Acidic foods, particularly citrus fruits, are not recommended for children under 12 months. High-acid foods can cause painful diaper rashes and can cause a rash to form around the mouth. Children who suffer from acid reflux will be particularly sensitive to acidic foods, and parents should consult their pediatrician before introducing these foods. Thankfully, there are many homemade baby food options that have little or no acidic properties.

Vegetables

Nearly all vegetables, particularly green ones, are alkaline foods, meaning they are the opposite of acidic. Vegetables tend to be easy for young digestive systems to digest, and are an excellent type of first food for babies. If your baby is new to food, butternut squash, sweet potatoes or green beans are great places to start. All foods should be cooked until soft and pureed until smooth. You may need to add water, formula or breast milk to your puree if you find the consistency is too thick for your child.

Fruits

While you should avoid citrus and acidic fruits like oranges, lemons, limes, grapefruit and nectarines, there are plenty of non-acidic fruit options from which to choose. In fact, many parents choose certain fruits to be their child’s first food, as babies are less likely to reject the sweetness of fruits. Apples, bananas, pears and avocados are all great fruits with which to start. Avocados and bananas do not need cooking; simply mash and feed. Apples and pears can be steamed or baked and pureed.

Grains

One of the most popular first foods for babies is rice cereal. Most infant rice cereals are formulated for babies specifically, and have added iron. Keep this in mind, and if your baby becomes constipated after eating rice cereal, you may want to switch to a non-iron-fortified brand. Infant cereals most typically come in rice, barley or oat varieties, and all are easy to prepare. Follow the directions on the package to determine how much liquid to add, briefly heat and serve. All grains are low-acid foods.

Meats

All meats are somewhat acidic, though in most the acidity isn’t noticeable. However, if your child is suffering from acid reflux, you may choose to delay the introduction of meats. Chicken and turkey are lower in acidity than beef or pork, and are also easier to digest. Turkey or chicken are generally recommended to be a baby’s first meat. Discuss with your child’s pediatrician what age is best to introduce meat. Some doctors recommend meat be introduced earlier than others. When preparing meat for your child, always make sure the meat is fully cooked or well-done, showing no pink inside.

Solid Foods for a 5 Month Old Baby

The American Academy of Pediatrics recommends that a baby is 6 months old before she is introduced to solid food. Breast milk or formula provides enough nutrition for the first six months, and waiting to introduce solid foods can help prevent allergies and allow the baby’s digestive system to mature. However, some parents choose to introduce some solids between 4-6 months. There are a few grains, fruits and vegetables that are excellent beginner foods because they are gentle on the baby’s stomach, offer nutrition and are delicious to a baby’s taste buds.

Grains

Rice cereal is a perfect first food. It is bland and unlikely to cause an allergic reaction. For baby’s first feeding, mix one tablespoon of the cereal with four to five tablespoons of breast milk or formula. The cereal will be very runny, but the baby is used to a liquid-only diet, so he will be more likely to eat the cereal from a spoon. Oatmeal cereal or barley are other options.

Easily Digestible Fruits

Applesauce or bananas make a good introduction to fruits because they are easily digestible for most children. To make your own applesauce, peel and core the fruit, cut into pieces and steam until soft. Then, blend to desired consistency, adding water if necessary to make the food more like liquid. Bananas are soft as is, so mashing them and mixing them with breast milk or formula will likely be enough; use a food processor if needed to get a smoother consistency.

Easily Digestible Vegetables

Carrots are an excellent choice for the first vegetable. They are naturally sweet and are unlikely to cause an allergic reaction. To make carrots, peel, cut into pieces and steam until soft. Blend to desired consistency and add water if necessary. At first, the baby may need more water to make the puree easy to swallow. After carrots, you can introduce squash and sweet potatoes. Avocados are also a good option; they are easily mashed, and packed with healthy fats.

Introduce Foods Appropriately

To know if a certain food causes an allergic reaction, it is advisable to wait between 2-3 days before introducing a new food. If there is an allergic reaction, stop serving the food and consult the pediatrician. Follow the baby’s cues and don’t force him to eat when he doesn’t want to. At this point in his development, eating solids is more for experimentation and learning. He is still getting most of his nutrition from breast milk or formula. Cucumbers are considered low-acid fruits, as are avocados. If you have gastrointestinal issues like acid reflux or GERD, your doctor may recommend eating low-acid foods, which can help keep acid reflux at bay. Even if you’re not managing a specific health condition, many low-acid foods are considered healthy picks (as they’re primarily fruits and vegetables) and can be valuable to your daily diet. While there are health benefits to eating non-acidic foods, especially if you have GERD or kidney disease, that doesn’t mean you should avoid acidic foods altogether. A food’s pH value will determine whether a food is acidic or non-acidic (neutral or more alkaline) and where it lies within the spectrum.

What Is the pH Scale?

The pH scale measures the acidity or alkalinity of a solution, according to the U.S. General Survey (USGS). Scientists use a logarithmic scale to measure pH levels, which generally range from 0 to 14.

• ​Basic/Alkaline:​ A pH of more than 7 indicates that the subject is basic.
• ​Acidic:​ A pH of less than 7 indicates that the subject is acidic. The closer to 0, the more acidic.
• ​Neutral:​ A pH of 7 indicates that the subject is neutral.

While pure water is neutral, neither acidic nor basic, the fluid produced in food can vary along the scale. Any food may measure acidic but may produce an alkaline reaction in your body. So if you’re seeking a lower acid diet, you want to look for alkaline-producing foods. The human body produces fluids that also vary along the pH scale, according to October 2011 research in the ​Journal of Environmental and Public Health​. Bile, for example, is typically 7.6 to 8.8 along the pH scale, so it’s neutral to slightly alkaline. Your skin is slightly acidic, between 4 and 6.5. Urine ranges from 4.6 to 8, depending on what you eat, while gastric fluid, which breaks down protein, is 1.35 to 3.5, which means it’s pretty acidic.

Tip

Low-acid foods just happen to be mostly fruits and vegetables. And a food’s pH may give you a good indication of its acidity. But there are exceptions: Lemon has a pH closer to 2 (acidic) yet has buffering (alkaline-forming) properties, per an August 2019 review in ​Nefrologia.​

Low-Acid Fruits

Don’t get confused: Low-acid foods will still fall on the “acidic” side of the pH scale. The greater the pH number, the less acidic the fruit.

• Avocados (pH 6.27-6.58)
• Persimmon, Fuyu (pH 6.25)
• Cantaloupe (pH 6.13-6.58)
• Olives, black (pH 6.00-7.00)
• Honeydew melon (pH 6.00-6.67)
• Mangoes, ripe (pH 5.80-6.00)
• Dates (pH 5.49)
• Honeydew (pH 5.42)
• Papaya (pH 5.20-6.00)
• Watermelon (pH 5.18-5.60)
• Pear, Bosc (pH 5.15)
• Figs, Calamyrna (pH 5.05-5.98)
• Pumpkin (pH 4.99-5.50)
• Bananas (pH 4.50-5.20)
• Kiwi (pH 4.84)
• Peach (pH 3.3-4.05)

Low-Acidic Vegetables

• Broccoli (pH 6.30-6.85)
• Asparagus (pH 6.00-6.70)
• Mushrooms (pH 6.00-6.70)
• Soybeans (pH 6.00-6.60)
• Brussels sprouts (pH 6.00-6.30)
• Corn (pH 5.90-7.50)
• Carrots (pH 5.88-6.40)
• Radishes (pH 5.85-6.05)
• Celery (pH 5.70-6.00)
• Hearts of palm (pH 5.70)
• String beans (pH 5.60)
• Cauliflower (pH 5.60)
• Spinach (pH 5.50-6.80)
• Eggplant (pH 5.50-6.0)
• Okra, cooked (pH 5.50-6.60)
• Potatoes (pH 5.40-5.90)
• Parsnip (pH 5.30-5.70)
• Cabbage (pH 5.20-6.80)
• Acorn squash (pH 5.18-6.49)
• Cucumbers (pH 5.12-5.78)

Tip

If you are considering a low-acid diet, check with your doctor or consult with a dietitian to make sure you aren’t missing any essential vitamins and minerals.

Why Low-Acid?

There is no conclusive scientific evidence to support the central claim of the alkaline diet, as neither food nor drink can change your blood’s tightly controlled pH, according to a June 2016 review in ​BMJ​. However, current studies support cutting back on some of those acid-producing foods (i.e. red meats) while filling your diet with more veggies. In fact, decreasing animal meat in favor of more fruits and vegetables helps reduce urine acidity, a culprit in promoting kidney stones, per the National Kidney Foundation. And a May 2016 study in the ​Iranian Journal of Kidney Diseases​ suggests that a low-acid diet is tied to a lower risk of chronic kidney disease. Emphasizing more vegetable protein in lieu of red meat may even help manage heartburn symptoms and issues related to GERD. Vegetable proteins are associated with fewer incidents of acid reflux within the first hour after eating, according to an April 2018 study in ​Gastroenterology Research and Practice​​.​ “High-fiber food helps with the movement of contents in the stomach through the digestive tract,” Madathupalayam Madhankumar, MD, a gastro surgeon, says. “The food which is stuck in the stomach for a long time causes acid generation and pressure on the esophageal sphincter, which will result in acid reflux.”

Is a Low-Acid Diet Right for You?

Low-acid diets may be necessary for GERD treatment. As previously mentioned, highly acidic foods — in addition to spicy foods, caffeinated foods and drinks and alcohol — can irritate the throat and esophageal tissue. GERD can lead to Barrett’s esophagus, a precancerous condition, according to Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center. Only a small percentage of people with Barrett’s esophagus end up with esophageal cancer. Unless it is medically advised, you don’t have to worry about determining the acidity of every single food. Most people don’t need to be so pH-specific. Instead of becoming pH-obsessed, it’s more important to focus on a healthy diet rich in vegetables, fruits, legumes and whole grains.

Tip

Home test kits measuring the pH of your urine don’t provide reliable information about the body’s pH level. Instead, focus on eating a variety of fruits, vegetables, whole grains and beans, and keep to a minimum the amount of red meat and processed meats that you eat.

Low-Acid Recipes to Try

• Simple Eggplant Stir-Fry With Hemp Seeds
• Creamy Broccoli and Cauliflower Soup
• Farmers’ Market Mushroom and Herb Oatmeal
• Cucumber Salad
• Vegetarian Breakfast Tacos
• Vegetarian Trail Mix Quinoa
• Vegan Pesto
• Simple Radish Onion Edamame Salad
• Honeydew Cantaloupe Pops

Tip

Lemon juice, garlic, and onion are common GERD trigger foods. So if you’re managing GERD, swap out the lemon juice for lemon zest and simply omit the onion and garlic.