Indian Food Cuisine

Tofu for baby - discover how this amazing food can benefit

your baby's diet.

Tofu - that's just for vegetarians, right?

Wrong.

Tofu is a highly nutritious food that, rather than being

seen as just an alternative to meat, should be included in

your baby's diet on its own merits!

Tofu is part of the legume family. It is fermented soymilk

curd - the process by which it is made compares to the way

that cheese is made from milk. Tofu is a rich source of

protein, calcium, iron, fibre and fatty acids - key

components for good nutrition.

There are two basic types of tofu - hard/firm tofu, often

used in recipes that needs a consistency which holds

together well - and soft or silken tofu, generally used for

desserts, smoothies, soups and sauces.

Fresh tofu has a sweet aroma when opened - any sour odour

would indicate that it is stale and should not be used for

your baby. It will keep for seven days in the refrigerator

and should be placed in an airtight container of water. It

is, however, essential that the water is changed on a daily

basis. Tofu does not freeze particularly well - upon

defrosting it becomes somewhat spongy in texture and appears

discoloured.

You can introduce this versatile and healthy food to your

baby once he/she is at least 8 months of age. (It is

important, however, to be aware that soy is a potential

allergen. When introducing it to your baby for the very

first time, watch carefully for any signs of an allergic

reaction. Symptoms include nausea, vomiting, stuffy or runny

nose, watery or red eyes and wheezing. Should you ever

suspect your baby is allergic to a particular type of food,

then contact a medical professional immediately).

It is very easy to incorporate tofu into your baby's diet

because it has very little taste of its own. Instead, it

absorbs the flavours of any foods it comes into contact

with.

Initially, you could try blending tofu with cottage cheese

or avocado, for a simple, nutritious meal. Soft tofu creamed

with fruit would make a delicious dessert for baby.

Alternatively, tofu can be cut into chunks and served to

your baby raw, as a healthy finger food.

Taking into account tofu's extensive nutritional properties,

along with its versatility, it would clearly provide a very

worthwhile boost to most babies' diets.

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