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What do Korean babies eat? This is a question that many people are curious about. The answer is that they eat a variety of different foods, all of which are healthy and provide benefits for their growing bodies. In this blog post, we will discuss the top 10 healthiest korean baby foods. These foods are popular among Korean parents and have been shown to provide various health benefits for infants and toddlers.
As a disclaimer, I am not a doctor nor do I claim myself as an expert in baby nutrition. However, I am a mom and want to share what I believe to be the best and healthiest Korean baby foods that I feed my little one. My hope is that these ideas will inspire you to provide nutritious and delicious Korean food for your little one.
Additionally, in case you were wondering, most of these foods are not purees because that is a whole other list that deserves its own article. If you would like to know either how to make Korean baby purees or simply want a list of all the Korean baby purees I feed my child, please let me know in the comment section below. Your feedback is super helpful when navigating the direction of my website.
Let’s get started in answering what do Korean babies eat starting with Rice.
RICE
Rice is a staple food in Korea, and it is not surprising that it is one of the first solid foods that Korean babies eat. Rice is easy to digest and is a good source of carbohydrates, which are essential for baby’s growth and development. Rice can be served plain or mixed with other ingredients such as vegetables, meat, or fish.
You want to make sure you follow your baby’s lead, but I found that my research has shown babies older than 6 months old can handle very soft rice. I started to give my son rice (not porridge) around 8 months because that is when he was able to control the amount of food he put in his mouth without gagging.
What do Korean babies eat with their rice? I know some mom’s like to add soy sauce to season the rice, but I choose not to add any form of added sodium (or sugar) until my kids are past the age of one. Instead, I will add other spices and oils such as sesame oil, seaweed, and basil.
There are many Korean recipes on simple short grain white rice or even brown rice. The basic water to rice ratio is 1:1 for normal rice. For your baby, I would recommend increasing the water up to double and cook it for at least another 15 minutes to make the rice a bit softer.
KOREAN PURPLE RICE
If you love rice, you’ll also love my recipe for making healthy purple rice. But as mentioned before, increase the water and cook time to make it softer for your baby.
PORRIDGE
Much like serving rice, I serve Korean baby porridge. Porridge is a type of thickened gruel that is made by boiling rice or other grains in water or milk. It is a common first food and a delicious Korean meal for babies as it is easy to digest and gentle on the stomach. Porridge can be flavored with different ingredients such as vegetables, meat, or fish.
What do Korean babies eat with their porridge? When I first started to feed my son porridge, it was very simple. Breastmilk, water, and short grain white rice. Then I eventually graduated the recipe by adding vegetables, meats (such as beef, chicken or pork), and replacing breastmilk with bone broth. You could also finely chop garlic and add it to the porridge while cooking it.
KOREAN SWEET POTATOES
Sweet potatoes are another common first food for Korean babies. Korean sweet potatoes are a good source of vitamins A and C, as well as fiber. My favorite is the purple Korean sweet potato, they not only taste delicious but it is one of the healthiest varieties of sweet potato (SOURCE). They can be steamed, boiled, or mashed and are often served mixed with rice. If you are looking for a Korean blw recipe (baby led weaning) Korean sweet potatoes are the best! Kids love Korean sweet potato as it is super friendly to their digestive system and friendly to their palette.
What do Korean babies eat with sweet potatoes? My favorite way to serve sweet potato is roasting it in the oven at 350 degrees Fahrenheit for about 45 minutes and letting them cool completely in the oven. Once cooled, I serve the potato in spears the size of two fingers.
Another fun way to get your babies to eat veggies and rice is to mash it all together with sweet potato and make small jumokbap (rice balls). This is my son’s favorite Korean dish. If you want to learn my recipe, please let me know below. I’d be happy to share my Korean baby food discoveries.
(I won’t get too much into the size of the food in this article as this really depends on your child’s age)
KOREAN SOUP
Soup is a common part of the Korean diet and is often given to babies as their first solid food. Soup is easy to digest and helps to hydrate the baby. There are many different types of soup that can be given to baby, such as chicken soup, fish soup, or vegetable soup.
As briefly mentioned above, I am careful about the sodium content in foods. I choose not to give my child any added sodium or sugars until he’s reached his first birthday. This is primarily because infants are very new to eating and therefore have a very delicate digestive system.
What do Korean babies eat in their soups? The types of soups I serve my kid are usually homemade broths mixed in with very soft vegetables for added texture. Since it is difficult for babies to hold a spoon and self feed, for foods that require a utensil, I will give my son a silicone spoon on one hand and I will feed him with a separate spoon.
This is for two reasons. First, feeding a baby in general is messy. If I want any chance of his soup to go into his mouth, he will need a little assistance from momma. Second, I want him to be exposed to his own spoon, so I give him something to hold onto – the silicon spoon.
Once you know your child is not allergic, I encourage you to start with a simple broth where you know all the ingredients (and no added sodium!). Always start with a little bit at a time and gradually increase the amount. Remember, your baby’s stomach is tiny! They don’t need much when starting solids and they get most of their nutrition from breastmilk or formula. So, don’t worry if your little one is not slurping the entire bowl you carefully made for him.
KOREAN TOFU
Tofu is an important part of the Korean diet and is often given to babies as their first solid food. Tofu is a good source of vitamins and minerals, as well as protein. They can be steamed, boiled, or mashed and are often served by themselves. Additionally, tofu is a wonderful ingredient when making homemade organic baby food recipes.
What do Korean babies eat with tofu? My favorite way to serve tofu is soft tofu in large cubes. I let him feed himself and let him just have fun and explore the texture and flavor. I will also use tofu to make healthy baby food such as rice balls (see above), patties, and even soup.
Honestly, it may sound embarrassing to call this a recipe but easy Korean recipes for kids rarely require many ingredients. Sometimes, it’s simple just warming up that one ingredient and serving it to your happy baby, such as warm silken tofu in a bowl.
KOREAN STEAMED VEGETABLES
Vegetables are an important part of the Korean diet and are often given to babies as their first solid food. Vegetables are a good source of vitamins, minerals, and fiber. They can also be steamed, boiled, or mashed and are often served mixed with rice or porridge.
What do Korean babies eat with their vegetables? First, I like to steam a variety of vegetables such as zucchini, carrots, sweet potato, and broccoli. I cut them into small spears that my son can easily pick up and feed himself. He loves eating this way and it’s a great way for him to try new flavors and textures. Second, I’ll often give my son vegetable smoothies. I will use the leftover veggies and blend them with whatever sweet fruit that I have in the fridge.
Here is a small list of vegetables that I have served my son. I also like to cook the veggies in some type of healthy oil such as olive oil, avocado oil, or sesame seed oil.
- Zucchini
- Carrots
- Squash
- Bokchoy
- Broccoli
- Bell pepper
- Kabocha
Korean food for kids is a lot simpler than you think. In many ways how Koreans serve vegetables resembles what many other babies would eat around the world. However, the subtle difference that I find in korean recipes for baby versus anywhere else is the added ingredients to their vegetables such as sesame oil, rice and seaweed.
CONCLUSION
When researching what do korean babies eat, Korean babies eat a variety of different foods, both solid and liquid. The most common first foods are porridge, sweet potatoes, soup, steamed vegetables, and tofu. These foods are easy to digest and gentle on the stomach. They are also a good source of nutrients that are important for a baby’s development. As your baby grows, you can introduce more variety into their diet. Remember to start with small amounts and gradually increase as the baby gets used to solid foods. Also, be sure to watch for any signs of allergies.
Happy feeding!
