Once your baby has hit the 6-month mark, it is recommended that you slowly begin to introduce her to solid foods to help her gain essential nutrients. A solid-food diet can supplement breastfeeding or formula feeding to give your baby an overall healthy diet. With its ample nutritional benefits, beetroot is an excellent choice for your baby’s first few solid-food experiences. However, consult your baby’s doctor before you can give any new food items to your baby to make sure it’s safe for her.
Like most vegetables, beetroot is safe for babies and can be introduced to your little one once she has started consuming solid foods. Packed with nutrients, beetroot is known to aid development in infants and can be easy on their palette as well. Start with small quantities and give the beets in a form that your baby will easily be able to digest.
Beetroot is a good source of several nutrients. A comprehensive nutritional value chart of beets is given below.
Nutrients | Nutritional Value per 100 grams |
Water | 86.9gm |
Protein | 1.95gm |
Carbohydrate | 6.18gm |
Energy | 35kcal |
Iron | 0.76mg |
Fibre | 2.8g |
Phosphorous | 36.3mg |
Sodium | 69.4mg |
Calcium | 16mg |
Magnesium | 33.2mg |
Zinc | 0.35mg |
Thiamin | 0.01mg |
Niacin | 0.21mg |
Folate | 97.3ug |
Vitamin C | 5.26mg |
Vitamin A | 0.09mg |
Vitamin K | 2.98ug |
Vitamin E | 0.09mg |
Unsure about when can babies eat beets? Most paediatricians suggest that beets should be introduced to babies after 8 to 10 months. You can discuss with your baby’s doctor before you add beets to your little one’s diet. Limit the quantity of beetroot to 1 or 2 teaspoons, as it is rich in nitrates which may be hard for your baby to digest. You can cook or steam the beets as they are more beneficial than uncooked beets.
Beets are a good source of nutrition and minerals, owing to which they offer a number of health benefits to babies.
Beets have an abundance of vitamins and minerals, including Vitamins A, B, C, K, and E, and potassium, magnesium, calcium, iron, etc. These are known to prevent and lower the risk of several diseases in kids including, diarrhoea, night blindness, beriberi, angular stomatitis, rickets, glossitis, osteomalacia, etc.
Rich in iron content, beets will reduce your baby’s risk of anaemia. Iron promotes the production of red blood cells, provides oxygen to different parts of the body, and also aids in the development of your baby’s brain.
Beets are rich in fibre and can soothe the digestive system, improve digestion, and prevent constipation in babies.
Beetroot is also known for enhancing the immune system due to the antioxidants present in them. This is particularly important for babies as their immune systems are still developing.
Paired with cucumber and carrot juice, beetroot juice is known to cleanse the body, especially the gallbladder and the kidneys.
Introduce beets slowly to your baby and do not give her more than 1 or 2 teaspoons before she is one year old. After that, you can increase the quantity a little, but still, keep it under a few teaspoons. Give your baby other vegetables that she will find pleasant like carrots and potatoes. Your baby may not like the earthy flavour of the beets and may take some time getting used to it.
Also, introduce only one vegetable or fruit at a time. Wait for four days to see if your baby reacts adversely to beetroot. If you notice any allergic reaction, consult a doctor immediately.
When you are cooking beets for your baby, the best way to prepare it is by steaming or boiling it. This makes it easier to make purees out of the beets which your baby can easily digest. Steaming also makes the Vitamin A beta-carotene bio-available, which means that your baby’s body can easily use it once it is consumed.
Get fresh medium-sized beets (as they are more tender) and rinse them thoroughly. Cut off the greens of the beets and peel them. You should always peel the beets as the skin is harder to digest, even for adults. To cook them, you will need to:
Here are some simple beetroot recipes that can enhance the flavour of the vegetable for your baby.
This recipe is simple and fun for both you to make and your baby to eat.
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You can also make a delicious beetroot soup for your baby’s first beetroot experience.
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Beetroot puree for baby is the easiest way to introduce beets to your little one.
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This delicious apple beetroot porridge is a delicious dish for a baby.
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The simplest way to give your baby beets is to mash it.
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Once your baby is ready to transition into solid foods, introducing her to any new food items like beets should be done gradually and after consultation with the doctor. Introduce only one vegetable at a time and give your baby’s body the chance to get used to it. If your baby shows any adverse reaction to any food, you must consult a doctor immediately.