There’s something about cheese that appeals to people of all ages. And once your baby starts eating solid food, you can’t wait to add cheese in her diet.
Cheese as baby food is a great idea. It is tasty, nutritious and easy to use. So, today let’s take a walk through the amazing world of cheese!
The Perfect Time To Introduce Cheese:
Unfortunately, there’s no consensus on the best time to introduce your baby to the awesomeness of cheese. Experts in the UK are flexible and say it’s okay to add cheese to a baby’s diet from around six months of age. But in the US, people are more wary of dairy products. US parents are more likely to wait until 8-9 months before they introduce cheese to their babies. Some experts even recommend waiting till babies are one before making cheese a part of their diet.
So, when can baby eat cheese? The best thing to do is talk to your pediatrician. And if your have a family history of dairy allergy, you can wait till your baby is a little older before you let her eat cheesy food. The same thing applies if your baby has eczema or asthma.
What’s So Good About Cheese?
Cheese is delicious and easy to incorporate in baby food. But that’s not the only reasons you should add it to your baby’s diet. Cheese also offers a number of health benefits:
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- Cheese is full of calcium and helps keep your baby’s bones stronger.
- It contains a number of important nutrients like vitamin D and proteins.
- Cheese is a great option for vegetarian families. It comes with a whole lot of protein and vitamin B12, both of which are found in meat-based diets.
- If your baby is having trouble gaining weight or has special calorie needs, cheese will be perfect for you. It comes loaded with calories and will provide your baby with a lot of energy.(1)
- Cheese is also known to prevent tooth decay.
- Baked cheese is known to help children outgrow milk allergy faster. (2)
- And did we mention that cheese is delicious?
The Good And Bad Cheese:
Frankly, there’s nothing bad about cheese! But when it comes to your baby’s diet, some cheese are better avoided in the first year.
1. Cheese Perfect For The First Year:
- Cheddar
- Parmesan
- Edam
- Colby
- Colby Jack
- Swiss
- Mozzarella
- Monterey Jack
- Romano
- Babybel
- Paneer
- Provolone
- Red Leicester
- Cheshire
- Jarlsberg
- Gouda
- Lancashire
- Double Gloucester
- Grana Padano
- Cottage Cheese
- Ricotta
- Mascarpone
- Cream cheese
2. Cheese To Avoid In The First Year:
- Brie
- Camembert
- Chevre
- Queso Blanco
- Queso Fresco
- Danish Blue
- Stilton
- Saga
- Gorgonzola
- Roquefort
- Wensleydale
What About Processed Cheese?
There’s nothing wrong with processed cheese. But you can wait till your child is a little older before you give her a taste of all things processed. Till then, stick to ‘real’ cheese!
How To Store Cheese:
Spending money on buying some good quality cheese and watching it go bad can be heartbreaking. But storing cheese is easy! Store your favorite cheese in the fridge, wrapped in foil or wax paper. Never wrap your cheese in plastic wrap to avoid chemicals from wrap mixing with the cheese.
Now that you have the basics right – let’s cook!
Amazing Cheese Recipes For Babies:
The best thing about cheese? They are so easy to incorporate into your cooking. Here are some great ideas for preparing cheese recipes for baby:
1. Cheese Omelet:
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Eggs and cheese – now that’s a match made in heaven! To take up the nutrient quotient higher still, you can add vegetables too.
Ingredients:
- One Egg (Try organic, if you can)
- One tsp milk or water
- One Tbsp shredded cheese (You can use any kind of cheese for this recipe)
- One tsp butter or oil
How To Make:
- Whisk the egg and milk in a bowl.
- Melt the butter in a pan over medium heat. Once the butter stops bubbling, pour in the egg mixture.
- Spread the egg mixture evenly on the pan.
- Let the omelet cook until the egg mixture holds together.
- Sprinkle the shredded cheese and fold the omelet in half.
- Cook for 30 more seconds.
- Cut it into bite size and serve!
2. Mini Grilled Cheese Toast:
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It doesn’t get easier than this! This is the perfect recipe for a busy morning.
Ingredients:
- 16 slices firm white sandwich bread
- Two tbs melted unsalted butter
- 1 1/4 cups shredded Cheddar cheese
- Pepper (optional)
How To Make:
- Preheat oven to 200°F.
- Line a large baking sheet with foil.
- Use a cooking spray to lightly mist a grill.
- Cut the better slices into smaller sizes. You can even cut them into different shapes using a cookie cutter.
- Brush both sides of the slices with butter.
- Place about 1 1/2 tsp cheese on top of half the bread slices.
- Spread cheese over the entire slice.
- Season with pepper, if you want.
- Put the remaining slices on the cheese topped slices.
- Cook the toasts on the grill until lightly browned.
- Serve warm.
3. Rice Made Healthy:
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Rice is one of the stables in your baby’s diet by now. Let’s make it a little healthier!
Ingredients:
- 2 carrots
- 100g cauliflower
- Two tsp baby rice
- 1 Tbsp grated cheddar cheese
How To Make:
- Get the veggies ready! Peel, slice and wash them.
- Boil the both vegetables together until they become tender.
- Don’t throw away the water after you drain the veggies. Use it to blend the veggies together. You’ll need around 60 ml of water for this step.
- Add the baby rice and cheese and cook.
- Keep stirring the mixture until the cheese has melted.
- Serve warm.
4. Cheesy Pasta:
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Who doesn’t love pasta? Give your baby a taste of this popular Italian food with the goodness of cheese.
Ingredients:
- 1 cup cooked pasta
- 1/2 cup pureed or chopped soft cooked carrots
- Grated cheese
How To Make:
- Mix carrots with the cooked pasta.
- Sprinkle cheese on top.
- Serve warm.
5. Sweet Potato And Cheese Mash:
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This is one of the colorful baby food recipes with cheese which has everything – vitamin A, vitamin C, calcium and a yummy taste!
Ingredients:
- 120g sweet potatoes
- One medium carrot
- 25g grated cheese
How To Make:
- Boil the carrot and sweet potatoes until they are tender.
- Mash or puree with cheese.
Other Cheesy Ideas For Your Baby:
There are other fun ways of using cheese in your baby’s regular diet. Check out a few right here:
1. Funny Shapes:
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Cut che ese slices into fun shapes. Quick, convenient and sure to appeal to your baby!
2. Veggie Delight:
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A great way to get your baby or toddler to eat her veggies. Simply cook your vegetable and top it up with shredded cheese! Or you can puree your veggies and mix in melted cheese. Yummy!
3. Grate ‘em Up:
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Grated cheese is versatile. You can use them almost on any dish. Soups, pizza, risotto – just sprinkle some grated cheese and you are good to go!
4. Use As Topping:
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Cooking oatmeal cake or a bagel? Simply top it with cheese!
Amazing ideas for your amazing baby! Try these cheese recipes for babies today and let your baby enjoy the taste of cheese. The health factor is a bonus!
So, when are you planning to introduce cheese to your baby? Tell us in the comments section baby?
