Broccoli has gained quite a lot of popularity since people became aware about its health benefits and nutritional value. It slowly made its place in various salads and recipes for health-conscious people as well as tons of other mainstream recipes too. However, while introducing vegetables to your baby, you may wonder if broccoli might be the right choice to go ahead with.
On the outset, broccoli is generally avoided as the very first vegetable that a baby might consume. The digestive system of a baby takes time in getting used to external items. The right time to add broccoli in baby’s food is at the age of 10 months old or more. Broccoli might also cause gas in certain babies, so if your baby shows such signs, it is best to delay it further.
The nutrients that a single cup of steamed broccoli contains are as follows:
Description | Quantity |
Vitamin A | 0.724 mg |
Vitamin C | 101.2 mg |
Vitamin E | 2.26 mg |
Vitamin K | 220 mg |
Niacin | 0.86 mg |
Folate | 168 mcg |
Iron | 5.5 mg |
Selenium | 5.7 mg |
Sodium | 64 mg |
Calcium | 62 mg |
Magnesium | 33 mg |
Phosphorous | 105 mg |
Potassium | 457 mg |
Source: http://wholesomebabyfood.momtastic.com/broccolibabyfoodrecipes.htm
Zinc, manganese, and a few other vitamins are also present in smaller amounts.
Here are some of the benefits of eating broccoli for babies.
The greatest thing about broccoli is its tendency to provide a strong boost to the strength of the immunity system. Vitamin C is present in broccoli in pretty decent amounts. This not only is extremely crucial in strengthening the building blocks of the immune system but also supports the overall health of the baby and builds resistance to fight the onslaught of diseases.
Another constituent that is present in broccoli in a good amount is vitamin A. Along with the combination of beta-carotene, Vitamin A acts directly on making the eyesight of the baby better and sharper. These are further complemented by smaller B-complex vitamins and minerals such as phosphorous, which play a good role in keep the eyesight healthy.
Our blood vessels contain an important entity called as haemoglobin. The core function of haemoglobin is to transport oxygen to various parts of the body via the blood vessels. And the development of haemoglobin is completely dependent on the presence of iron, failing which a person is termed as anaemic. Broccoli contains iron as one of the core minerals that enrich the amount of it present in the body and boost haemoglobin development.
To digest the food consumed, the stomach needs to produce an acid that helps break it down successfully for the intestine. If the acid production is uncontrolled, the resulting acidity can cause ulcers to form in the gastric portion of the body. In such a condition, a soup made from broccoli can provide much-needed relief to your baby from such ulcers.
Antioxidants are essential for the body to maintain a healthy balance of all constituents within itself. These also help in detoxing the body and take care of any metabolic free radicals, providing protection to the cells and tissues of the body. Broccoli is full of such antioxidants and its inclusion in the diet is highly recommended.
For any kind of digestive or constipation problems, including fibres and stimulating bowel movement are great ways to take care of them both. Broccoli contains fibre which also contains properties of a natural laxative. This helps in absorbing extra moisture and flush out any impurities, stimulating the digestive process and keeping the system healthy.
For small babies, diarrhoea can be extremely dangerous since it can cause accelerated dehydration and be fatal too. Dehydration doesn’t simply rob the body of water but also a good balance of salts and minerals that are necessary to stay healthy. Making broccoli soup and feeding it to your child during diarrhoea can help restore the amount of water, as well as the nutrition that may be lost through constant pooping.
While buying broccoli from the market, opt for the ones that have dark green or sage shades, with slightly purplish-green tinge in colour. Make sure that they are uniformly coloured and don’t have any anomalies. If there are any tiny yellow flowers or grey coloured portions, discard that broccoli.
At home, store it in an open bag in the vegetable section of the fridge. Avoid storing it for more than 4 days.
Keep in mind the following things before giving broccoli to your baby:
Cooking broccoli in order to make broccoli soup for babies is pretty straightforward. Make sure the broccoli is cut into tiny pieces and boil them properly with the soup. Once thick consistency is achieved and other ingredients are added, remember to strain all the broccoli prior to serving the soup to your baby.
You can try these recipes to help make broccoli fun for kids.
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Unlike general vegetables, the presence of pesticides or insecticides in broccoli is negligible in the organic ones. In case you can afford organic broccoli, you can definitely buy those for your baby.
Fresh broccoli is always better than frozen. However, if you are left with no other option, opt for frozen broccoli that is uncut, since you will require both stems and florets in your recipes.
Broccoli contains a specific sugar called raffinose that cannot be digested by adults as well. This usually causes gas in both children as well as grown-ups. However, as long as your baby can digest other food items pretty well, there is no reason to not give him broccoli.
The health benefits of broccoli are astounding. With multiple broccoli puree recipes for babies you can ensure those nutrients find their way into your baby’s body in the right manner. A balanced diet with the right vegetables can always be the best culinary choice for your baby.