Super Baby Food = Tofu? Coconut Oil?

[quietmaria]

Reposted from the Food forum.....

Hi there! I was reading the Super Baby Food book and it says you can introduce Tofu beginning at 7 months. Would you recommend this? It sounds already like you wouldn't but I just wanted to make sure.

I am trying to raise my baby w/as little meat in his diet as possible and I am looking for protein replacement. I give him avocados everyday for the good fats. What else would you recommend?

I was also wondering about Coconut Oil. I believe there is already some in his formula (Enfamil Gentlease), but I was wondering if you think it would be good to give him some additional?

Thanks!

[shelley]

I would never feed an infant or toddler tofu. Did you hear about that couple who literally killed their child by giving an infant nothing but soy milk? Yikes.

But when a child is old enough to handle fermented foods, a little bit wouldn't hurt. A little bit being the amount of tofu you get in a bowl of miso. but only if their diet was otherwise rich in minerals, such as by eating seaweed/kombu. that's the only reason the Japanese have survived on tofu as well as they have - they don't overeat it and always eat it accompanied by sea veggies of some kind.

Growing children need tons of protein. They can handle meat no problem so long as they're getting veggies too, and the meat is the right kind - slow cooked with the bone in.

Coconut oil should be fine but really it's an individual thing. Depends on where his weight is. Fats can be up to 40-50% of the total calories for a growing child for the first five years actually. AFter that it depends on how active they are.

Avocados are a good super food. An avocado has veggie fats. Veggie fats should be no more than 10% of the total fats in one's diet, so if you're eating avocados reduce or avoid safflower oil. Animal fats are actually better than veggie. Be sure to read Udo Erasmus' book and Nourishing Traditions if you wish to raise a healthy, vital, beautiful and intelligent child.