This is a collaborative post: While becoming a parent, you try to give your little one all the best, including the healthiest baby food that you can provide. You definitely know that things your baby consumes directly affect his or her health, growth and development. 

Why is it important to monitor your baby’s weight?

Sometimes parents overprotect their babies that can even have a negative effect. For example, they can overfeed them which can lead to obesity. You definitely don’t want your little one to have some health issues such as diabetes, high blood pressure, high cholesterol and others because of it. So stop doing this and try to find the golden middle in the amount of food you give per day. 

Otherwise, it’s possible that your baby can be underweight at some point. It can also be quite dangerous as they cannot resist infections and it may cause long-term health problems. A lot of parents are anxious because of that and look for ways to help their children to gain weight. 

So what food promotes growth and weight gain?

1. Breast milk – it provides all the nutrients that your baby really needs, that’s why it is called «the perfect food». As it gives fats, proteins and carbohydrates in the right amount, babies get enough energy and power to develop. Usually, babies who consume breast milk during their first 6 months of life, are fully satisfied and comfortable with it. 
2. Baby formulas or infant formulas – they are still not as great as breast milk but with strict standards of creating organic baby formulas they can be a good alternative. It can become a good supplement to breast milk or first snacks during 1 year of life. Not all of them, but mostly they are rich in vitamins, minerals, proteins and other nutrients that positively affect babies and help them to gain weight. But be careful while choosing the best baby formula for your little one and consult a professional on that question. 
3. Avocado – one of the most popular fruits nowadays among adults, but still so beneficial for toddlers as well. It consists of so many monounsaturated fats that are filling and healthy. It can be a good idea to start introducing solid foods to babies with this product. Just make a puree with avocado and your little one will enjoy it. 
4. Cereals – another helpful ingredient in gaining weight. The best time to introduce it is 9-12 months. There are so many proteins and carbohydrates in its content and you can mix it with different foods to make it more delicious for your baby. Just mix it with water or breast milk and it will be soft. You can also add cottage cheese, fruits, yogurt or anything else that your baby loves and make it even healthier. 
5. Boiled or steamed broccoli – babies really love eating it. You can use it from the moment of introducing solids. Broccoli are full of protein, fiber, minerals, iron and other nutrients. While boiling or steaming it you will not lose any of these positive ingredients and, moreover, remove some harmful toxins from its surface. 
6. Fish – it’s highly recommended by experts to introduce fish after 1 year. It contains so many proteins, omega-3 acids that are just crucial for a baby’s growth. It enriches a child with all the best and, moreover, reduces high cholesterol levels by removing toxins from the body. 

Provide your baby with different foods that are healthy and delicious. Almost all the fruits, vegetables, dairy, meat and fish will help a toddler to grow and gain weight. There are various green leafy vegetables like spinach, cabbage, and lettuce which have a great amount of proteins. Sweet potatoes are rich in carbohydrates. Bananas are quite available and enrich a baby with fibers. So there are so many options to choose from. Just try to keep your baby’s diet diverse and healthy as each food product has its own benefits. 

But remember some basic rules about cooking it. You need to save all the beneficial ingredients within this food so prefer boiling, steaming and baking to frying. In addition, don’t overfeed your baby as even the most healthy product can cause an allergy or any other negative reaction while eating it in enormous amounts. So be careful about that.