Yummy Beginnings
PO Box 245 St Ives NSW 2075
Em: yb@yummybeginnings.com
www.yummybeginnings.com
All the vitamins your baby needs when starting of solids.
There is so much talk about vitamins and how good they are for our growing babies and for all of
us. So what food has which vitamin, and what do these vitamins do?
Some vitamins are water-soluble, and the body does not store them, so your baby needs them
everyday. These are vitamins C and B complex.
Some vitamins are fat-soluble, so the body can store these. They are vitamins A, D, E and K.
Vitamin C is found in many fruits and vegetables. It is crucial for the absorption of other nutrients
such as iron and for your baby's bone development and growth, as well as helping the body's
resistance and healing. Broccoli (now called the ‘supervegetable’), cauliflower and citrus fruits all
contain vitamin C, just to name a few. Breast milk and formula also have vitamin C.
Vitamin B complex, is actually made up of about 16 different B vitamins. These are essential for
growth development, to enhance the appetite, promote effective digestion, create healthy skin, to
keep the nervous system in balance and help to obtain energy from all the food we eat.
Vitamin A is stored in the body and is needed for good growth and vision, healthy skin, and
digestive tract and it also assists in building up resistance to infections. Plant foods such as fruit
and vegetables, do not contain vitamin A, but they do have beta carotene which is converted to
Vitamin A. I am sure you have heard of beta carotene. It is present in orange and yellow fruit and
vegetables, as well as fish, cheese, eggs, butter, chicken and spinach.
Vitamin D is vital for the absorption of calcium and phosphorus, which helps to develop strong
bones. This is supplied to us by the sun! Other sources include fish oil, from liver and dairy
products. Vitamin E helps in general growth, muscle development and again healthy skin, and for
healthy nerve and cell structures. Nuts, liver, brown rice, oats and wholegrain cereals all contain
vitamin E.
Vitamin K is present in leafy green vegetables. It is needed for regular blood clotting and liver
function.
I just listed a few examples of the fruit and vegetables that contain these vitamins. There are
many other sources that I have not mentioned here!
For an informative and fun way to learn about what healthy foods to give to your baby, look up
www.yummybeginnings.com.
Kasha Dubinska, Bachelor of Science major in Chemistry with Honors from The University of
Sydney, mother and home chef of healthy baby food.
