Animal liver is an important food for babies because of preformed Vitamin A which contributes to the development of the immune system, eyes and bones. It also gives the body cholesterol which is important for a growing baby but should be given in minimal quantities. Even with the benefits of the liver being obvious, it is important to feed your baby liver from animals such as calves, lambs or chicken.
The debate on whether to include liver in a baby’s diet has been going on for many years with medical professionals giving different opinions on the topic. Even so, many doctors in Kenya recommend the introduction of liver from the age of eight months and limit its intake to a minimum of three times every week.
How to cook liver for babies
If you decide to introduce liver in your baby’s diet, it is important that you buy it from a reputable butchery. Ensure that it is fresh and does not have any unpleasant odour that may indicate that it is not good for consumption.
Below is a simple recipe you can use to cook liver for your baby.
Ingredients:
1 piece of liver (small)
½ sweet potato (diced)
½ cup chicken stock
Method:
- Place the diced sweet potato and liver in a saucepan.
- Add the chicken stock and bring the mixture to a boil.
- Reduce heat and let the mixture simmer for a minimum of 5 minutes until sweet potato is soft and liver is well cooked.
- Mash or blend until soft.
