Feed your baby egg yolks? Yeah, I know how that sounds. This is a post in open defiance of all the pretty little jars of baby food lined up on grocery story shelves. Yes, they are colorful and have pictures of adorable babies on the label. Does that make them the ideal first foods for babies? Nope. It just makes them the politically correct and socially acceptable way to feed your baby.

Traditional cultures did not have grocery stores filled with tiny glass jars of mashed fruits and veggies. So how in the world did they manage to feed their growing babies? With real food, of course! I’m talking about egg yolks. Yep. Golden, wholesome, nutrient-dense egg yolks are the ideal first food for babies.

“Around the world, through the centuries, almost universally, the first solid food we’ve ever introduced to babies were egg yolks.” from page 168 in by Kristen Michaelis

Top 5 Reasons to Feed Your Baby Egg Yolks

Egg yolks contain cholesterol. No, it’s not politically correct, but cholesterol is crucial for brain development (which is why breast milk contains plenty of cholesterol!). Egg yolks are rich in fat-soluble vitamins like vitamin A, D, E and K. “These vitamins are essential for your baby to grow a strong, sturdy bone structure. They also dramatically affect how your baby’s face forms.” (from page 167 in ) These are the nutrients prized so highly in the traditional cultures explored by Weston A. Price, who marveled at the beautiful facial structure and teeth of the well nourished children he saw. Egg yolks are a great source of other vitamins and minerals that are important for growing babies. Like choline, vitamin B12, thiamin, riboflavin, folate, zinc, copper, selenium, and more! Egg yolks are a good source of natural fats and proteins for your baby. Breastmilk is a marvelous balance of fats, proteins and natural carbohydrates. Feeding egg yolks to baby fits perfectly into theirnutritional requirements, especially alongside other nutritious first foods like fresh mashed banana. Egg yolks are easy to digest. This is important, because a baby’s digestive system is still developing and it’s best to introduce foods that are gentle on their systems.

How to Choose Healthy Eggs for Your Baby

Not all eggs are created equal. The best eggs for baby come from pastured hens–from a local farmer or even your own back yard. Chickens who live in a truly free-range environment eat a far more nutritious diet than factory hens, and this reflects directly in the nutrient content of their eggs. Eggs from pastured hens will contain more fat soluble vitamins and other critical nutrients for your baby.

If you can’t get eggs from pastured hens, next choice is organic eggs from hens whose diets are supplemented with vitamins and minerals often lacking in the diet of a factory hen. Organic hens are also not exposed to antibiotics like factory hens.

How to Prepare Egg Yolk for Baby

Egg yolks should be introduced when your baby starts showing interest in eating solid foods, according to . This is typically around 6-8 months old–but it’s best to trust your baby and your parental instincts when it comes to introducing solid foods to your baby. Cook egg yolks carefully to preserve their nutrients. You can do this with gentle hard boiling, scrambling, or poaching.

What About Egg Whites for Babies?

Egg whites are a little more difficult to digest, and are better introduced closer to 12 months old when your baby’s digestive system has matured a little more.

Want to Learn More About Nourishing Your Baby? Order the Beautiful Babies Book!

This book goes far beyond just why to feed your baby egg yolks. Did you know that simple changes in your diet can increase your fertility, lower your chance of experiencing morning sickness, and even minimize the chance your child will ever need braces? Kristen Michaelis of Food Renegade discusses all of this and more in her new book . In the forward, Joel Salatin says,

“I find Kristen’s feisty spirit and mischievous humor both empowering and liberating. As a dad of two, husband of one, and grandfather of three, I covet these historically proven and normal principles for every family on earth. I wish this book had been around when my wife, Teresa, and I were starting our family.”