Introducing Complementary Foods, Tips, Schedule, Portions, Cooking Methods, and a Collection of Menu Ideas

MPASI stands for Complementary Feeding for Breastfeeding. MPASI is given to babies who are at least six months old according to WHO recommendations. You do not need to rush to give MPASI to babies younger than six months. Giving MPASI too early is also not good because the baby's digestion is not ready to process food other than breast milk.

MPASI is given because at six months of age, babies need more energy and nutrition than breast milk can provide. Babies who are not given MPASI at this age may experience malnutrition and growth retardation, which can lead to stunting. Therefore, you should not delay giving MPASI to your baby.

Tips for Preparing and Making MPASI

Babies have lower immunity compared to adults. Therefore, when making MPASI, you need to pay attention to several ways to prepare MPASI properly to avoid digestive problems such as diarrhea.

Pay Attention to the Cleanliness of Eating Utensils and Cooking Tools

Cooking tools for making MPASI do not always have to be new. You can use the cooking tools available at home as long as they are not contaminated with ingredients like chili. Specifically for cutting boards, you should separate the cutting board for vegetables and meat. This is to avoid cross-contamination that can occur due to bacteria in meat.

For eating utensils, you can choose utensils made of plastic that are safe for babies. There are many brands of eating utensils that are safe for babies. You can choose according to your budget. At least replace the child's eating utensils if they have not been used for more than six months.

Pay Attention to the Baby's Readiness to Accept MPASI

Not all babies at six months old can immediately accept MPASI. Some babies may gag and vomit the MPASI you prepare. So, what if your baby is like this?

You can try looking for other MPASI menus. It could be that the baby prefers less sweet flavors but likes slightly salty ones. Or maybe the opposite. You can try various menus until you find which ones are suitable and the baby enjoys eating MPASI.

Then, what if the baby still gags even after being given a variety of MPASI menus? Patience is needed, and you should stop MPASI for a while. A week later, try giving MPASI to your baby again. Some babies are not always ready to be given MPASI at six months. However, in other cases, some babies are ready to be given MPASI at five months and older.

Creating MPASI Menus that Align with Family Meals

Many parents find it challenging when their child starts MPASI because they have to cook two different things for one family. This can actually be addressed by aligning the MPASI menu with the family meal menu.

For example, if you are going to cook soup with meat fritters for the family menu, the MPASI for the little one can be adjusted by using the vegetables in the soup and taking a little meat that will be used for the meat fritters. This method will make it easier for you when cooking because you do not need to buy ingredients outside the family menu.

Schedule and Portions for MPASI

The schedule for giving MPASI varies. The portions also vary. Generally, MPASI is given three times a day. You can give MPASI in the morning, afternoon, and evening. However, if you find it difficult to provide three times a day, you can give MPASI only twice a day, in the morning and evening.

For the portions, you can adjust them according to the baby's eating capacity. Normally, the initial portion of MPASI is small, only about half a small bowl for each MPASI meal schedule. The portion of MPASI can be increased if the baby still seems hungry.

How to Cook MPASI Properly

To maintain the nutritional content of MPASI, you need to pay attention to several cooking methods for food ingredients. Vegetables are better steamed, so their nutrients do not dissolve in water. Steaming should not be done for too long. For meat and eggs, you must cook them until fully cooked.

Collection of 4-Star MPASI Ideas for 6-Month-Old Babies

Here are some MPASI ideas for 6-month-old babies that you can practice.

1. Vegetable Egg Porridge

Ingredients:

500 ml of boiled water

5 tablespoons of freshly cooked rice

1 egg

½ small potato

½ clove of garlic

1 tablespoon of pure coconut oil

How to Make:

1.  Boil 500ml of water, once boiling, add rice, egg, and garlic.

2.  Cook until the rice becomes porridge, set aside.

3.  Steam the chopped potato until cooked.

4.  Strain the potato and the porridge that has been made.

5.  Add one tablespoon of pure coconut oil to the strained porridge.

2. Potato Porridge

Ingredients:

200ml of boiled water

1 medium-sized potato

5 spinach leaves, just the leaves

30 grams of minced chicken or beef

½ clove of garlic

1 tablespoon of unsalted butter

How to Make:

1. Wash the potato thoroughly, then steam until soft.

2. Mash the potato while warm, set aside.

3. Sauté garlic with butter or margarine until fragrant, add minced meat, cook until done by adding water.

4. Once the meat is cooked, add spinach and stir until the spinach wilts, set aside.

5. Strain the cooked meat and spinach until smooth.

6. Mix the potato and meat until well combined.

7. Add expressed breast milk to adjust the texture if it is too thick.

3. Chicken Liver Porridge

Ingredients:

30 grams of chicken liver

2 tablespoons of freshly cooked rice

¼ carrot

1 teaspoon of red beans

½ bay leaf

½ clove of garlic

1 tablespoon of coconut oil

500ml of water or chicken broth

How to Make:

1. Boil water, add the chopped chicken liver, bay leaf, minced garlic, rice, red beans, and chopped carrot.

2. Cook until all ingredients are done.

3. Strain the porridge until finished.

4. Add coconut oil, the porridge is ready to serve.

4. Fish Porridge

Ingredients:

30 grams of fish fillet (any easily available fish)

2 tablespoons of rice

1 small box of chayote

1 bay leaf