Five Nigerian foods that can help your toddler gain weight

For new mums, feeding is a time to bond with the baby. But feeding quickly becomes a journey at the end of which a chubby baby is expected to emerge. It’s almost an obsession for some new mothers. But some babies are genetically lean.

So the appearance of your child isn’t a correct indicator of how healthy the child is. Instead, a Body Mass Index can be used to determine body weight. If your baby needs to put on some weight, there are nutritious Nigerian foods for weight gain.

Nigerian foods for weight gain

You are usually concerned when your baby weight is dropping. Sometimes it might be because your baby is not even eating at all. Feeding babies solid food is very difficult and requires a lot of attention and energy. So feed the child yourself if you’re suspecting that he or she doesn’t eat well. The following foods will help your child gain weight.

• Boiled rice with milk

To prepare rice pudding for your baby, all you need is rice and milk. Wash the rice and put in a pot, add salt and boil until tender. Twenty minutes at least. And then mix in the milk and cook for another 30 minutes until it thickens. You can sweeten with a little bit of honey, but not if the child is less than one year old. Stir at intervals as it cooks. This is a great recipe for mums looking to make their babies add some weight.

• Yam and beans porridge

Many know beans to be a great source of protein in Nigeria. The more readily available beans in Nigeria are white beans, green beans, and brown beans. Brown beans are most recommended, but be sure your child doesn’t have bean allergy. Otherwise, your good to go. Beans are a great source of iron, calcium, fibre, vitamin B, and protein which is great for muscle gain. Giving your baby tighter muscles. And when combined with white yam, with its vitamin C that supports healthy bone and fibre that keeps your baby full for an extended period. Cook really soft and use little pepper. Or you can cook the beans alone as porridge. Boil the beans until it is very soft to make it easier to swallow. Fry some onions and crayfish in red (palm) oil. The red oil shouldn’t be too much. Then add some seasoning and stock cubes and mix well.

• Mashed Irish potato

Mashed potatoes are great for your baby’s weight gain due to potatoes being rich in carbohydrates. Peel the potatoes and cut into pieces. Pour into the pot with water and boil for 15 minutes. Mash alongside egg yolks. You can add a little milk before serving.

• Corn pap

Corn pap is a great weight-gain food. Millet, maize, and corn are all used to make this pap. Some mothers make it into what Nigerians know as kunun gyada. It’s one of the fastest baby weight gain foods. Note that this food is recommended for babies above six months. Guinea corn is rich in cellulose and proteins like calcium, iron, copper, and B-vitamins which all combine to ensure growth in your baby. Can be prepared the way you prepare the custard, that is why mothers in Nigeria refer to it as the Nigerian custard. Serve with milk to give it an even greater taste.

• Plantain porridge

Mashed plantain porridge is easy to prepare. Plantain is a good source of vitamin A and C, wonderful in maintaining body mechanisms, helping the body develop well. Also, it is a high-fibre food, aiding your baby gain weight. To prepare, unwrap the back of the plantain, slice into pieces and pour in a pot. Cook for 15 to 20 minutes. Add vegetables and simmer. Then puree.

Conclusion

While trying to throw some more weight onto your baby, you must always go for nutritious foods.

This article was first published on AfricaParent.com