This article will discuss why it is worth using a pumpkin to feed the baby. How is it useful? What side effects can a baby have after consuming it? In addition, different options for dishes with pumpkin for feeding the baby will be given.
Why should babies be added to complementary foods?
Let's take a closer look at why it is worth introducing a pumpkin into a child’s diet. This product is necessary for the baby, because it is quite low-calorie, but at the same time it is rich in minerals, vitamins, it also has a high fiber content. Pumpkin helps to cope with constipation, which very often torment babies.
Useful composition
Pumpkin is a nutritious product that has a pronounced taste and is indispensable for the body's vitamin and mineral balance. Let's dwell on the latter in more detail and consider the composition of the pumpkin. It is rich in the following:
- Vitamin E. It helps to be absorbed by vitamin A, and also enhances its beneficial effect on the body. Vitamin E is an excellent antioxidant that prevents blood clots and contributes to normal fat and protein metabolism.
- Vitamin T. This is a fairly rare vitamin. It contributes to the formation of muscle tissue and the muscle corset itself, and also normalizes metabolic processes.
- Beta carotene. When this element enters the body, it is converted into vitamin A, which is the “essential product”. It is necessary for the proper functioning of the immune system. Beta-carotene is also good for skin and good vision. It is useful not only for babies, but also for people of all ages.
- Iron. It helps in the fight against anemia.
- Pectins. These are excellent adsorbents. They bind and remove heavy metal salts, radioactive elements, bacteria, and their toxins from the body.
- Vitamins of group B. Positive effect on the nervous system, improves memory, relieve excessive tension. For a kid, a vegetable like pumpkin is a natural sedative.
- Potassium and sodium. These elements have a slight diuretic effect, due to which excess fluid is eliminated from the body.
- Vitamin C. 100 grams of the product contains a quarter of the daily rate of ascorbic acid for a child. Vitamin C helps the body fight infections, and also strengthens the immune system. Ascorbic acid is good for the skin, and it can also resist harmful radicals.
- Fiber and dietary fiber. Thanks to them, pumpkin has a mild laxative effect on the body. It improves intestinal motility, helps “lazy” intestines to work.
- Vitamin K. It activates cell growth, and is also responsible for good blood coagulation.
Side effects
Despite the fact that doctors recommend pumpkin for the first feeding and pay attention to its beneficial properties, it also has side effects. Let's look at them. This product contains carotene. It is slightly less in it than in carrots. And this means that there are high risks of developing an allergic reaction in infants. Due to its high sugar content and high carbohydrate content for diabetics, this product is prohibited.
In raw form, infants should not offer pumpkin, as the fruits may contain chemicals. The latter are destroyed and removed from the pumpkin into the liquid during heat treatment. Remember also the basic rule - this is moderation.
Giving a baby a pumpkin is worth no more than two to three times a week, since it contains a lot of carotene. Because of it, the baby may turn yellow.
When to add to the diet? Tips for young mothers
When to introduce pumpkin to a baby? If the mother is breastfeeding, then such a product should be added to the diet after six months. “Artists” can already begin at 5 months to begin to acquaint with a new taste.
Adding an unfamiliar product to a children's diet is a crucial step. As a first feeding, the baby is given green or white vegetables / fruits, as they do not cause any allergic reactions. Orange fruits and vegetables, including pumpkin, need to be introduced later. It is advisable to do this not earlier than 6 months, and preferably after 7. If, after you introduced the pumpkin to the baby's food, he began to have a pronounced reaction, then postpone this fruit for a month.
How to introduce a new product?
When you offer your baby a new meal, then do not forget about the basic rules of feeding:
- Introduce a new product at the beginning of the day, but preferably on the second feeding.
- The first portion of complementary foods should be very small. Half a teaspoon will be enough. After that, you can increase the dosage, but you need to do this very slowly. The maximum dose is 40 grams per day.
- If, including a new product in the diet, you notice an allergy in the baby, then immediately stop giving complementary foods. For a long time, of course, you should not refuse it, a month is enough. After this time, try again.
- Before giving the baby puree, be sure to heat it in a water bath to a temperature of 38 degrees.
- Give pumpkin lure with just a spoon.
- The interval between new products must be at least 14 days.
How to cook?
How to cook a pumpkin for feeding babies? It is advisable that you make a smooth, aromatic and tender mashed potato from the fruit. If you don’t want to bother, then you can buy the finished product in the store. So you save yourself time.
You can prepare a pumpkin for feeding yourself. This is not a big deal. The main thing in this business is to choose the right raw materials.
To do this, you need to take pumpkins that do not exceed 5 kg in weight. The younger and smaller the fetus, the less fibrous its structure. At the same time, the flesh of the pumpkin will be more juicy and will have a pleasant sweet taste. Also pay attention to the outer shell and color of the fetus. The pumpkin's tail should be dried, and the peel should be smooth, without dents or rot.
And how to cook her baby? Despite the large size and weight, the fruit has a fairly dense texture, it is easy to cook. It can not only be boiled, but also stewed, as well as baked.
How much to prepare the fruit for the child?
How much do you need to cook pumpkin for feeding? If you cook in a slow cooker, this process will take 40 minutes in the "Extinguishing" mode. In the microwave, you can cook pumpkin in 7 minutes. How much and how to cook pumpkin for feeding? Cooking takes about 15 minutes on a gas stove. In a double boiler you need to cook a pumpkin for 25 minutes. If you plan to bake in the oven, then know that there this process will take about 30 minutes
Monocomponent puree
There are many options for how to cook pumpkin for feeding. Further in the article we will consider simple and healthy dishes. Let's start with the monocomponent mashed potatoes. How to cook it? Take a pumpkin, wash, remove seeds and fibers. Next, cut it into cubes, put in a pan. Pour water into it so that the pumpkin does not burn. Cook under low heat until soft for about 25 minutes. After draining the water. Mash the pumpkin using a blender. It should turn out without pieces, completely homogeneous. If it was not possible to achieve the desired effect using this technique, you can wipe the pieces through a sieve. In no case should there be large blocks in mashed potatoes, as they can cause a child to gag the gag. For better assimilation in mashed potatoes add a few (3-4) drops of vegetable oil.
Thus cooked pumpkin for feeding the baby is ideal for his body. Mashed potatoes will help normalize digestion, cope with gases, and relieve bloating of the baby.
Pumpkin puree with apples
Take one pumpkin and three apples. Wash and peel the seeds, these fruits. Cut them randomly. After send to the pan, fill with water. Cook on a small window for about 20 minutes. After draining the excess liquid, cool the mass. Then grind it with a blender. Everything, mashed potatoes is ready.
Mashed vegetables
For cooking you will need: 50 grams of pumpkin, 30 grams of cabbage, the same amount of carrots, zucchini, potatoes. You will also need vegetable oil. First wash the vegetables, cut into pieces, send to the pan. Pour water into it, simmer over low heat under a lid until cooked. After using a blender, grind boiled vegetables in mashed potatoes. Add a drop of vegetable oil to the mass.
Pumpkin puree with meat
Take 150 grams of washed and peeled pumpkin, cut into pieces. Send them to the pan, simmer in a little water. Next, separately boil 50 grams of chicken. Grind the finished boiled components with a blender. Season the mashed potatoes with vegetable oil (two drops will be enough).
Pumpkin puree with dill
Take pumpkin and dill. Finely chop the last. After cut into pieces the pulp of the pumpkin, boil until tender. Add a pinch of chopped dill. Then mix with a blender.
Porridge with pumpkin
If you are thinking about how you can cook pumpkin for feeding, then pay attention to this recipe. Very nutritious and tasteful porridge with milk and orange fruit. How to cook a dish? Take one pumpkin, peel it, cut it. Send three tablespoons of the fruit to the pan. Boil in a little water. Pour in a third of a glass of milk, bring to a boil. Further, without stopping to stir, add semolina porridge (1 tbsp. L.) In a thin stream. Cook for 5 minutes, stirring the dish constantly. Beat the porridge, cool to 38 degrees.
Baked pumpkin for feeding
First peel 1 pumpkin of the peel, seeds. Next, put on a sheet covered with parchment, send to the oven. Bake until cooked. Then grind the pumpkin with a blender. Then add either 1 drop of vegetable oil or warmed milk.
Freezing
A whole pumpkin can be stored at home for a long time, but a cut fruit deteriorates quickly even in a refrigerator. You can send chopped pumpkin to the freezer. There she will save her vitamins. To send the fruit to the freezer, you need to peel the pumpkin from the peel, seeds, cut into small pieces, put on a board. Next, send it to the freezer. Then transfer the frozen pieces into a bag. They can be used at any time you need.
Pumpkin preservation for a child
You can prepare complementary foods for the baby for the winter according to the following recipe.
For cooking you will need:
- 1 cup brown sugar;
- 1 unpeeled ripe pumpkin (medium in size);
- cloves (for flavor, it takes quite a bit);
- 1 liter of water;
- 200 grams of cranberries.
Step-by-step recipe for preparing a blank for a child:
- Wash and peel the orange fruit first. Cut into small pieces.
- Take an enameled pan. In it mix water with sugar. Send the pumpkin there.
- While stirring constantly, bring the mass to a boil.
- Wash the cranberries, dry. Squeeze the juice from the berry.
- Pour cranberry juice into a pumpkin pot.
- Cook for about 20 minutes. In the process, get in the way.
- 4 minutes before the pumpkin is ready, send a couple of “cloves” of cloves to the pan.
- After draining the water. Puree mass in a blender.
- Transfer the resulting mashed potatoes to sterilized jars. Then close their lids.
Little conclusion
Now you know how to cook pumpkin for feeding the baby, why this product should be given to infants, and also when to introduce this complementary foods and in what volumes. The recipes above will help you make the best meal for your baby.