Every mum worries. We worry if the baby was feeding enough or too much. We worry if the child was meeting every developmental milestone or not. When we see a baby the same age as our child, already doing what ours is not yet doing, we simply panic! Worrying never stops. We can attest to that because our mothers are still worried about us. With the avalanche of information readily available now, you would think it should make things easier rather, it’s worse because different sorts of information are out there.

Another major source of concern to mothers is if their children were taking a good diet especially when a child is still under 5 years. Yes, we should worry about this and the good news is that something can be done to ensure our little ones are nutritionally sound.

After exclusive breastfeeding or breast-milk plus formula, a child needs additional nutrients than breast-milk only or breast-milk plus formula can give. Mothers, please note that breast-milk and formula remain the major meal for a child till he/she is a year old. This means that you have 6 months to play around; to introduce different flavors, textures, colors, tastes, and aroma of foods to your child. It is better you start with fruits and veggies first at this age to ensure your child develops an affinity for these first.

Some children get stuck on particular food texture. They simply refuse to take other forms of food texture. Do not worry mother, it will pass. Just keep offering the other textures. For children who only have a preference for the smooth and soft textured foods, they may only get fed packaged baby foods till they are ready to accept other food textures which places the child in danger of micro-nutrients (vitamins and minerals) malnutrition.

Now, here is a recipe for food with an array of nutrients for children with a preference for smooth and soft food textures that you can easily make yourself.

Corn Meal with Groundnut Recipe

Note: Before you offer your child this food, please, ensure he or she does not have a nuts allergy. Remove the nut if your child is allergic.

Food items

Grounded dried corn (Preferably the yellow one)
Roasted groundnut
Palm oil
1 Banana and/or 1 apple (make it 2 bananas if not using apple )

Preparation

Buy dried corn in the market. The one that is used in making pap (ogi or akamu). Sort and clean. Then, ground finely in the market.
Take a cup of the grounded corn and sieve with a fine sieve. Discard the remnant. Take the sieved part. Add about 1/3 cup of water. Mix evenly.
Measure a tablespoon of groundnut. Use a grinder to grind. Set aside.
Boil a cup of water in a small pot. Once the water boils, while cooking with minimal heat, pour in the slurry (a mixture of the sieved grounded corn and water). Stir evenly for about a minute; make sure it is thoroughly stirred. Then, add a little water and 2-3 drops of palm oil. Cover the pot and leave for about 2 minutes. Stir again. Turn off the gas.
Peel the apple and/or banana. Blend apple and/or banana.
Pour the blended apple and/or banana into the cooked cornmeal. Add the grounded groundnut as well. Mix thoroughly.
Keep in a food flask. When ready to serve your child, scoop into his plate, add milk, and feed the little one.