1. Milk

If you are breastfeeding then breast milk is the best choice upto 1 year and after 1 year 3 servings of cows milk can be given.

2. High calorie energy dense nutritious foods

Instead of fatty foods, high calorie energy dense foods does the trick without increasing the bad fat in the baby. If high calorie non nutritious fat food (like ice cream, chocolates, processed food)  is given, then it will create poor eating habits which will be difficult to change later.

3. Banana

Banana can be given to infants after 6 months of age.

Banana is rich in dietary fiber, potassium, vitamin C and very good source of Vitamin B6, and is a energy dense nutritious food.

Banana can be introduced as Banana Puree then after 8 months it can be given as pancakes, can be mixed in porridge and after a year as banana muffins.

4. Peach

Peaches can be given after 6 months of age.

Peaches are rich in dietary fiber, niacin, Vitamin A and particularly a good source of Vitamin C.

Peach can be given as purees after 6 months and after 1 year as smoothies and milkshakes.

5. Pear

Pear can be given as one of the first solid foods of baby and helps in weight gain

Pear is one of the fruit that is very rich in Iron and is also a good source of dietary fiber, Vitamin B6 and Vitamin C.

Pear can be given as Pear Puree, Apple Pear Puree with cinnamon twist, and after 8 months pear can be added in pancakes.

6. Peas

Peas can also be given after 6 months.

Peas is one of the most nutritious veggie that can be introduced as the baby’s first solid food. It is very high in dietary fiber, thiamin, vitamin C and high in magnesium, niacin, phosphorous and Vitamin A,B6.

Peas can be given as Peas Puree, Peas Khichdi and as Vegetable soup

7. Sweet Potatoes

Sweet Potatoes again make an excellent first food for the baby. It can be given from 6 months of age.

Sweet Potatoes are very low in saturated fat, high in dietary fiber, magnesium and potassium, vitamin B6 and very high in Vitamin A and C.

Sweet Potatoes can be given as purees, sweet potato khichdi, pancake and as soups.

8. Plain meats

Chicken can be introduced after 8 months of age.

Chicken is rich in niacin, phosphorous, magnesium, Vitamin B6 and B12, also it is rich in cholesterol too, so chicken can be given once a week to babies.

Chicken flesh pieces can be either boiled or given as chicken stew, chicken soup, chicken rice.

9. Ghee

Our Desi Ghee is one of the best weight gaining food source. Ghee can be added in almost all the food that the baby takes after 7 months. Every day around 1 teaspoon of ghee can be added in the baby’s food. Start with few drops of ghee at first and slowly increase the quantity. Ghee can sometimes be very heavy for the baby, so please be moderate in its usage.

10. Cheese

Cheese can be given after 8 months.

Cheese is rich in phosphorous, calcium and selenium.

Cheese cut as slices make a perfect finger food, fruit salad with cheese,can be given to babies.

11. Dry fruits

Dry fruits include almond, pistachio, fig, cashew are energy dense and non fattening.

The dry fruits can be powdered (recipe soon) and mixed in almost all the foods, other forms by which it can be given are almond milk, dry fruit snack bar, dry fruit ladoo.

Please note, dry fruits may cause allergy in some babies, follow the 3 Day Rule while introducing any new food.How to make dry fruits Powder for babies?

12. Whole Wheat

Mostly wheat is not considered as a weight gaining food by many, but using whole wheat in baby foods has shown a steady weight gain in babies.

Whole wheat is an excellent source of dietary fiber with low fat.

Whole wheat can be given as Wheat Cereal,Wheat Soya Porridge, Wheat Kheer, Whole Wheat pancakes, Wheat porridge, Wheat Almond Porridge, Wheat Greengram Porridge.

13. Oats

Another food that indirectly causes weight gain in babies is Oats.

Oats is low in saturated fat and cholesterol and high in manganese, magnesium, thiamine and phosphorous. Oats is the only cereal containing legume like protein.

Oats can be given as Oats Porridge, Oats Kheer, Apple Oats Porridge, Oats pancake, Oats fruit Dosa.

14. Avocado

Avocado can be given after 6 months. Avocado is rich in dietary fiber and low in saturated fat.

Avocado can be given as puree, and after 1 year as milk shakes and smoothies.

15. Ragi

Ragi or Finger Millet is one of the best weight gaining food.

Ragi is rich in dietary fiber, protein, Vitamin B1,B2, B6.

Ragi can be given as

1. Ragi Porridge
2. Ragi Cake
3. Ragi Dosa
4. Ragi Ladoo
5. Ragi Kheer
6. Ragi Roti
7. Ragi Cookies

16. Home Made Cerelac or Sathu Maavu

Home made cerelac is another excellent weight gaining food. It combines the goodness of cereals, nuts and pulses to form a wholesome healthy food.

Click Here for recipe.

Another super healthy version is the Sprouted Health Mix or Sathu Maavu Mix,where in all the ingredients are sprouted and made into powder.

17. Olive Oil

Olive oil has high monosaturated fat than other oils and is healthy option over other vegetable oils. The baby’s food can be prepared with  virgin olive oil..

18. Potatoes

Potato makes an excellent first food for babies. It has a soft consistency, easily mashable and it is the least allergenic food.Start with little quantity as some babies may develop tummy upset due to gas.

The potato is rich in minerals, vitamins and also an assortment of phytochemicals such as carotenoids and natural phenols.The Potato is best known for its carbohydrate content, a medium sized potato contains about 26 gms.

Potato can be given as puree, in khichdi, soups.

19. Eggs

Eggs can be given after 8 months of age. At first the yellow can be given and later white can be given as the proteins in the white yolk tend to cause allergies in children.

Eggs are high in proteins and saturated fat.

Eggs can be given as boiled, scrambled, as pancakes, egg rice, french toast.

20. Virgin Coconut oil

Coconut oil helps in weight gain and easy digestion in babies. It can be added while cooking baby food.Hope these list of healthy weight gaining foods for babies will help cure your worries about your babies weight gain:-)