Page 12 - FMT Dec Web

Ingredients

Grains in Weaning Foods

By Dr. Pratima Awasthi* & Homi Joshi**

IntRODuCtIOn ChARACtERIStICS OF A GOOD feeding and is easily digested by the
Malnutrition is the most common WEAnInG FOOD child.
problem in the developing countries A good weaning food should be high
and the condition is particularly in nutrient density, rich in calories, The composition of the food must
serious among infants. In many areas adequate in good-quality protein, follow the guidelines and standards
where prolonged breast-feeding vitamins, and minerals, low viscosity, recommended by competent
is common, nutritional problems low bulk density and appropriate agencies, such as the Bureau of
generally arise after the first year of texture. The food, when stirred with Indian Standards. WHO recommends
life. Delayed supplementation and cold, warm water or milk, should that infants must start receiving
inadequate consumption of weaning form a slurry or semisolid mass of complementary foods at 6 months
foods are major factors responsible soft consistency, enabling the child of age in addition to breast milk.
for malnutrition. Although breast to swallow it easily. Weaning food Initially, they should be given
milk is the perfect food to meet the should be precooked and predigested complementary foods 2–3 times
energy and nutrient requirements or processed in such a way that it a day between 6–8 months and
of an infant up to six months of life, needs minimum preparation before increase to 3–4 times daily between
it is insufficient to sustain normal
growth and needs of an infant, such
as weaning foods.

WEAnInG
The word weaning comes from
the word ‘weanion’ which means
to accustom. Generally, weaning
denotes a process in which semi-
solid foods are introduced in
an infant’s diet and thereafter,
composition and consistency of diets
gradually increase and breast milk
gets completely replaced. Weaning
foods are complementary- that is,
they complement the mother’s milk.
The basic purpose of introducing
these foods is

1. to provide the taste and variety in
a baby’s diet,
2. to provide the “missing” nutrients,
3. to teach the baby – how to
swallow, chew and eat,
4. to habituate the baby with
flavours & taste of home meals.

A nutritionally adequate weaning
diet is essential for achieving
optimal growth and development to
decrease the chances of morbidity
and mortality among infants.

Food Marketing & Technology 12 December 2020