In general cheese is not termed as a healthy food. But when we are talking about the babies’ then cheese is a healthy food. It is full of calcium and a great source of vitamins like A, D and B12. For vegetarian families raising children on a meatless diet, cheese can prove a great alternative source for vitamin B12, a nutrient commonly derived from meat sources.

Most of the cheese products are rich in flavor and mostly loved by babies and it can be mixed with any type of meal to increase the taste of the food. It’s even better if it can be prepared at home.
You can try out different ways of incorporating cheese with food such as, cutting firm cheese and serving them as finger food or mix them with meals. You can also grate it and stir into rice, pasta, soups, cereals and other dishes. Other way is to grill the cheese and serve with bread. You can also mash the cheese with fruit purees like avocado and also add it with cookies and muffins.

You can start giving cheese to your baby when she is six months old. Most babies are able to handle cheese as they are made from pasteurized milk. But if in case there is any family history of dairy allergy present in the family then you may have to consult a pediatrician before you start giving cheese. But it should not be a problem as cheese is usually free from milk protein which is the main source of dairy allergy.

You can choose from great cheeses like swiss cheese, cheddar, parmesan, romano, colby, mozzarella, cream cheese, cottage cheese and romano. Always prefer real cheese as heavily processed cheese products found in groceries contains plenty of emulsifiers, additives and enhancers.  So it is essential for you to provide natural food to your baby as much as possible and avoid any artificial flavoring and coloring.