It is mashed potatoes that are the first dish that our kids try and become their favorite for many years to come. All mothers know that the first three years of life, namely the first, are very important for the child's further health. If now your child's nutrition is correct, that is, healthy, balanced and tasty, then in the future, the disposition to excess weight and diseases of the gastrointestinal tract will be practically excluded.
Usually, by the age of 6 months, the baby no longer lacks valuable nutritional properties in breast milk, and loving moms begin to feed them different.
It is rather difficult to determine which puree your baby will like the most. Therefore, when choosing the first taste sensation, remember that vegetable puree is easier to digest, normalizes stool well and is much less likely to be an allergen, although fruit puree is, of course, sweeter, therefore, tastier.
Naturally, it is much easier to buy ready-made mashed potatoes, which are packed in a beautiful jar with an attractive label, however, do not forget that nothing can replace the mother's energy invested in making mashed potatoes for her baby.
For vegetable puree for babies, cauliflower, zucchini, pumpkin, broccoli, potatoes, turnips, carrots, beets, spinach will go. before cooking, it is imperative to wash and remove the peel with a thin layer. If the fruit has green parts, they must be cut off, and the very green parts must not be used at all. Peeled vegetables are washed again with running water and cut. When preparing mashed potatoes for babies, it is advisable to soak vegetables in water (potatoes - 12 - 24 hours, other vegetables 1 - 2 hours), this will remove nitrates, pesticides and other harmful compounds. It is better to steam the vegetables as this will keep more vitamins. For normal cooking, put vegetables in boiling water, and cook under a lid in an enamel bowl, avoid overcooking. Then, while still hot, grind with a blender. The water used in the preparation of the puree must be special for baby food. You can add breast milk, a little ready-made formula, or season with vegetable oil. For children over a year old mashed potatoes can be salted and finely chopped greens can be added.
When making fruit puree, sugar is not used and the fruit must be carefully selected. At 10-11 months, the baby can be introduced into the diet of meat puree. It is worth choosing lean meat - rabbit, lamb, veal, pork. Chicken white meat (turkey) is great. Do not use frozen meat. The cooked meat is cut into pieces and chopped in a blender, then combined with a vegetable broth.
Whether the baby feeds on mother's milk or formula, there comes a moment when he has a need for other food. Even experienced mothers are wondering where, how and when to start feeding the baby. Pediatricians advise to start exploring the gastronomic variety by trying vegetable puree or porridge. What parents need to know about vegetable puree as a first feeding?
Supplementation can solve problems with baby's weight and digestion. So, vegetable puree is suitable for overweight children, constipation. The calorie content of children's cereals will help the baby get stronger, normalize his metabolism. However, vegetable puree is considered the best option. It contains fiber, a large amount of vitamins and minerals.
Modern pharmacies and supermarkets offer a huge selection of mashed potatoes for the first feeding and various vegetables and from different manufacturers... So is it worth it for mothers who are already loaded with household chores to cook for their baby? Isn't it easier to buy ready-made meals? Both homemade puree and store-bought puree have their advantages and disadvantages.
| Homemade puree | Purchased canned food | ||
|---|---|---|---|
| pros | Minuses | pros | Minuses |
| Known composition | Time spent | Variety of menus | Possibility to purchase an expired product |
| Production date known | Lack of sterility of the process | Save time | Frequent discrepancy between the declared composition on the label and the contents of the canned food |
| Choice of quality products for cooking | The product meets the age needs of babies | Most manufacturers produce their products according to TU (technical conditions), that is, made not according to the requirements of GOST. | |
| Compliance with storage conditions under personal control | Ease of use | ||
| The ability to prepare the required amount of food | Easy storage (you can take with you on the road) | ||
Another great advantage of homemade vegetable puree is that cooked food mother's hands with love for the baby and thoughts about him, it will be doubly tastier and healthier for the baby. The same cannot be said about the automated process for the production of canned purees.
How to choose a ready-made vegetable puree?
When choosing canned food with vegetable puree in the store, pay attention to:
- compliance of the product with the age of the baby.
- date of manufacture, expiration date.
- compliance of these storage conditions with the conditions indicated on the label (if the temperature regime has been violated, the product may be damaged).
- packaging. It must not be deformed. If it is a jar, the cap should not be swollen.
- composition. Study it carefully. Sometimes, for example, a manufacturer misleads consumers by placing a large inscription “Sugar free” on the label, in fact, including glucose-fructose syrup in the composition.
- production conditions. Give preference to canned food marked with GOST.
Choosing vegetables for mashed potatoes
By its composition, puree can be mono- and multicomponent, that is, consisting of one or several products. The vegetables included in the recipe for puree affect its usefulness, nutritional value, and the effect on the body of the crumbs. Competently compose a menu for your baby, the table will help.
| Vitamins, nutrients | Effect on the body | Possibility of an allergic reaction | Recommended age to start complementary feeding | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Zucchini | Vitamins A, C, fiber, potassium, copper, low calorie content. | Firming effect on cardiovascular systemimproving digestion. | Hypoallergenic | From 4 months. |
| Broccoli | Calcium, minerals, vitamin E (powerful antioxidant) | Improving digestion and appetite, developing and protecting vision, strengthening immune system, bone growth. | Hypoallergenic | From 4 months. |
| Cauliflower | Vitamins of group B, PP, C, E, K, potassium, phosphorus | Strengthens blood vessels, bone tissue, enhances immunity. | Low degree of allergenicity | From 4 months. |
| White cabbage | Chlorine and sulfur compounds | antiseptic effect, cleansing the stomach and intestines in case of disorders | Rare cases of allergies | From 7 months |
| Pumpkin | Fiber, iron, carotene, mineral salts of phosphorus, potassium, B vitamins, vitamin K, pectin. | Stool normalization, reducing the risk of anemia, strengthening the walls of blood vessels, stimulating physical and neuropsychic development, stimulating normal blood clotting, improving appetite, food assimilation. | Low allergy product | From 5 months |
| Carrot | Carotene (vitamin A), B vitamins, potassium salts, phytoncides. | Stimulation of growth, strengthening of bones, health of gums, teeth, hair, skin. | Allergy possible | From 4 months. |
| Beet | Vitamins of group C, B, PP, iron, folic acid, | Stimulation of the formation of red blood cells, improving the process of oxygenation of muscle tissue. | Frequent cases of allergies | From 8-9 months |
| Potatoes | Phosphorus, potassium, starch, vitamins B, C, E, A. | Removing toxins from the body, strengthening the cardiovascular system | Low degree of allergenicity | From 4-4 ½ months. |
After the introduction of all vegetables into the baby's diet, it will be good to alternate different types puree so that the baby receives a variety of nutrients, vitamins and minerals.
Vegetable puree recipes for babies
How to make vegetable puree for a child? Homemade puree is recommended to be consumed immediately, without leaving it for storage in the refrigerator, without heating. Vegetables are steamed or in an enamel saucepan. The first method is preferable, since it retains most of the vitamins and minerals. Foods can lose their nutritional value during normal cooking. Root crops (potatoes, carrots, beets) are advised to be soaked for several hours in order to avoid the nitrates they contain in the baby's food.
So, how to make mashed potatoes for the first feeding (algorithm of actions):
- Take fresh vegetables (you can also use frozen ones), wash them thoroughly.
- Peel, seeds.
- Rinse again, pour over boiling water.
- Cut into small pieces.
- Dip in boiling water (or put in a double boiler).
- Cook until tender (about 15-20 minutes, depending on the size of the pieces).
- Cool, rub through a strainer, or chop in a blender. Usually, a strainer is used for a small amount of mashed potatoes, for a larger amount, a blender.
- To achieve a thinner consistency, add breast milk, mixture or water in which vegetables were cooked.
- Nutritionists and pediatricians advise against salt, sugar or other spices. A few weeks after the introduction of vegetable puree can be added to it vegetable oil at the rate of 0.5 tsp. for 50 g of finished product.
Correct feeding
How to introduce a baby to a new food for him? How to give a child vegetable puree?
- The start of feeding a baby depends on the type of feeding and individual characteristics baby. So, babies receiving breast milk are advised to introduce new food from 6-7 months. Babies eating formula are recommended earlier complementary foods - from 4-5 months.
- The first puree should be mono-component (from one vegetable) green or white.
- It should be given starting in small portions (1/2 tsp), gradually increasing the amount of food to 150 g / 200 g by 1 year.
- After trying a new food, offer the baby the breast (or formula, if artificial feeding) until full saturation.
- Vegetable puree can be used from 4 months. to fill the gap breast milk during the period .
- Do not rush to immediately diversify the menu of the crumbs. An allergic reaction to certain foods (rash, redness, peeling of the skin, etc.) is possible. Watch for 4-7 days. If there are no signs of allergy, proceed with the introduction of the next vegetable.
- Give your baby multi-component purees only if he has tried each vegetable separately. Eliminate foods in advance allergic The child has.
Following all the rules of the first feeding, listen to your intuition. If the child is on breastfeeding at 4-5 months does well without supplementary feeding, gains weight, there is no need to rush. Pay attention to his interest in adult food, the appearance of the first teeth. These signs will tell you it's time to get acquainted with new food.
I think it is worth considering in more detail the issue of storing the meat products that we choose for our babies and their first meat complementary foods. After all, it is more convenient to cook from small batches of harvested frozen meat.
The meat can be chilled or frozen.
Chilled meat is ideal for complementary meat, fresh, bright taste is preserved, I think everyone knows perfectly well that a dish prepared from fresh meat is much tastier than one prepared from frozen. But the main disadvantage of fresh meat is that you will have to buy it often, if a butcher shop is nearby and you are sure of the quality of the product, then it is very good. And if not?
Therefore, many mothers freeze fresh meat for multiple meals. Freezing a meat product is not difficult.
How to freeze fresh meat:
Step 1: buy good quality meat, preferably without bones, veins, veins, films and fat, i.e. turkey and chicken brisket, pork and veal pulp, I think it's understandable.
Step 2: We cut off all the fat pieces, cartilage and films are also removed.
Step 3: Wash thoroughly under cold water.
Step 4: Cut the meat into small pieces so that, firstly, it cooks faster, and secondly, the meat is whipped better.
Step 5: We put it in packages, you can use it with a zip-fastener, the main thing is to sign the package, i.e. set the freeze date.
Step 6: It is necessary to freeze in the "Fast freeze" mode.
Frozen meat for baby food is stored for no more than 1-2 months, so this should be taken into account when freezing. Defrost meat in the refrigerator.
Storage of finished meat feed
Fridge:After the meat is cooked, cover, let cool and refrigerate immediately. Store in an airtight container and consume within 24 hours.
Frozen meat puree:Once the meat has been mixed and cooled, it is cut into small portions using an ice cube tray. Place in the freezer, freeze with quick-freeze, and use within four weeks.
Freezing pieces of meat: divided into portions, put in a bag, and then in the freezer and freeze. Adding vegetables to the meat purée will help stop the meat purée from drying out during freezing. Use within four weeks.
Warming up: Defrosting meat products in the refrigerator and then reheating in a little water using a frying pan or microwave. Make sure there is some liquid in the puree for heating. It is always necessary to check the temperature of the heated meat puree to make sure it is at an acceptable temperature before giving it to your child. It is not recommended to re-freeze cooked meat for a baby, as thawing increases the number of bacteria.
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On our website Encyclopedia Baby food is helpful information on the nutrition of your children, which is useful for everyone, and we update the site "Encyclopedia of Baby Food" constantly and try to search and write only excellent, proven and necessary information for you and your children.
Disclaimer # 1: It is necessary to understand that the author of articles on the site "Encyclopedia of Baby Food" is not a medical staff, "I am not a doctor." The information I am sharing is based on my own experience. My goal is not to teach you how to eat or feed your child, but to tell you about how we did, what I learned or read. This allows you to expand the picture of knowledge about baby food, gives you a glimpse of the whole process, so that you can decide if you like it, whether it is worth doing the same.
Disclaimer No. 2: However, the above does not negate the visit to the pediatrician. Before you start complementary foods, you need to get his professional opinion about the best way introducing new products for your baby. Also note that you need to look at the original date of the published articles, because some "best practices" may have changed. Always check with your child's pediatrician about complementary foods and their health.
Disclaimer # 3: Keep in mind that every family is unique, every situation is also completely unique. There are no universal solutions. Only you can find what works best for you. Certain goals require specific sacrifices and priorities - not everyone wants to make those choices, and it's GREAT! Just know what you want to achieve and be ready to get started with your best efforts!
According to modern recommendations, one should not rush into complementary foods until the child reaches the age of 6 months. An exception may be babies who are on artificial feeding... In this case, it is permissible to start complementary feeding from 4 months. Up to this point, breast milk or formula completely satisfies the needs of the baby.
Over time, the little crumb grows up, and the time comes to acquaint him with new tastes. The main purpose of complementary foods is to prepare your baby for solid foods. This is a transitional stage from breastfeeding to a common table. Most often, parents choose vegetable puree for the first acquaintance with a new food. Sometimes it is recommended to start complementary feeding with cereals if the child is not gaining weight well.
Despite the fact that the introduction of the first complementary food does not aim to satisfy the baby's hunger, additional food enriches the infant's diet with useful substances, vitamins and microelements. At the age of six months, the baby may already miss them if he receives only one mother's milk. Mashed vegetables for the first feeding will help make up for this deficiency.
Complementary feeding rules
When can you give:
- baby's age - 4 - 6 months;
- manifestation of food interest;
- the baby is able to eat in an upright position;
- well-being of the child;
- complementary foods should not be introduced 3 days before and 3 days after vaccination;
- new Product for the first time, give in a volume of no more than one teaspoon;
- every day the amount increases to the required volume;
- the introduction of any product is given a period of 5-7 days;
- any unfamiliar dish should be tried in the morning.
Before the introduction of new products, it is necessary to consult a pediatrician about the age at which a child can be given a new dish. It is up to the supervising specialist to decide when to give the first complementary food. He will also recommend how to introduce complementary foods.
The ideal option for the first acquaintance, of course, is vegetable puree for babies. They include a lot of useful substances that are necessary for an actively developing body. The fiber in the baby puree will help improve your baby's bowel movements.
A young mother may well choose ready-made delicacies, which are abundantly presented in children's stores. It remains only to decide which jars of which company to prefer. Any brand provides a very wide range of finished products. Each mother determines her own rating of baby puree. Many parents do not trust ready-made baby food and prefer to cook baby puree themselves.
How to make your own baby's first meal
Baby puree recipes are usually straightforward and preparing meals for babies is straightforward. To prepare a baby meal, you need a device such as a blender. If mom decides to cook at home, it is advisable to immediately purchase a high-quality powerful device.
To prepare baby food, it is advisable to immediately opt for a multifunctional device. After examining the rating best brands, each family will find a suitable device for themselves.
Choosing seasonal vegetables is preferable for the first meal puree. Ideal if they are fresh. In winter, it is convenient to use frozen fruits. In the fall, many parents freeze vegetables, cut into portioned pieces, and feed their baby freshly made purees all winter.
Having decided with a pediatrician at what age to start complementary foods, a young mother thinks about which food is better: ready-made in jars or made by hand. If the choice fell in favor of the ready-made, you have to study the rating of baby food, find out which manufacturing company is more reliable, which brands are better. Therefore, more often, in an effort to give the baby the best, the mother prefers to start complementary foods with homemade dishes.
Puree for complementary foods should not contain anything extra. Having prepared baby puree with her own hands, a young mother can be sure of the quality.
Properties of vegetables
At the beginning of complementary foods, the most hypoallergenic vegetables should be introduced. For most parents, the zucchini is deservedly topped the rating. It will be easiest for a breastfed baby to start getting to know the first complementary foods with it. Zucchini puree has a delicate texture and pleasant taste. Little gourmets willingly accept a new dish.
Also, complementary foods at home are prepared from cauliflower, pumpkin, broccoli. It is undesirable to start with potatoes due to the high starch content. Such food will be too heavy for a child's stomach.
- Zucchini. It has a rich vitamin and mineral composition, gently stimulates the work of the stomach and intestines. Does not render irritating effect on the digestive tract of the baby. Delicate squash puree is ideal for the first feeding
- Cauliflower. Differs in the content of a large amount of vitamins and minerals. Normalizes bowel function and is easily absorbed. Does not cause colic and bloating. Has a positive effect on kidney function and the process of hematopoiesis
- Broccoli. A treasure trove of nutrients. It is very rich in vitamin C, calcium and iron. Contains high quality proteins. Easily absorbed by the body
- Pumpkin. Huge health benefits. It accelerates metabolism, increases blood clotting and strengthens blood vessels. Pumpkin has 5 times more carotene than carrots.
There are tons of tips on how to make mashed potatoes - it's cooked differently for babies than for adults. It is advisable to use the freshest seasonal vegetables for preparing baby food. This approach will give your baby the very best. In search of an answer on how to make mashed potatoes at home, a young mother can easily find the information she needs.
So, let's figure out how to make a baby treat.
Zucchini puree
The rating of the very first dish is topped by mashed zucchini. When choosing vegetables for a baby, it is advisable to prefer small fruits. There are more nutrients in such zucchini than in mature ones. You will need a blender for cooking. Such a device will allow you to achieve an absolutely uniform consistency.
How to do:
- For cooking, you need to take 1 zucchini, wash and peel. If the seeds are large, the core must be removed.
- Cut into cubes. Put the prepared zucchini in an enamel saucepan, pour a little water.
- Cook until soft, drain the water. Grind the finished vegetable with a blender, add a teaspoon of oil.
You can also steam or microwave the zucchini.
Pumpkin puree
How to make mashed potatoes:
- Wash and peel the pumpkin, chop.
- For mashed potatoes, the vegetable can be baked in the oven wrapped in foil. Or cook until soft in a saucepan.
- Take a chopping device and puree, adding the required amount of broth, water or breast milk.
- Add a spoonful of vegetable oil to the finished puree.
Broccoli and cauliflower puree
Puree from these types of cabbage is prepared in a similar way. After introducing each vegetable separately, you can make the mixture in any proportion. And also mix with other vegetables.
How to make baby purees:
Wash the cabbage and disassemble into inflorescences. The bases of the inflorescences are quite tough, you should not use them. If quick-frozen vegetables are taken, cook without prior defrosting according to the instructions. Also, do not use excess water when cooking. Broccoli is cooked faster than cauliflower. Chop the cooked vegetables, diluting to an acceptable consistency.
Mashed potatoes
This dish has excellent taste and is very popular with most children. Potatoes should be introduced into the child's diet after lighter vegetables. It is better to offer such mashed potatoes to a baby in a mixture with others, and potatoes should not be more than 30% of the total volume of the dish. For cooking, it is advisable to use the freshest potatoes of starchy varieties.
How to make baby puree:
Wash and peel the tubers, then rinse again. Boil until soft in a little water. Mash with a crush, add a piece of butter. For older babies, potatoes can be diluted with milk. It is not recommended to grind with a blender. Such a device causes the destruction of starch. The resulting dish will be sticky and unpleasant in taste.
Salting is not recommended children food... For adults, such a dish may seem tasteless and not very appetizing, but it is not. The child's taste buds are much more sensitive, so he does not need salt. From such a dish there will be only one benefit for the body of the crumbs.
Thus, the introduction of complementary foods is not difficult. In the absence of allergic reactions, the child will quickly master a new type of food for him. In the future, any mother will be able to compose a varied menu for the baby, just let your imagination run wild.
By creating a variety of vegetable mixes, you can provide high-quality and nutritious food for your baby. So, to do everything for its harmonious development.
Falls during the winter months, it is worth preparing for it in advance. Freezing is the easiest way to preserve vitamins in vegetables.
How to freeze complementary vegetables for the winter
You can often hear that when exposed to temperature, vitamins and nutrients do not remain in frozen vegetables. Moreover, it is imperative to add preservatives to preserve food. In fact, this is a myth.
In frozen vegetables, all the same vitamins and minerals remain as in fresh ones. The only difference is that bacteria that cause rotting when the temperature changes abruptly cease their life.
Therefore, as soon as you defrost the vegetables, do not postpone the preparation of mashed potatoes for a long time.
If frozen vegetables for winter feeding are properly stored in the freezer, then they are as good for the health of the child as fresh ones.
So that vegetables for feeding babies retain their beneficial features, observe a few simple rules freezing:
- The vegetables that you plan to freeze to feed your baby for the winter must be ripe, ready to eat, without spots, cracks or other defects.
- Food must be thoroughly washed and dried before freezing. The remaining moisture will turn into ice and the frozen food will "stick" together.
- What foods can be frozen for complementary foods. You should not freeze vegetables that can be stored fresh without problems - for example, cabbage, beets, carrots, etc. Better to fill the free space in the freezer with cauliflower, etc.
- and broccoli cabbage must be disassembled into inflorescences, and the zucchini cut into rings or cubes.
- Prepare the bags in which you will place the vegetables for freezing.
Normal plastic freezer bags are not suitable!
It is best to freeze in special containers or tight bags intended for freezing (with a special fastener). When choosing containers for freezing ready-made meals, use ones that can be immediately placed in the oven or microwave.
- Put prepared, washed and dried vegetables in bags in such quantity that after taking out the bag, use all its contents at once.
After placing the vegetables in the bags, squeeze out the air from there and close them tightly (for this you need bags with a fastener, or use special clips or adhesive tape).
- All vegetables for freezing that you place in the freezer must be marked - write what kind of vegetable it is and set the date of freezing.
This can be done with a marker (write directly on the package) or adhesive labels. Do not count on the fact that you will remember everything anyway, because food changes its appearance after freezing, and over time you forget what exactly is stored in the freezer.
Video how to properly freeze vegetables, fruits and herbs
Freezing vegetables for feeding
Unlike berries and fruits, vegetables must be blanched before freezing.
Blanching - This is the treatment of fruits with boiling water or steam for several minutes to kill bacteria, as well as stop the action of enzymes that lead to loss of taste and color.
After blanching, the vegetables must be immediately immersed in cold water so that they are not cooked completely.
How to blanch vegetables:
- Asparagus:cut to desired length and blanch for 2-4 minutes
- Broccoli:disassemble into inflorescences and blanch for 3 minutes
- Brussels sprouts: wash well and blanch for 3-5 minutes
- White cabbage: usually not frozen for the winter
- Cauliflower: Soak for 30 minutes in salted water and blanch for 1-3 minutes in salted boiling water
- Spinach:separate the leaves from the tails and blanch for 2 minutes. Before freezing, wash with plenty of water and dry
- Zucchini:peel, dice and blanch for 3 minutes
- Green peas:peel, disassemble the kernels and blanch for 3-4 minutes
Usually starts with one product, so it is convenient to freeze one vegetable in small bags.
How to store frozen complementary vegetables for the winter
The introduction of vegetable complementary foods is started one vegetable at a time with small portions in order to find out how the child tolerates a particular product. Therefore, it is worth freezing small portions (in small proportions) separately zucchini, cauliflower, broccoli.
Then the child begins to prepare mixed vegetable purees for complementary foods - for this you can freeze small bags with a mix of vegetables: zucchini, onions, carrots, cauliflower, potatoes, broccoli.
Frozen Mix of Vegetables for Baby Feeding
It is important to pack well and seal the frozen vegetable bags tightly. It is best to place them on the bottom of the freezer or near the back wall. If you store frozen vegetables near the door, they can soften when the temperature changes.
