Whether the baby is fed mother's milk or formula, there comes a time when he needs other food. Even experienced mothers wonder where, how and when to start feeding their baby. Pediatricians advise starting to get acquainted with gastronomic diversity by trying vegetable puree or porridge. What do parents need to know about vegetable puree as a first complementary food?
Supplementary feeding can solve problems with the baby's weight and digestion. So, vegetable puree is suitable for children with excess weight and constipation. The calorie content of baby porridge will help the baby get stronger and 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 purees for first feeding and various vegetables from different manufacturers. So is it worth it for mothers who are already overloaded with household chores to cook for their baby themselves? Isn't it easier to buy ready-made food? Both homemade purees and store-bought ones have their advantages and disadvantages.

Homemade puree		Store-bought canned food
pros	Minuses	pros	Minuses
Composition known	Time costs	Variety of menu	Possibility of purchasing expired product
Production date known	Lack of process sterility	Save time	Frequent discrepancies between the stated composition on the label and the contents of the canned food
Possibility of choosing quality products for cooking		The product meets the age needs of babies	Most manufacturers produce their products according to specifications (technical specifications), that is, not made according to GOST requirements.
Compliance with storage conditions under personal control		Ease of use
Possibility of preparing the required amount of food		Easy to store (you can take it with you on the go)

Another great advantage of homemade vegetable puree is that food prepared by mother’s hands with love for the baby and thoughts about him 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 ready-made vegetable puree?

When choosing canned vegetable puree in a store, pay attention to:

• product suits the baby's age.
• date of manufacture, expiration date.
• compliance of these storage conditions with the conditions specified on the label (if the temperature regime has been violated, the product may be spoiled).
• packaging. It should not be deformed. If it is a jar, the lid should not be swollen.
• compound. Study it carefully. It happens, for example, that a manufacturer misleads consumers by placing a large inscription “Sugar Free” on the label, but in fact includes glucose-fructose syrup in the composition.
• production conditions. Give preference to canned goods marked GOST.

Selection of vegetables for puree

In terms of its composition, the puree can be mono- or polycomponent, that is, consisting of one or several products. The vegetables included in the puree recipe affect its usefulness, nutritional value, and effect on the baby’s body. This table will help you create a menu for your baby correctly.

	Vitamins, nutrients	Effect on the body	Possibility of an allergic reaction	Recommended age for starting complementary feeding
Zucchini	Vitamins A, C, fiber, potassium, copper, low calorie content.	Strengthening effect on the cardiovascular system, improving digestion.	Hypoallergenic	From 4 months
Broccoli	Calcium, minerals, vitamin E (powerful antioxidant)	Improving digestion and appetite, developing and protecting vision, strengthening the immune system, bone growth.	Hypoallergenic	From 4 months
Cauliflower	Vitamins B, PP, C, E, K, potassium, phosphorus	Strengthens blood vessels, bone tissue, strengthens the immune system.	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.	Normalization of stool, reducing the risk of anemia, strengthening the walls of blood vessels, stimulating physical and neuropsychic development, stimulating normal blood clotting, improving appetite and food absorption.	Low allergenic 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.	Possible allergies	From 4 months
Beet	Vitamins C, B, PP, iron, folic acid,	Stimulates the formation of red blood cells, improves the process of oxygen saturation of muscle tissue.	Frequent cases of allergies	From 8-9 months.
Potato	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 introducing all vegetables into your baby’s diet, it will be good to alternate different types of purees so that the baby receives a variety of nutrients, vitamins and minerals.

Recipes for vegetable purees for infants

How to prepare vegetable puree for a child? It is recommended to consume puree made at home immediately, without storing it in the refrigerator or heating it. Vegetables are steamed or in an enamel saucepan. The first method is preferable, as it retains most of the vitamins and microelements. During normal cooking, foods may lose their nutritional value. It is recommended to soak root vegetables (potatoes, carrots, beets) for several hours to prevent the nitrates they contain from getting into your baby’s food.
So, how to prepare puree for the first feeding (algorithm of actions):

1. Take fresh vegetables (you can also use frozen ones) and wash them thoroughly.
2. Remove peel and seeds.
3. Rinse again and pour over boiling water.
4. Cut into small pieces.
5. Place in boiling water (or place in a steamer).
6. Cook until done (about 15-20 minutes, depending on the size of the pieces).
7. Cool, rub through a strainer, or grind in a blender. Usually, a strainer is used for small amounts of puree, and a blender for larger quantities.
8. To achieve a thinner consistency, add breast milk, formula or water in which the vegetables were boiled.
9. Nutritionists and pediatricians do not recommend adding salt, sugar or other spices. A few weeks after the introduction of vegetable puree, you can add vegetable oil to it at the rate of 0.5 tsp. per 50 g of finished product.

Proper complementary feeding

How to introduce a baby to new food? How to properly give vegetable puree to your child?

• The start of complementary feeding for a child depends on the type of feeding and the individual characteristics of the baby. Thus, children receiving breast milk are advised to introduce new foods from 6-7 months. For babies fed with formula, complementary feeding is recommended earlier - from 4-5 months.
• The first puree should be monocomponent (from one vegetable) green or white.
• It should be given starting with 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 your baby breastfeeding (or formula if bottle-feeding) until full.
• Vegetable puree can be used from 4 months. to replenish the lack of breast milk during the period.
• Don’t rush to immediately diversify your baby’s menu. An allergic reaction to some products may occur (rash, redness, peeling of the skin, etc.). Observe for 4-7 days. If there are no signs of allergy, proceed to the introduction of the next vegetable.
• Give multi-component purees to your baby only if he has tried each vegetable separately. Eliminate products that cause allergies in your child in advance.

Following all the rules for the first feeding, listen to your intuition. If the child is breastfed at 4-5 months. He manages well without supplementary feeding, gains weight, there’s no need to rush. Pay attention to his interest in adult food and the appearance of his first teeth. These signs will tell you that it is time to introduce yourself to new food.

Vegetables are a valuable source of vitamins, organic acids, pectins and plant fiber. All these substances are necessary for the normal functioning of the child’s body, and they must be present in the child’s diet. Despite the apparent ease and benefits of vegetables, they must be introduced correctly. Otherwise, complementary feeding can provoke a number of problems, among which the first places are occupied by allergic reactions, indigestion, and intestinal upset.

The main value of vegetable dishes:

1. Cellulose. In vegetable purees it is crushed, but it is there. It is plant fibers that will help solve the problem of constipation, normalize the functioning of the immature intestines, and make bowel movements regular.
2. Vitamins, microelements and other important substances. Promote proper growth and development of the child, strengthen the immune system, improve mood, and increase endurance.
3. Development of taste. A child learns about the world in different ways, including with the help of language receptors.

Among all the variety of vegetables, it is difficult to select the most useful or necessary ones. Each human body has its own needs, they change individually with growth, development, and often depend on other foods in the diet.

Optimal age for vegetable puree

According to WHO (World Health Organization), the optimal age for introducing complementary feeding to infants is 6 months. If the child was artificially fed, then he can be introduced to vegetables at 4-5 months. Deadlines are determined individually. There are several signs that your baby is ready to start eating solid foods:

1. The child can sit on his own or with the help of his parents.
2. Weight has doubled.
3. The baby shows interest in adult food.

Dr. Komarovsky claims that by the time vegetable complementary foods are introduced, the child should respond to the spoon, open his mouth, and swallow food. If the baby pushes the cutlery out with his tongue, then it is not ready yet. In this case, you should not try to force feed.

Preparing homemade complementary foods

Weaning purees are easy to prepare at home. This is especially convenient to do in summer and autumn, when all the ingredients are fresh, accessible, and full of vitamins. During the season, you can also prepare vegetables for future use. To do this, the fruits need to be peeled, cut into pieces, laid out on a board in one layer, and placed in the freezer. As soon as the pieces harden, they can be poured into a bag and left in the chamber for further storage.

Preparation of vegetable complementary foods:

1. Place fresh or frozen vegetables cut into cubes in a saucepan, pour in a small amount of boiling water so that it just covers the pieces. The more liquid there is, the less vitamins and nutrients will remain in the product.
2. Boil the vegetable until soft.
3. Drain off excess liquid. Grind the pieces into a puree using a blender or grind through a sieve. Adjust the consistency with the previously drained broth. You can use breast milk for this.

Frozen vegetables cook faster than fresh ones. It is not necessary to thaw the product before cooking. Also, you should not add a large amount of liquid; a lot of water will come out of the pieces.

Need to remember: The child's body needs salt, but in small quantities. Dr. Komarovsky recommends adding it to children's dishes. This will help maintain water-salt balance.

Video: Steaming vegetables for babies

How to choose ready-made vegetable puree

In winter and spring, it is convenient to use ready-made puree from jars, since it is difficult to purchase high-quality and safe vegetables. Store-bought food has its advantages: it saves time, is convenient to use, and has the right consistency.

What to look for when purchasing:

1. Compound. For the first vegetable complementary foods, one-component purees without additives are used.
2. Best before date. The fresher the food, the more nutrients are preserved.
3. Packaging integrity. The lid is smooth, concave, without any traces of product or rust.
4. Age appropriate. If the packaging is marked 7+, you should not purchase food for a 5-6 month old baby.

Before use, the dish must be heated until warm; you can add a little salt or a few drops of oil to taste.

Scheme of introduction of vegetable complementary foods and portions

A new product is introduced into the diet only for a healthy child. If vaccination is due, teeth are cutting through, there are a series of holidays or trips are expected, then it is advisable to postpone the introduction of vegetables. During the first days, you need to monitor the regularity and condition of stool, the behavior and well-being of the baby.

The main rule of any complementary feeding is gradualism! The product is administered in small portions daily. Each vegetable takes 5-7 days. The final volume of puree is not limited in any way, the child can be fed to the full. On average, a full portion is 120-150 g, by the year of life - 200 g.

Scheme for introducing vegetables:

• 1 day – 5 g;
• Day 2 – 10 g;
• Day 3 – 15 g;
• Day 4 – 20 g;
• Day 5 – 50 g;
• Day 6 – 100 g;
• Day 7 – 150 g.

A week later, another type of vegetable complementary food is introduced into the diet according to a similar scheme. The new product can be offered independently or added to the usual puree, gradually increasing the amount. The same applies to the introduction of meat and fish. Vegetables will help the new food digest and smooth out the taste.

What vegetables are suitable for complementary feeding?

Not all vegetables can be included in the diet. There are products that need to be put off until 8, 10, 12 months. Some of them are considered allergenic, while others cause increased gas formation. Don't forget about individual intolerance. Even the most harmless, at first glance, product can provoke a reaction.

Zucchini for first feeding

Zucchini is the perfect introduction to vegetables. The product is easily digestible and has no pronounced taste. Its puree does not irritate the walls of the stomach and does not overload the digestive system. Zucchini contains pectin, vitamins C and B, copper, iron. The vegetable is rich in potassium, which is involved in the functioning of the nervous system, normalizes heart rate, and promotes the growth of muscle cells.

Zucchini is introduced first into the diet of children suffering from food allergies and constipation. One-component puree from this vegetable can be offered to a child from 4 months.

Cauliflower and broccoli

White cabbage causes increased gas formation and bloating, so it is not advisable to introduce it into the diet before 7 months. At the age of 5 months, you can offer your baby other types of vegetables. Mostly cauliflower and broccoli are used. These products have high nutritional value and contain a number of valuable acids: folic, tartronic, malic, citric and others. Contains minerals and vitamins.

Other benefits of cabbage:

• contains dietary fiber that improves peristalsis;
• helps prevent the occurrence of iron deficiency anemia;
• has a positive effect on the cardiovascular system.

Despite all the benefits of cauliflower and broccoli, these vegetables should not be given to children in large quantities every day. 3 times a week is enough. Excessive consumption of the product can lead to increased acidity of gastric juice and complicate the functioning of the kidneys. In rare cases, cauliflower causes an allergic reaction, which is manifested by redness of the skin and a small rash.

Pumpkin for first feeding

Pumpkin can be introduced into the diet of children from 5 months. The vegetable has a pleasant taste, can be a main dish or dessert, and is often added to cereal porridges. Contains beta-carotene, vitamins B, C, K, E. Pumpkin is rich in potassium, magnesium, iron and dietary fiber. This product can be used for the prevention and complex treatment of constipation.

Sometimes pumpkin causes an allergic reaction. The product is quite heavy on the stomach; it should not be consumed frequently by children with digestive problems. You cannot prepare puree or juice from a raw product, no matter how sweet and tasty it may be. Heat treatment for vegetable complementary foods is required.

Potatoes for complementary feeding

Just 2 decades ago, potatoes were the main vegetable complementary food. Puree was safely introduced into the diet of children 3-4 months old. Today, pediatricians, including the world-famous Dr. Komarovsky, recommend introducing potatoes after 6 months. It is beneficial for the cardiovascular system, has a beneficial effect on digestion, and stabilizes metabolism. The vegetable contains potassium, iron, iodine and phosphorus.

Potatoes are difficult to digest and can cause an allergic reaction and diathesis on the cheeks and buttocks. Before preparing the dish, the root vegetable pieces should be thoroughly washed with cold water to get rid of excess starch. If a child has a reaction, it is recommended to delay the introduction of potatoes until 12 months.

Advice! To make a potato dish easier, you can cook it with zucchini or cauliflower, if these vegetables are familiar to your child.

Carrot

Carrots have a positive effect on a child’s vision, development and growth. The vegetable is rich in vitamins C, E, K. The orange root vegetable is valued for its content of a fat-soluble substance - beta-carotene. For better absorption, it is recommended to add 2-3 drops of vegetable oil to the dish.

Carrot puree is recommended to be introduced into the diet from 6 months. If the child has allergies, then from 8 months. A one-component dish of boiled vegetables is rarely used. More often, the root vegetable is combined with other vegetables: zucchini, potatoes, cabbage. In addition to puree, you can prepare carrot juice for your child; in this case, the vegetable is used raw.

Greens, onions, garlic

Greens and aromatic vegetables are added to purees and soups after 9 months. Onions and garlic are always heat treated, thoroughly chopped, and used in small quantities. Greens are used raw; you can grind the leaves along with other vegetables in a blender. For children under one year old, add dill, parsley, and celery to their dishes.

Legumes, turnips, and radishes should not be included in the diet for up to 12 months. Cucumbers and tomatoes are introduced with caution. These products can cause indigestion and allergic reactions. They are added in small quantities to main products and are subject to strict controls.

Video: Doctor Komarovsky about complementary feeding

When a woman becomes a mother, a lot of questions arise in her head. As the child grows, the number of problems and controversial situations only increases. One of the most important issues for a mother is the nutrition of her baby.

With the start of complementary feeding, women's opinions are divided into two groups. Some mothers are sure that children need to be fed canned foods. Another group of representatives of the fair sex believes that purees for infants should be prepared with their own hands from natural products.

If choosing canned puree for infants is quite simple, then when preparing food at home you must follow some rules and instructions.

Making your own baby food

To begin with, it’s worth saying that there are several types of baby food that you can prepare with your own hands:

• baby vegetable puree;
• fruit puree for babies;
• meat puree.

Let's look at options for preparing food for your baby at home.

First vegetables

The following vegetables should appear first in a baby's diet: zucchini, carrots and broccoli. Preparing such food is quite simple.

Processing zucchini

To begin, you need to select and clean the product. Give preference only to young fruits. Cut the zucchini into small pieces and place them in the bottom of the pan. Place the container on the fire and bring the water to a boil. Wait 10 minutes and drain the liquid. Place the vegetables in a blender and blend them. After this, cool the zucchini puree and offer it to your baby.

Cooking carrots

Carrot puree for babies is made from boiled vegetables. First, clean the root crop from dirt and remove the top layer of skin. Place the carrots in the bottom of a pan of water and cook until tender. Depending on the size of the vegetable, cooking time can vary from 20 minutes to one hour.

When the carrots are soft, remove them from the water and place them in a blender. If you don’t have this device, you can grate the vegetable on a fine grater. When the dish has cooled down, you can start feeding the baby.

Broccoli puree

To prepare this type of food, mothers most often use frozen products. You can purchase it at any grocery store or prepare it yourself.

First, rinse and, if necessary, defrost the workpiece. After this, place the product in boiling water and cook for 20 minutes. Next, proceed to the actual preparation of broccoli puree for the baby. To do this, mash the vegetable with a fork or grind it using a blender with a small amount of olive oil. You can also mince the broccoli several times instead of blending it in a blender.

Introducing fruits

You should definitely try making fruit puree for babies. The favorite fruits of young children are usually pears and bananas. If your baby has problems with bowel movements, you can offer him prunes. Making fruit puree at home is even easier than making vegetable puree.

Pear processing

Pear puree for babies should be made from soft varieties of fruit. Remember that up to one year you should only use pear pulp.

Wash and peel the fruit thoroughly. Remove all the bones and hard elements from it. Place the pear cut into small pieces into a blender and blend for a few minutes. If desired, you can add breast milk or formula to the puree.

Banana treat

Banana puree, prepared at home, has a beneficial effect on the stomach, intestines, and immunity of the baby. If a child has diarrhea, a banana will help cope with frequent bowel movements and reduce gas formation.

To prepare banana treats, use only ripe yellow fruits. Mash the fruit with a fork until smooth. You can also make puree at home using a sieve. To do this, rub the banana pulp through small cells. It is recommended to add a few teaspoons of milk or mixture to the prepared dish. This is necessary so that the puree acquires a more liquid consistency.

Prunes for baby

Prune puree for babies must be given especially carefully, since such a product is a strong laxative.

First, pour boiling water over the dried plums and soak them for half an hour. After this, place the berries in a blender and grind them thoroughly. When a homogeneous puree-like consistency is obtained, you can begin tasting.

Let's try the meat

To prepare meat puree for babies, you need to take lean pulp, then boil it until completely cooked. If necessary, you can drain the broth once. Next, you need to boil the product in clean water. When the meat is ready to eat, pass it through a meat grinder several times or beat it in a blender. It can be served with vegetable puree or other side dish.

Prepare delicious and healthy food for your child yourself.

We found out that a child’s introduction to adult food should begin with vegetable purees, provided that the baby is gaining weight normally. Vegetable purees are introduced gradually, starting with half a teaspoon at 6 months, increasing the dose to 150 ml by 7 months.

How to prepare vegetable puree for the first feeding?

The first courses of complementary feeding must be one-ingredient. After the baby tries each component separately, they can be mixed, treating the baby, for example, with mashed potatoes and zucchini. It is not at all necessary to buy baby food in stores. from time immemorial, our grandmothers and mothers prepared it themselves. Let's consider both options:

1. How to prepare one (or mono) component vegetable puree for your child;
2. How to prepare multi-ingredient vegetable puree for your child.

Vegetable puree from carrots for children 6-7 months

Carrot puree for babies is easy to prepare, but like any other vegetable, carrots require careful processing. Babies at 6 months do not need a lot of vegetable puree. Take one medium carrot and rinse it under running water. Now cut off the bottom part and peel off the peel.

Many mothers soak the root vegetables in cold water for at least 2 hours before preparing potato and carrot dishes.

Regardless of whether they were soaked or not, grate the peeled carrots on a coarse grater.

Place the grated carrots in a steamer container and add 200 ml of filtered water, cover with a lid and place in the steamer. If we cook in a saucepan on low heat, then we will need more water - 400 ml.

Ready, still hot carrots should be ground through a sieve or chopped in a blender, adding vegetable broth.

Carrot puree is ready. You can add a little olive or vegetable oil (at the age of 6 months, 1-3 ml is enough).

Vegetable puree from potatoes (children from 6 months)

We peel the potatoes, cut them into pieces, put them in a pan and fill it with water. Let the potatoes sit in water to release excess starch.

Then drain the water and add fresh water. Let the potatoes cook under the lid to soften. Mash the finished potatoes with a fork until pureed, adding vegetable broth.

Multi-component puree “Pumpkin-zucchini” (for children from 6 months)

When the child has already tried zucchini and pumpkin separately and is accustomed to the new taste, you can prepare vegetable puree from both components.

To prepare this vegetable puree, take a piece of zucchini and pumpkin in proportions of 50 to 50. Cut into circles or flat slices.

We will steam the vegetables. You will need a double boiler or a saucepan with a metal colander. Everything is simple in a double boiler, so let’s consider a situation where there is no double boiler in the house.

Boil water in a saucepan. Place the vegetables in a stainless steel colander and place it on the pan so that its bottom does not touch the water. Cover with a lid. So, under the influence of a couple of minutes, after 20 minutes the vegetables will become soft.

You can boil vegetables directly in water, but steaming is considered healthier.

Prepared vegetables should be softened. You can’t take a small portion with a blender - the pulp will simply scatter along the walls, so you just mash the soft vegetables with a fork.

But even now small fibers are visible, so we additionally grind the mass through a sieve. Done: the puree has a uniform soft consistency. The baby will definitely not spit! :)))

if the child has:

excess body weight,

anemia, rickets,

• intestinal colic.

  But vegetable complementary foods are quite suitable if the child does not have these problems.

Vegetable complementary foods.

To reduce the risk of allergies, complementary feeding begins with foods with low allergenicity. Vegetables include: zucchini, cauliflower, broccoli, pumpkin. In addition to these vegetables, it is recommended to use potatoes, carrots, onions, beets, and cabbage in the diet of infants. It is recommended to add vegetable oil to vegetable puree (5 ml per 100 g of product), and the addition of sugar and salt is not recommended.

What vegetables are suitable as the first vegetable complementary food product?

Zucchini.

If you prefer to prepare puree yourself at home, zucchini is most suitable as a first course of complementary feeding in this case. Zucchini is rich in vitamins A and C, potassium and magnesium; it does not irritate the mucous membrane of the gastrointestinal tract, stimulates the secretion of gastric juice and intestinal motility, and is well digested and absorbed. Zucchini refers to hypoallergenic products , retains vitamins and other beneficial properties well during long-term storage, so it can be used not only in summer and autumn, but also in winter. This vegetable is very convenient for making baby puree. It cooks quickly and strains well through a sieve, so you can prepare any (small) portion of puree. Young zucchini, without seeds, are more suitable for baby food.

Cauliflower.

Cauliflower and its variety broccoli also belong to foods with low degree of allergenicity , contains many vitamins and minerals. Compared to white cabbage, it contains significantly less coarse fiber, so it does not cause increased gas formation, and has the same beneficial effect on the gastrointestinal tract as zucchini. But it is much more difficult to wash and clean, does not store for long, takes longer to cook and is more difficult to pass through a sieve. All this makes it inconvenient if you want to cook it yourself as a first course of complementary feeding at home. It is better to introduce it later, as an additive to the main product (vegetables), when the portion of vegetable puree for your child is already 150 ml - the vegetables will be easy and convenient to grind in a blender.

Potato.

Potatoes are a very convenient product for making mashed potatoes at home; they are stored for a long time and do not spoil. It does not irritate the gastrointestinal tract (gastrointestinal tract), contains many vitamins, potassium and phosphorus and starch, which helps remove toxins from the body. Potatoes are allowed in the diet of children with gastrointestinal disorders accompanied by vomiting and diarrhea. It can be introduced as the first complementary food product, but with caution, it may cause allergies . It is also not recommended to make potatoes the main component of vegetable puree. After switching to purees from different vegetables, you need to ensure that the proportion of potatoes in the puree does not exceed 50%.

Other vegetables in baby food.

Carrot.

It stores well and for a long time, is easy to use... Contains carotene (vitamin A), very useful for growth and vision, contains phytoncides (natural antibiotics) and many trace elements. When boiled, it is easily digestible and does not irritate the gastrointestinal mucosa. Sweet, children really like this taste. But may cause allergies , so it must be used with caution. When eating carrot puree daily, carotene accumulates in the body, as a result of which the child’s sclera and skin, especially on the palms and soles, acquire a yellowish (carrot) tint. It is called carotene jaundice , this does not cause harm to the child’s body; carotene is eliminated from the body in a few days after eliminating carrots from the diet. In addition, carrots are much healthier in the form of fresh juices and raw carrot purees. Therefore, it is recommended only to add carrots to other vegetable dishes, and not to use them separately and daily as vegetable puree. But for the first time, it is best to let your child try carrots in boiled form, as part of vegetable puree, and only, if there is no allergy, switch to fresh juices and purees. Carrots are allowed from 5 months.

Pumpkin.

A very healthy vegetable, rich in vitamin D and carotene, stores well, has a sweet taste, is easily digestible, without causing digestive disorders. Refers to low-allergenic products . But pumpkin, just like carrots, can cause carotene jaundice , therefore, it is not recommended for daily use as the main component of vegetable puree. Including pumpkin puree in your child’s diet 2-3 times a week is very beneficial. Or add small amounts to other vegetables daily. Allowed from 5 months.

White cabbage.

It contains many vitamins and microelements, including the unique vitamin U, but when cooked, a significant part of the vitamins is destroyed, as in other vegetables. Stimulates gastric secretion and intestinal motility, but contains a lot of coarse fiber, which irritates the gastrointestinal mucosa and can cause increased gas formation and stool upset. Enough often causes allergies . Since variety in children's nutrition is encouraged, white cabbage is also recommended to be included in the diet of children under 1 year of age, but later (from 7-8 months) and not as the basis of vegetable puree, but as an additive.

Onion.

It is recommended to add it to vegetable purees in small quantities from 8-9 months; it is used in baby food up to one year only in boiled form. Onions have an irritating effect on the gastrointestinal mucosa, may cause allergic reactions.

Beet.

Beets are also recommended as an integral part of vegetable puree, only in boiled form from 9 months. It has a sweet taste, has a normalizing effect on the child’s stool with constipation, but may cause allergies and increased gas formation.

Addition to baby food boiled tomatoes, garlic, as well as spices (dill, parsley, fennel) are allowed from 10 months, but there is no particular need for this.

How to make vegetable puree at home.

The puree should be prepared immediately before use.

It is best to allocate a separate small enamel saucepan with a lid for the child.

Select only the best, fresh vegetables for your child.

Wash vegetables thoroughly with running water.

Peel potatoes, carrots, onions, beets; zucchini, pumpkin – peel, remove seeds; Separate cauliflower and broccoli into florets.

Wash thoroughly again and rinse with boiling water.

Chop coarsely, place in a saucepan, add a small amount of water, bring to a boil and cook over low heat, covered, until soft (20-30 minutes).

Do not add salt.

Rub the vegetables through a sieve or blend in a blender. (At the beginning of introducing complementary foods, when there is only one vegetable and the portions are small, a sieve is more convenient; when the portion increases, use a blender).

Add the broth in which the vegetables were cooked to the puree, bringing it to a semi-liquid consistency if this is the beginning of complementary feeding; later you can make a thicker puree, and by 8-9 months chop it with a fork.

In the first week, do not add anything; from the second week from the start of complementary feeding, add vegetable (sunflower) oil 5 ml (1 tsp/l) per 100 g of puree.

Bring to a boil again.

• Place on a plate, cool and give to child.

Canned baby food as vegetable complementary foods.

Currently, most experts recommend canned baby food as vegetable complementary foods. According to GOSTs, they must be made only from high-quality, environmentally friendly raw materials, using vitamin-saving technology, the degree of grinding of the product must correspond to the child’s age indicated on the label, and do not contain preservatives, sugar and salt.

Safety precautions when using ready-made purees:

Be sure to check the expiration date on the cap,

make sure that the lid on the jar is not swollen,

Before feeding, store the unopened jar at room temperature or in the refrigerator (not in the sun or in the freezer),

before opening and giving the puree to the child, you need to warm it slightly in hot water,

when opening the jar there should be a characteristic pop,

do not feed the baby directly from the jar if he does not eat the entire portion at once, but put some of the puree in a cup or plate, otherwise it will not be possible to give the child puree from this jar again,

Immediately after you have put part of the puree from the jar into another container, the remaining part should be tightly closed with a lid and stored in the refrigerator for no more than a day.

When choosing canned food for children as vegetable complementary foods, you first need to choose a puree from one vegetable, most often zucchini, cauliflower or broccoli are recommended, and then, as you get used to this product and bring the volume of puree to the age norm, you can try another vegetable puree of this same companies, for example, potatoes with broccoli.