Spices

[Yazzie]

Anyone know when it's ok to introduce spices into your lo's diet?

[Evgenia]

I think it would depend on what spices u r talking about? Hot spices or more of a flavor spices?

I would stay away from hot spices for a good while (but again this also depends on culture), I started introducing some flavor spices (like cumin) after a year or so.

I see u r from Cairo, and Egyptian cuisine is full of various spices (hot and not). I'm not sure if u r Egyptian urself but I would ask ur local friends when they start with spices. I know that English and Irish cuisine does not require the amount and variety of spices as would be used in Egypt, so I would presume this would influence the age los get introduced to spices.

Hope this helps

[momtonb&ab]

we introduced them pretty much right away (mild curries and spiced tomato sauces and the like, medium salsa (just a bit) etc.)  while it is not cultural for US my DH was very much of the philsophy that kids are like grown ups and like variety and babies in mexico don't eat bland potatoes  

fwiw, our kids never had a problem with the spices (and we always told them if it was hot spicy or flavourful spicy and let them decide to try it or not) and they are great varied eaters now - loving things like burritos and salsa and curries.

[Yazzie]

I am Egyptian & we do have loads of spices here, but I was mainly thinking of adding things just for flavor. My pedi suggested things like cinnamon, cumin, etc, so wanted to check what you ladies were doing..

I've also notices that many of Annabel Karmel's recipes includes flavor spices.

[Evgenia]

Hey I went through the Anabel Karmel's recepies that I cooked for my dd, and up to about 9 months it was plain fruit or veg, no spices, just very plain.

Now from 9 months or so I introduced, chicen, fish and then meat, and onnce these were established for a bit I went for recepies with spices. At the start I did use recepies but left the spices out.

[First Time Mom]

With my dd I refrained from any spices when she was a baby as I wanted her to taste the natural taste of food figuring it was easy to add spice/flavour later and hard to take it away if they are used to it. Well, she is now 4 and refuses anything that does not taste "natural" claiming it is "too spicy" even if it is not. She prefers the majority of her foods steamed, not mixed, and not flavour enhanced. With ds I will be introducing spices to him much earlier as I don't want him turning up his nose to more interesting foods.

[Yazzie]

As ds is already having meat & chicken, & he really loves eating, I think I'll start try to very slowly introduce spices, today I just added a tiny hint of cinnamon to his apples, yummy..

[Evgenia]

Apples with cinnamon my favorite!!!!  i would kill for an apple and cinnamon pie right now.

Oh yeah dd loves it too. When i've no nice deserts ready for her I just through peeled and deseeded apple in a pot, tiny bit of water, pinch of cinnamon let them cook a bit and then sprinkle with crushed biscuit on top yummmm.......  

[Evgenia]

Forgot to mention: mush them up a bit with a fork, and add ice cream or custard if u like....

Sorry I know this is not a cooking post, i'm jus hungry......

[FrenchWife]

you know, i think some babies just prefer more flavor, ds has had a lot of spicy foods and has never had any problems, and he is normally pretty picky... who knows...   His favorite food is the spicy chilli i make for DH. he has been eating it sense about 7 or 8 months. i say just give them a try slowly, and see how he likes them!

[Mashi]

You can add spices and flavourings at ANY time after 6 months!  I always used the three day rule with spices as I did with all other foods though.   Hasn't made much of a difference here though, DS still only eats plain toast most days!!!

[Yazzie]

Wow...spicy chilli..!......@ mashi, you're little guy just sounds so adorable, already know what he wants.....plain bread is a favorite of mine..!..no one ever understands how I can eat it..hehe

We're on with the cinnamon, I think it's ok & ds seems to like the taste it gives to his & tommorow I'm going to try & make him some meatballs, so will be adding some spices there..

Thanks ladies..