Korean Job Discussion Forums

[darbyjh]

I am moving back to Korea and will bring my 9 month old child. I have lived in Korea for 5 1/2 years and both kids were born there but our first was breast-fed until almost a year old. I just want to know, traditionally, what do infants eat for solid food. I know you can buy some Gerber foods at EMart and the Koreans have a small selection of their own brand of baby food. The problem is, the food available, is only fruit and fruit mixed with oatmeal. I have never seen veggies. So I would assume Koreans use traditional veggies when introducing solids. Do they begin giving babies gochu at a young age as well? My daughter hates spicy food. My wife and I love it. Any suggestions? Thank you.

[pet lover]

They sell vegetable baby food now. Not much of a selection, but they do. I buy it for my dogs--they love the squash, but they aren't fond of the veggie mix.

[darbyjh]

Can you tell me where? Is at most Marts? Sometimes at Carefour it was hit or miss with baby food. EMart had the fruit almost always but never veggies.

[fidel]

It is possible to make your own food you know, and you can use whatever ingredients you desire. It's also healthier.

[pet lover]

I bought veggie baby food at both E-Mart and Rich Mart. I've also seen it at Lotte Mart.

[jaykimf]

My kids would never eat the baby food from jars, so basically you just give them whatever they'll eat that you think is good for them. They started with rice porridge with maybe some finely shredded fish or seaweed mixed in for taste. Or spinich. steamed eggs. as they get older you can gradually add more solid foods, tomatoes, shredded potatoes, carrots, kimchi. Of course the kimchi is too spicy, so you wash it off in a glass of water and cut into small pieces. Same with other spicy food, wash it in water first. Tofu would be good, if they'll eat it. Basically whatever they'll eat, using your common sense about what's good for them.

[peppergirl]

I'm kind of happy there's only a small selection of baby food available... so I won't be tempted giving my baby jars all the time

Koreans give their babies rice porridge, they add veggies/eggs/meat/fish/seaweed etc (not all at the same time and according to the baby's age of course).

If you want to make more western-style babyfood, you can easily find recipes on the net. Here's just one website, there are many more out there.

[tzechuk]

This question is very closed to heart as I've just started giving my daughter solids (well since she was 5 months, she is 6 months and 2 weeks old now).

I am breastfeeding and have decided to make my own food. To start, I ground some rice to make rice cereal. Mixed it with breastmilk but baby didn't like it much, but I gave her for about a week to make sure there was no allergic reaction.

Then I cooked and pureed apples, which she liked.. I also pureed Korean pears and she loved pears. I gave these 3 foods to her for a month and she got used to eating solids.

Came 6 months, I pureed carrots for her and I think it's by far her favourite food. Now she is eating sweet potatoes.

I took her for her 6 months check up and shots last week. I've been told to start giving her meats for the protein... so broiled chicken... here we come....

Anyway, the point is, I make my own food. But I have bought a few jars of carrots and sweet potatoes for when we go out and can't get home in time for her solids.

Incidentally, there is a website in Korea that sels a wide range of Gerber baby food. If you want, I can let you have the site URL.

[teachingld2004]

My "babies" are 29 and 23, but I never bought baby food, except for gerber cereals.

I used to steam fruits, veretables, and meats. I would pure them with the steamed juices, or boiled water. Carrots with chicken. Sweet potatoes and fish. Tofu and bananas. Just do not add salt, sugar, or honey. Babies can be alergic to honey and nuts.

Why buy baby food when you can make your own? It is sure healthier for baby.

[darbyjh]

thanks for all the tips and ideas. I really want to give our youngest the best. How much would a food processor cost in Korea? Any guess?

[tzechuk]

[teachingld2004]

We have an old invention, it is called a fork! Yes yes, I made baby food with a fork. (I did use a blemnder also, but a fork is fine when the baby has teeth.) You just mash it. Bring with you a potato masher, by the way. They are not to be found here, but if they are I never saw them.

You also can mash food with the bottom of a glass. Yes, a food processor is cheap, but you CAN use what you already have in your kitchen drawer!!

[tzechuk]

[nolin nae]

boiled egg (yolks only) and mix in some raw grated liver. you can get high quality liver in most street markets. don't overdo on the orange vegetables as your baby's immature liver may have difficulty converting carotenoids to vitamin A. if your baby's skin develops a yellowish color, a sign that he is not making the conversion, discontinue orange vegetables for a time.

above all, do not deprive your baby of animal fats—he needs them for optimum physical growth and mental development. mother's milk contains over 50% of its calories as fat, much of it saturated fat, and children need these kinds of fats throughout their growing years.

[tzechuk]