Complementary Foods to Prioritize
Nutrient-dense complementary foods | Rich in nutrients important without too many calories: fruits, vegetables, whole grains, fish and seafood, unprocessed lean meats/skinless poultry, nuts and legumes |
|---|---|
Potentially allergenic foods | Peanuts, egg, cow milk products, tree nuts, wheat, crustacean shellfish, fish, soy |
Variety of foods from all food groups | Fruits, vegetables, grains, protein food (eg, meats, poultry, fish, legumes), dairy |
Foods rich in iron and zinc | Meats and poultry, infant cereals (iron), legumes |
Avoid foods and beverages with added sugars | Juice drinks, infant desserts, cereal bars, breakfast pastries |
Limit foods and beverages higher in sodium | Toddler dinners, savory infant/toddler snacks |
As weaning from human milk or infant formula, transition to a healthy dietary pattern (See Tab 18.) | Encourage dietary diversity, family foods |
From American Academy of Pediatrics. Pediatric Nutrition. 9th ed. American Academy of Pediatrics; 2025.
A Shopping List Rich in Vitamins and Minerals
Parents and caregivers should be aware of the vitamin-rich complementary foods available when their infant is ready to eat solid foods.
Vitamin-Rich Foods | |
|---|---|
Vitamin A | Beef liver, sweet potatoes, carrots, cantaloupes, spinach, winter squash, tomatoes, peaches, butternut squash |
Vitamin B1 (thiamin) | Black beans, green peas, fish, oatmeal, meat, whole wheat bread, cabbage, summer squash |
Vitamin B2 (riboflavin) | Beef liver, enriched cereal, yogurt, cottage cheese, meat, mushrooms, spinach |
Vitamin B3 (niacin) | Enriched cereal, fish, lean meats, mushrooms, potatoes |
Vitamin B6 (pyridoxine) | Potatoes, bananas, turkey breast, spinach, fish, navy beans, broccoli, squash, fortified grain products |
Vitamin B9 (folate) | Spinach, asparagus, turnip greens, beets, oranges, cantaloupes, broccoli, legumes, summer squash, fortified grain products |
Vitamin B12 (cobalamin) | Chicken liver, fish, enriched cereal, meat, Swiss cheese, cottage cheese, yogurt, eggs |
Vitamin C (ascorbic acid) | Cantaloupes, oranges, broccoli, Brussels sprouts, tomatoes, potatoes, cabbage |
Fish, enriched cereal, fortified yogurt, eggs | |
Vitamin E | Sunflower seed oil, wheat germ, safflower oil, cottonseed oil, corn oil, peanut butter, canola oil, avocado |
Vitamin K | Kale, spinach, cabbage, salad greens, asparagus, soybeans, plantains, kiwi |
Mineral-Rich Foods | |
Calcium | Cheese, plain yogurt, calcium-set tofu, turnip greens (cooked) |
Iron | Fish, enriched cereal, beef liver, spinach, navy beans, Swiss chard, meat, black beans |
Zinc | Fish, enriched cereal, meat, plain yogurt |
Adapted from US Department of Agriculture. Infant Nutrition and Feeding: A Guide for Use in the Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children (WIC). 2019. Accessed October 14, 2024. https://wicworks.fns.usda.gov/resources/infant-nutrition-and-feeding-guide.
