Fruits and vegetables are good, but as a non-vegetarian parent, you may want to introduce your infant to chicken as soon as possible, so you search for healthy chicken recipes for babies. Chicken has various nutritional advantages due to its low fat and high protein content. It also works well as finger food for babies. However, while introducing chicken to your baby’s diet, you need to know when you may serve chicken to your baby. Read this post to learn about the health advantages of chicken for newborns, as well as some easy baby-friendly recipes to try.
When Can Babies Eat Chicken?
A baby can start eating chicken from the sixth month, which is when solid foods are introduced in their diet (1). Begin with two servings of pureed chicken per day with each serving not greater than two tablespoons. Gradually increase the portion size.
Health Benefits Of Chicken For Babies
Chicken can be an excellent baby food thanks to its numerous nutritional properties:
Nutritional Value Of 100g Of Chicken, (broiler or fryers, breast, skinless, boneless, meat only, raw)
Source: United States Department of Agriculture (4)
How To Select And Store Chicken?
Select: Always buy fresh chicken from a hygienic store where it is cleaned and dressed well. Any meat, including chicken, is prone to bacterial contamination, therefore, never buy frozen varieties. These could contain pathogens that harm the infant.
Choose fresh, organic chicken where the bird is fed only natural food, which is free of antibiotics and hormones. Never buy salted or packaged chicken, which is processed with preservatives. Storage: Buy only as much as you need to cook for the baby . Do not freeze leftover chicken or the chicken baby food since bacteria can propagate easily in it.
How To Process Chicken For Babies?
Following are the best ways to cook chicken for your baby.
1. Bake
Step 1: Preheat the oven to 375ºF (190ºC). Step 2: Cut the chicken into small pieces so that it bakes thoroughly and evenly. 1lb or 453g of chicken takes about 20 minutes to cook properly. Step 3: You can coarsely puree the chicken with water after it is baked. For toddlers, you can shred the chicken into tiny pieces and serve it as finger food.
2. Boil
Step 1: Cut the chicken into small pieces and completely submerge them in water in a boiling pot. Step 2: Boil for 30 minutes or longer and then puree the chicken.
3. Poach
Step 1: Cut thin slices of boneless chicken and place them in a saucepan with just enough water to submerge them. Step 2: Bring the water to boil, and then simmer for 20 minutes or till the chicken is completely tender. Step 3: Puree the chicken slices with water or strain the nutrient-rich water to use in other baby foods. Poaching is similar to boiling; only it uses shallow water and thin chicken fillets. Boiling is probably the best way of cooking chicken since it softens the meat for easy pureeing and even kills pathogens better. Since now we know how to process chicken, let us look at some recipes.
Nutritious Chicken Recipes For Babies
Following are some of the best homemade baby food chicken recipes that are easy to prepare and also nutritious for a baby:
1. Chicken puree
It is a classic chicken baby food recipe that is widely popular. Pureed chicken for babies is quick and easy to make. Ideal for age: 6 months and above You will need:
2 cups of chopped boneless chicken 3-4 cups of water
How to:
2. Chicken stew
Preparing chicken stew or chicken broth for babies is similar to making a puree, but the focus is on water. It is for babies who prefer liquid first foods over solid ones. We use chicken with bone as it contains essential minerals. The solids are later discarded. Ideal for age: 6 months and above You will need:
3-4 cups chicken with bone 7-8 cups of water
How to:
3. Chicken and rice porridge
Rice is rich in carbohydrates, which is an excellent energy source for your growing baby. Ideal for age: 6 months and above You will need:
2 cups of chopped boneless chicken 2 cups rice 1 cup mashed banana 4-5 cups of water
How to:
4. Chicken and apricot puree
Apricots are sweet, delicious, and make a fantastic accompaniment to chicken. Ideal for age: 6 months and above You will need:
2 cups of chopped apricots 2 cups boneless chicken 3-4 cups of water
How to: Chicken baby food recipe with the similar cooking process:
Chicken and apple puree: You can prepare a chicken and apple puree the same way. Introduce apples from nine months or above only.
5. Chicken and sweet potato puree
Sweet potatoes are rich in vitamins, and so is chicken, thus, making it a perfect multi-vitamin puree for the baby. Ideal for age: 6 months and above You will need:
2 cups of finely chopped sweet potatoes 2 cups boneless chicken 3-4 cups of water
How to: Chicken baby food recipes with the similar cooking process:
Chicken and potato puree: Replace sweet potato with regular potatoes to make a delicious chicken and potato puree. Sweet potatoes and potatoes should be introduced in baby foods from six months and above.
Chicken and beetroot puree: Beetroot is rich in minerals and several micronutrients. Combine with chicken for a delicious baby food. Ideal for six months and above.
Chicken and peas puree: Peas taste great when combined with chicken in a baby food. Introduce peas to the baby only after ten months.
6. Chicken and sago (sabudana) porridge
Sago pearls or sabudana is light on a baby’s stomach. Their neutral taste makes them an excellent base for porridge with chicken. Ideal for age: 6 months and above You will need:
2 cups sago pearls 2 cups boneless chicken 4-5 cups of water
How to:
7. Chicken and finger millet (ragi) porridge
Ragi is rich in minerals and makes a great accompaniment to cooked chicken. Ideal for age: 6 months and above You will need:
2 cups finger millet flour 2 cups boneless chicken 4-5 cups of water
How to:
8. Minced chicken
Minced chicken can be a great finger food for your baby. In fact, finely chopped chicken is recommended as the first finger foods for a baby by The American Academy of Pediatrics (5). Ideal for age: 9 months and above You will need:
3 cups of boneless chicken 1 cup of water
How to:
9. Chicken and lentil puree
Lentils are rich in proteins and so is chicken, which makes this chicken baby food an excellent protein food. Ideal for age: 10 months and above You will need:
2 cups cleaned pigeon pea (toor dal) 2 cups boneless chicken 5-6 cups of water
How to:
10. Chicken and spinach puree
Chicken tastes great with spinach, and even your baby can enjoy this delicious food combination. Ideal for age: 12 months and above You will need:
2 cups chopped spinach 2 cups boneless chicken 4-5 cups of water
How to:
11. Chicken casserole
Chicken casserole for babies is the same as the casseroles which adults eat with some modifications to the method of preparation and presentation so that it suits the little one’s digestion. Ideal for age: 12 months and above You will need:
2 cups finely chopped onions 2 cups finely chopped carrots 2-3 cups diced potatoes 4-5 cups finely chopped boneless chicken 3-4 teaspoons of sunflower oil 3-4 chicken stock
How to: Those were some great chicken baby food recipes that are tasty and healthy. However, you also need to be careful about probable allergies towards chicken.
Can A Baby Be Allergic To Chicken?
Chicken has the potential to trigger allergies in infants with sensitive immune and digestive systems. Cooking chicken reduces its allergenicity (7). You must be vigilant and look out for any signs of allergy. Below is a list of the symptoms of chicken allergy.
Swollen face and neck: The face swells up especially around the eyelids, nose, and throat. The baby may be unable to open his eyes and could have difficulty in breathing.
Abdominal pain: The baby writhes in pain and may have diarrhea and vomiting.
Skin hives or rashes: Tiny red bumps in clusters appear all over the body, which are itchy.
Fatigue and weakness: The baby appears weak and does not play.
If you notice any of the above symptoms, take your baby to the doctor.
