The key to blogging, people have told me, is to just keep writing. Write consistently, make yourself sit down and write something, get it out there. And also – read about and comment on other blogs.
So, I have decided, I’m not exactly a blogger.
Just as I was mulling this over, I had the chance to interview Ola, an amazing woman from Nigeria. She shared some wonderful stories of food and cooking in her home country. And she talked about how she applies that skill and knowledge here in the U.S. We discussed the first foods that people in Nigeria feed their babies, and she shared some recipes.
In Nigeria, they are much more relaxed about baby foods - introducing almost all staple foods by 6 months!
Probably most shocking: I learned that by about six months, babies in Nigeria are eating almost everything adults eat. As long as it is cooked appropriately so as not to be a choking hazard – they eat it. If they seem to have a rash or reaction to it, they keep eating it until they get over it. They usually do.
I was just astounded by this. At six months, our babies are just starting rice cereal mixed with formula or breast milk! Everyone I’ve talked to in my interviews about other countries has shared stories about introducing solid food earlier, and often differently, than we do here in the US. Overall, I have noticed an underlying theme of more relaxed and intuitive methods of baby-feeding. But to learn about six month old babies eating everything – that was the icing on the cake. As part of the transition to this point, Ola says, “Since breast milk is never enough after 3 month we introduce our babies to, for example, cow and gate milk without stopping breast feeding. I did [the] same for my kids. From 4 months, I introduced my kids to cerelac cereal.” And, she cautions, try a new food for at least a week before making a determination of whether or not it will work for your baby. “Babies are used to objecting to a new feeding before they accept it,” she notes.
In stark contrast to this, I shared my own experience with my girls – my constant fear of doing something wrong when it came to feeding or introducing solid food. To this she replied, “To be a mother, you cannot have fear. You have to be brave.”
As I reflected on my interview with Ola, and this advice in particular, I began to understand why this project is coming to a close.
The incentive for me to learn about different cultural baby feeding styles was, in large part, to give myself reassurance. I needed evidence that here in America, we new parents are doing things a bit strangely and definitely with far too much fear. Fear of allergies; fear of feeding the right foods in the right order with the right methods; fear about the origin and purity of our food. Fear that we should be buying organic, or making our own foods, even if we can’t afford it or don’t have the time. A sort of constant subtext that eating is dangerous, and many protections for our babies are needed. I was afraid, and I think a lot of other parents are too. (Or maybe it’s just me and my intrinsic tendency to be overwhelmed by too much information… come to think of it, I was afraid of everything about having babies – so maybe I’m not a good example.)
But when Ola shared this ‘be brave’ philosophy with me – this concept that to be afraid of everything around you is actually the worst thing you can do, a light bulb went on for me. I shouldn’t be scared of what I feed them. I should approach food – and maybe everything – with confidence.
My kids are now approaching four years old, and feeding them is not as scary as in the beginning, it’s just part of life. So, perhaps understandably, my interest in learning about baby foods is waning. In writing these posts and meeting some amazing mothers from other countries, I have learned so much. There are many different ways to feed babies.
New parents – take heart. Don’t be afraid to introduce solids earlier or let your baby sample your own food (baby led weaning). Don’t feel like a failure just because you gave your baby some bites of banana only 2 days after her first rice cereal (or maybe your mom did.) Feel free to experiment, and try some of the foods and methods I talk about in these posts.
It’s time to let go of the fear.
Here are some interesting facts from Nigeria, thanks to Ola, and a basic recipe for a common first solid food. Ola says that this is for babies three months and older. Believe it or not, it’s beans!
Gbegiri (modified to use as a first food.) Click here for the full recipe.
1. Use white beans or black eyed peas, soak them for 5 minutes or so until the seed coat (skin) comes off.
2. Cook the beans til tender in water, and when they are close to done add a few drops of palm oil (the most commonly used oil in Nigerian cooking.)
3. Mash the beans until they become soft and stewy
4. Add some dried fish (such as leftover fish that you have dried in the oven, and flaked apart.)
5. Stir well, and feed to baby – in Nigeria, they scoop this up with their hands and put into the babies mouth.
Note: Ola says the African diet is very high in protein, which is definitely true about this baby food recipe.
Other Facts about Baby Food in Nigeria:
-yam flour is very commonly used
-fresh squeezed orange juice is given to toddlers
-Cerelac is often used as an infant formula when breastmilk isn’t available
-Protein is a focus – with lots of beans, fish, and chicken/beef eaten (along with vegetables each time)
-Sugar is uncommon, though chocolate milk is sometimes given to toddlers as a treat. Ola has never had a cavity, and also recommends rinsing your mouth each time you eat something chocolaty or sweet.
-There are no universal allergy restrictions or cautions that Ola could tell me – even eggs and nut butters are given to babies less than a year old.
Please try this beans recipe and let me know what you think! Thanks for reading.
I found this interesting – the Army is revamping its approach to boot camp, basic training, and the food it provides due to the epidemic of poor physical fitness in new recruits. 