three days. Or freeze in an ice cube tray, then transfer to a freezer bag and store up to three months.
Learn more about safely preparing foods with our lesson, Food Safety at Home.
Keep Practicing!
If your baby does not like a fruit or vegetable at first, try offering it again later. It may take many tries for your infant to like a new food. Stay patient – every feeding journey is different.
- Your baby might only eat small amounts of fruits and vegetables at first. They will get most of their nutrition from breastmilk or formula during the first year.
- Provide variety. Offer your baby iron-rich foods, like infant cereal and baby food meats, with fruits and vegetables.
- Mix it up! Fresh, frozen and canned fruits and vegetables are great options when prepared safely.
- If you have questions, talk to your health care provider or WIC nutritionist.
Have any questions?
