When your baby gets to be about 7 to 9 months of age, they develop a dietary need for protein. That said, it’s an ideal time to begin the process of introducing your child to the wonderful world of meats, poultry and fish.

Chicken is a very good source of protein, niacin, selenium and vitamin B6. Erin Patterson, owner of Small Bites, an organization that educates parents about healthy food choices for children, recommends a great way to introduce chicken to your baby’s diet. ”A quick way to introduce chicken is to cook up some boneless chicken breast and puree it in a blender or food processor with a jar of squash, pears, apple or sweet potato,” Patterson recommends.

With a little research and ingenuity, you can take a similar approach when introducing other sources of protein, such as:

Pork, the ‘other white meat,’ is a lean source of protein that is a great source of some of the essential B-vitamins, like B12, B6, thiamin, niacin and riboflavin. It also contains zinc, potassium, iron and magnesium.

Red meat has lots of protein, zinc, vitamins and is a great source of easily absorbed heme iron.

Fish is lower in saturated fat than most other meats.
Aside from protein, fish contains omega-3 fatty acids --" great for your baby’s brain development. It also is a great source of Vitamin D. 

Soy foods are rich sources of protein, fiber, calcium, B-vitamins, and iron.

Straight protein is too much for tiny kidneys in the beginning, so a great way to start the introduction process is to combine it with rice, potatoes or vegetables to make it a balanced meal.

Once your baby turns one, you can start to introduce straight meat mushed up, so baby can easily bite and digest. But be patient --" the process of introducing meat can literally be tough.

“Because of the texture of meat, it’s very common for children to resist it,” explains Patterson. “Keep it soft by using tofu, ground and stewed meat. Meatballs are also really easy to eat.”

To learn more about Erin Patterson and Small Bites, please visit http://smallbitesonline.com/