Baby food ideas with sweet potato

20 quick & easy baby led weaning sweet potato recipes

The first time I had a sweet potato chip, I thought it was a slightly mouldy carrot!

Granted that was back in the late 1990’s and I was a Uni student in Leeds, eating at an uber trendy café (and probably spending far too much of my limited student funds)!

A new very trendy place had opened located in an old bank and everyone was talking about it.

A group of us went for lunch, and along with my halloumi and sundried tomato open sandwich, came what I thought were roasted carrot batons.

Odd? Yes I thought so, but as a 19 year old student, I decided I probably just wasn’t up on my foody knowledge to know about such novel food combinations.

I remember thinking they were nice but tasted a bit ‘off’.

Being the skint student that I was, I complained to the manager!

This was supposed to be a top-notch café after all and they had served me mouldy carrots! I was outraged and I wanted my money back!

Rather embarrassingly, I was informed they were sweet potato fries and they weren’t off; they had beef freshly dug out of the local soil just that morning and lovingly hand cut to exactly 10 cm strips and triple cooked with care and attention.

Oh!

Fast forward 25 years and sweet potatoes are commonplace. They’re available in every supermarket, feature on most restaurant menus and we eat them probably a couple of times a month. They are a fab first food for babies and my two children have grown up knowing exactly the difference between a sweet potato fry and a carrot baton!

Here’s what I love about sweet potatoes and what makes them a great first food for babies:

Sweet potatoes are an energy rich carbohydrate food which means they give your little one a mini energy boost to fuel all their activities and development. Carbohydrate is the preferred fuel for the brain and during their first year the brains are growing rapidly.

They are a veggie and that means they count towards your little ones 5-a-day. Ok, so during weaning we don’t actually start counting their 5 a day but that’s not to say we don’t want little ones having lots of different veggies and fruits.

They are also a great source of fibre so if your little one has a propensity towards constipation, including sweet potatoes in their diet regularly will help. You can read more about baby foods for constipation here.

By comparison to the humble white potato, they are a bit of a nutritional superhero! They contain a whole host of nutrients that benefit the whole family including:

· Vitamin A – superb for vision and a healthy immune system

· Vitamin C – needed for the growth and repair of body tissues

· Copper – used in making red blood cells and producing heat in the body

· Manganese – essential for making bones and beginning the digestion of food

· Potassium – important for a healthy heart and to help muscles and nerves ‘communicate’

Before we get to my top 20 recipes, I want to mention a few words of safety when it comes to feeding your baby.

How to check your baby can do BLW

By six months of age, most babies have the three signs of developmental readiness for weaning. These are; good core stability, good hand-eye coordination and good mouth skills, which are all key to safely manage ‘baby suitable’ finger foods.

‘Baby suitable’ means foods that they can pick up with their fists and squash easily. Think of those that will squash in between your thumb and forefinger.

However, not all babies will be able to manage baby led weaning. For example, if your baby was born prematurely they may not have the three signs of developmental readiness to be safe for baby led weaning and so purées would be better for them.

You can check your baby is developmentally ready here. I’ll send your 3 simple tests you can do with your baby at home..

Here’s a few top tips to make BLW as safe as possible

Start with foods that are squashable between your thumb and forefinger.
Finger sized sticks around 5-6cm are ideal.
Allow your baby to be in charge of how much they eat and let them self-feed.
Avoid foods that are round or coin shaped, too sticky, like peanut butter or can easily be broken off into small or crumbly pieces.
Stay away from potential choking hazards such as grapes, hot dogs, raisins, popcorn, raw vegetables, and sticky, crunchy nut butters (a thin layer of smooth nut butter is ok, but to be sure you can thin it further with a little milk).

If you’re nervous about choking, taking a first aid class that shows you what to do if choking does happen can help you feel prepared. Most baby clinics and Health Visitors will be able to sign post you to a class locally.

As your baby progresses with weaning you can begin to offer different shapes and smaller pieces to help them learn how to manage a variety of foods.

My top 20 baby led weaning sweet potato recipes

Right here we go, we’ve scoured the internet and found some of the best baby led weaning sweet potato recipes out there. All are suitable from 6 months.

Sweet Potato, Lentil and Cheddar Croquettes

Roasted Sweet Potato and Cinnamon Fingers

Parmesan Roasted Sweet Potato Wedges

Salmon and Sweet Potato Muffins

Sweet Potato Pancakes

Pick ‘n’ Mix Tray Baked Vegetables

Sweet Potato Tuna Fishcakes

Sweet Potato, Chicken and Couscous Nuggets

Veggie Hummus with Toast Fingers

Sweet Potato, Spinach and Feta Tortilla

Sweet Potato Samosa

Sweet Potato Fries

Sweet Potato Pizza Bases

Sweet Potato and Lentil Fritters

Sweet Potato and Oat Biscuits

Pork and Sweet Potato Meatballs

Cinnamon Sweet Potato Biscuits

Salmon Sweet Potato Fritters

Sweet Potato and Pea Fish Fingers

Sweet Potato Banana Bites

I hope you enjoyed this blog and that my silly story at the start gave you a chuckle. Let me know in the comments below which of the recipes you’ve tried and what you think.

Sarah Almond Bushell

MPhil, BSc (Hons) Registered Dietitian, MBDA

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3 Sweet Potato Baby Food Combinations (Stage 2)

If you’re looking to add some sweet potato and flavor into to your baby’s diet, you’ve come to the right place! We’ve created 3 sweet potato baby food combinations that are simple to make and made with vegetables and fruit for baby in stage 2 of eating.

Sweet Potato Baby Food

When my daughter first started eating, it was so exciting but also so nerve racking at the same time. I didn’t know what she could have or what she liked.

Turns out, she wasn’t very picky and she enjoyed the different flavors of food right from the start. Her very first food was actually roasted sweet potato puree! Because of this, sweet potatoes have a little special spot in my heart and I knew I wanted to share some of our favorite sweet potato baby food combinations.

If you're looking for more baby food ideas, check out our post about 6 Homemade Baby Food Combinations, Kale Baby Food Puree Combinations, Toddler Breakfast Cookies and Applesauce Baby Pancakes.

Jump to:

Sweet Potato Baby Food
Health Benefits of Sweet Potatoes
When to introduce sweet potatoes?
How to Prepare Sweet Potatoes
3 Sweet Potato Baby Food Puree Combos (Stage 2)
How to store sweet potato baby food
More Baby Food Recipes:
Let's Connect!
3 Sweet Potato Baby Food Combinations (Stage 2)

Health Benefits of Sweet Potatoes

Sweet potatoes are nutrient dense and contain potassium, vitamin c and antioxidants. They are pretty versatile and can be used in either sweet or savory dishes. The sweetness also makes them favorable for babies who usually prefer the sweetness over other vegetables.

When to introduce sweet potatoes?

Of course, always ask your pediatrician for their advice on which foods are best for your baby and when to introduce them. In our experience, sweet potatoes have been a delicious and healthy food to feed our daughter. She started eating sweet potatoes at around 6 months. Once she got a little older and more used to eating, we started mixing other fruits and vegetables in with the sweet potatoes for more complex combinations.

How to Prepare Sweet Potatoes

You can prepare a sweet potato the same way you prepare any potato but I usually choose to roast them in the oven or boil on the stovetop. I go over how to roast a sweet potato in my Easy Stuffed Sweet Potato Tacos recipe but I will also list it below.

Steps on how to roast a sweet potato:

Steps on how to roast sweet potato:

Preheat the oven to 425°F and line a baking sheet with parchment paper.
Wash and dry your sweet potatoes. Then pierce the potatoes with a knife or fork.
Place the sweet potatoes on the baking sheet and roast for 45 minutes, until they are tender.
Once they are done, let them cool and scoop out the inside potato for the baby food puree recipes.

Steps on how to boil sweet potato:

Bring a large pot of water to boil.
Peel and cut sweet potatoes into 2” chunks.
Add the potatoes and cook until soft, about 12-15 minutes. Drain and puree.

Note: If you need more information on how to steam vegetables or fruit for baby food, I go more in depth in this 6 Homemade Baby Food Combinations post. Check that out if you need more information or want more baby puree recipes.

3 Sweet Potato Baby Food Puree Combos (Stage 2)

Sweet Potato + Apple + Carrot

Puree Ingredients: ¼ cup roasted and peeled sweet potato + 1 steamed and peeled apple + ¼ cup steamed and peeled carrot + A little bit of water if needed, to thin

Sweet Potato + Peas + Carrot

Puree Ingredients: ¼ cup roasted and peeled sweet potato + ¼ cup steamed peas + ¼ cup steamed and peeled carrot + A little bit of water if needed, to thin

Sweet Potato + Pumpkin + Blueberry

Puree ingredients: ¼ cup roasted and peeled sweet potato + ¼ cup pumpkin puree + ¼ cup steamed or fresh blueberries + A little bit of water if needed, to thin

How to store sweet potato baby food

Each of these recipes makes about 2 servings so there will most likely be leftovers. There are many containers that you can use to store homemade baby food but I use something like these glass containers. Homemade baby food can last up to 3 days in the fridge.

The other great thing about homemade baby food is that you can freeze it for later. I like to make a large batch so I can easily keep some in the fridge and freeze the rest. I use these food safe silicone trays but you could also use ice cube trays or other types of trays to store the purees in the freezer.

More Baby Food Recipes:

Kale Baby Food Puree Combinations (Stage 2)

6 Homemade Baby Food Combinations (Stage 2)

Oatmeal Breakfast Cookies for Toddlers

Applesauce Baby Pancakes

Baby Oatmeal Recipes

Let's Connect!

If you’ve tried this recipe or others, let us know in the comments below! We always love hearing from you. Also feel free to follow along on Instagram and Pinterest where we share more recipes and food photography!

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Blender

Sweet Potato + Apple + Carrot

¼ cup roasted and peeled sweet potato
1 steamed and peeled apple
¼ cup steamed and peeled carrot
a little bit of water if needed, to thin

Sweet Potato + Peas + Carrot

¼ cup roasted and peeled sweet potato
¼ cup steamed peas
¼ cup steamed and peeled carrot
a little bit of water if needed, to thin

Sweet Potato + Pumpkin + Blueberry

¼ cup roasted and peeled sweet potato
¼ cup pumpkin puree
¼ cup steamed or fresh blueberries
a little bit of water if needed, to thin

Choose one of the combos from above. Follow the instructions above on how to prepare the sweet potato.
Add the ingredients to a high powered blender or food processor. Add a little bit of water if needed to thin to desired consistency.
Serve or store in the refrigerator for up to 3 days. See above on how to store in the freezer.

If you are going to make all three recipes to batch make and then freeze, it’ll take approximately 1-2 large sweet potato for the three recipes.

Tried this recipe?Tag @withsweethoney on Instagram!

cooking recipes and age limits

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Publication date: 10/24/2020. Article updated: October 18, 2021.

Sweet potatoes or sweet potatoes are great choices for baby food. It is pleasant in taste (reminiscent of a mixture of potatoes and pumpkin or carrots with added sugar) and creamy texture (in the form of a puree), is liked by many babies and rarely causes allergies. But since this product is still a curiosity in Russia, our mothers will need explanations. So at what age can you give sweet potato to children and how to cook it properly for complementary foods? nine0003

Content

From what age to give
The composition of the product
Is the battery useful for children
Can sweet potatoes cause allergies
How to choose for children's nutrition
Subtleties of storage
how to prepare for primacy
Sweet Potato Baby Recipes
- Smooth Sweet Potato Puree
- Carrot and Sweet Potato Puree
- Sweet Potato Chicken Soup
- Sweet Potato Milk Rice Porridge
- Sweet potato with peas and cauliflower
Video: how to make sweet potato for baby food

At what age to give

American parents start giving sweet potatoes to their baby, starting at six months. This is one of the first complementary foods introduced to a baby in the US after weaning.

The first sample (1 teaspoon is enough) is offered in the form of a thin, homogeneous puree. It is easily absorbed by the body of the baby. The delicate creamy texture makes it easy for the baby to swallow and digest such food. nine0003

After that, they wait three days without introducing other new foods into complementary foods. That allows you to track the negative reaction and stop feeding sweet potatoes in time.

After about 2 months, the baby can try boiled sweet potatoes, mashed with a fork or grated on a fine grater. Almost all children like its moderately sweet taste.

After a year sweet potatoes are good to combine with rice or oats to increase the nutritional value of dishes.

Can a child eat sweet potatoes raw? nine0003

Sweet potatoes contain complex carbohydrates, so the glycemic index (GI) of the product is lower (55) than that of the usual potato (from 70).

Is sweet potato good for kids

Baby likes sweet potato puree with turmeric

Sweet potatoes can bring many health benefits to a child if they are part of a child's diet. Key properties:

Fights constipation. Sweet potatoes are a valuable source of fiber. 100 g of the product contains about 3 g of dietary fiber, which prevent constipation and strengthen the baby's digestive tract. nine0014
Source of beta-carotene (provitamin A). This vitamin is essential for healthy vision. Its presence in the children's menu is a must and helps to improve eye health.
Strengthens the immune system. Vitamins C and E in the composition increase the body's defenses, help the child fight infections.
Good for the skin. Makes her look healthy and radiant.
Healthy calories. Sweet potatoes contain only 0.1 g of fat at 86 kcal per 100 g. Therefore, they are among the healthy foods for babies, especially those with insufficient weight (hypotrophy). High-calorie sweet potato promotes weight gain and physical development of children. nine0014
Prevents the development of anemia. Iron in the composition prevents anemia in a child with insufficient intake of a trace element with food or after severe blood loss (abdominal operations, injuries, etc. ).
Strengthens bones. Calcium, which is also found in sweet potatoes, is vital for the growth and development of children's musculoskeletal system.

Can sweet potatoes cause allergies

Sweet potatoes rarely cause allergic reactions in babies. That is why it is suitable for complementary foods. However, it is possible. nine0003

Signs of sweet potato allergy:

vomiting,
rash (including around the anus),
diarrhea,
bloating due to indigestion.

Vomiting and diarrhea can sometimes cause not only allergies, but also intestinal infections in the finished dish. For example, with insufficient sanitation of tubers or children's dishes.

Babies may spit out sweet potato puree when switching to solid foods for a variety of reasons. nine0003

There may be other side effects, which are usually minor and easily manageable.

Caution! With ulcerative colitis and some other serious diseases of the gastrointestinal tract, sweet potato dishes are prohibited. Be sure to discuss the possibility of introducing sweet potatoes into complementary foods with your pediatrician.

Excessive consumption can provoke the formation of kidney stones.

How to choose baby food

The choice of food for a child's table should be taken seriously. If possible, choose organic sweet potatoes grown without the use of pesticides and other chemicals. nine0003

Here are a few tips to help you make your choice:

Choose medium-sized tubers with firm, smooth skins. If they are not on sale, take small ones (large ones have a lot of starch).
Set aside specimens that are too soft with brown spots on the skin, punctures, signs of rot, and emit an unpleasant odor.
The richer the color of the potato skin (white/cream, pink, red and purple), the more valuable antioxidants the product contains. nine0014

Storage details

In this case, the refrigerator is not the right place. Sweet Potato Storage Options:

in a covered box in the kitchen at room temperature for up to 1 week;
in a cool pantry or cellar at +13-16°C - up to 2 weeks.

Sweet potato purée can be frozen in ice cube trays

Boiled sweet potato purée can be frozen in advance (a drop of lemon juice is added to prevent browning). It can be kept in the freezer for up to a year, but it is better not to use it for feeding children - during the defrosting process, bacteria quickly begin to multiply in the starchy mass. nine0003

How to cook for weaning

The first thing to do is wash the tubers thoroughly before peeling and cutting. Then remove the skin or leave (for baking) and thermally process (until soft) in one of the following ways:

Baking. Preheat oven to 220°C. Pierce each tuber in several places and place on a baking sheet. Bake for 45 minutes. Cool and remove the skin.
Cooking. Peel sweet potatoes, cut, boil in clean water. nine0014
Pressurized (pressure cooker). Peel the sweet potato, cut into slices or cubes, place in a pressure cooker and wait for 1-2 whistles (guided by softness).
For a couple. Peel and cut the product, place in a double boiler and cook.
Microwave. Peeled potatoes cut into small slices and do in each hole. Place in the microwave and turn on the maximum power for about 10 minutes.

Puree cooked sweet potatoes with a blender, potato masher or regular fork. If necessary, add some boiled water. nine0003

Baby sweet potato recipes

Let's see what can be done with sweet potato for a child.

Smooth sweet potato puree

One-component sweet potato puree

Ingredients:

1 medium sweet potato,
1 glass of water or vegetable broth.

Cooking method:

Prepare the sweet potato using any of the available methods.
Mash while still warm.
Add half a glass of water or vegetable stock and beat or stir well.
Add the rest of the water/broth to make a thin, smooth puree that a child can easily swallow.

Carrot and Sweet Potato Puree

This puree is rich in vitamin A. It is suitable for babies from 7 months old who have already become familiar with mixed foods (containing two or more ingredients).

Two-component puree with carrots and sweet potatoes

Ingredients:

1 medium sweet potato,
1 medium carrot,
1 glass of water or vegetable stock.

Method of preparation:

Thoroughly washed and peeled carrots, grate, and peeled sweet potatoes cut into small pieces.
Boil them together in the same water until soft.
Cool and puree.

Sweet potato chicken soup

This dish contains a nutritious broth rich in protein. But it is only suitable for children who are accustomed to non-vegetarian food.

Sweet Potato Chicken Soup

Ingredients:

100 g lean chicken mince,
5 cups water,
1 cup boiled sweet potato.

Cooking method:

Boil the minced chicken in a saucepan with a little water. Don't forget to skim off excess fat while boiling. nine0014
Transfer the boiled sweet potato to a blender and add the prepared chicken broth to it.
Blend until smooth.
If the soup is too thick, add boiled water.

Rice porridge with milk and sweet potatoes

This recipe is rich in dietary fiber, which helps prevent constipation. It is also a healthy dessert option for toddlers without the use of sugar.

Sweet potato rice porridge for children

Ingredients:

1 cup rice
4 medium sweet potatoes
3 cups water
1 cup breast, goat, coconut or cow milk.

Cooking method:

Boil diced sweet potatoes and rice in a little water.
10-15 minutes after boiling (when the food is half cooked), add milk and stir.
Let stand 10-15 minutes.
Cool slightly to serve to a child. nine0014

Sweet potato with peas and cauliflower

Another great recipe for babies from 7 months old. The dish has absorbed the virtues of three vegetables: sweet potatoes, peas and cauliflower.

Sweet potato puree with green peas and cauliflower

Ingredients:

1 medium sweet potato,
1/4 cup green peas,
1/2 cup cauliflower flowers, 9013 water
(depending on desired consistency). nine0014

How to cook:

Wash, peel and dice sweet potatoes.
Boil all vegetables in water.
Allow the mixture to cool slightly.
Blend with a blender until smooth.

Video: how to make sweet potatoes for baby food

Sweet potatoes also combine with other foods suitable for baby food, such as apples, pumpkin, zucchini, legumes, corn, cabbage and broccoli. nine0003

Nutritionists recommend pairing high-carbohydrate sweet potatoes with high-fiber greens (spinach, dill, and parsley). More recommendations and recipes in our Instagram. We look forward to visiting!

Parsley for children: from what age can it be given.

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Author: Yakusheva Tatyana

10 recipes for cooking sweet potato (sweet potato) Main dishes

From this collection of recipes you will learn about 10 different ways to cook delicious sweet potato. Sweet potatoes are believed to be beneficial in the treatment of cancer and heart disease. It has very few calories. There are about 105 of them in a medium-sized tuber. These root crops also contain little fat, so they can be safely eaten without fear of gaining weight. nine0003

Recommended

1. Simple Roasting

Baking sweet potatoes in the oven takes very little time. There are a couple of variations on this process. Both of them require heating the oven to 230°C and 30-45 minutes of time, depending on the number and size of the tubers. The easiest way: lightly scrape the tubers with a knife and put them in the oven over medium heat. Outside, they will be covered with a delicious crispy crust. To make it even tastier, before putting the tubers in the oven, put a piece of butter on them, sprinkle with cinnamon and sugar. Wrap tubers in foil. This is necessary so that the juices that stand out make the tubers even softer and more tender. After cooking, the tubers must be removed from the oven, cut and sprinkled with your favorite seasonings. nine0014

Recommended: Proven recipes with sweet potatoes

2. Sweet potato gratin

Sweet potatoes are usually mixed with breadcrumbs and baked under cheese. Sometimes milk or heavy cream is added to them, but you can do without them, serving them later to the table. At the same time, sweet potatoes do not need to be cleaned before cooking. Its peel is quite edible, it is thin, and it has many useful nutrients. Besides, it looks interesting on a plate. Just a little time in the oven, and the sweet potato dish can be taken out and started tasting. It is usually eaten with a spoon. nine0003

Recipes of casseroles with a battery:

Casserole of sweet potatoes with smoked chili pepper
casserole of sweet potatoes with walnut sprinkling

444444 sweet potato

There are 2 ways to prepare this sweet potato dish. If you want the sweet potato to be not too fried, cut it into strips, put it on a baking sheet covered with baking paper and sprinkle with olive oil. You can salt the sweet potato, pepper and sprinkle with any favorite seasonings. Sweet potatoes should be baked in the oven at 120°C for 25 minutes, turning the pieces from time to time. To check if the dish is ready, you can pierce the slices with a fork. nine0003

If you're not afraid of adding a few extra calories and want a nice and crunchy product, the second option is the way to go. Also cut the sweet potato into strips and for 15 minutes. immerse completely in ice water - this is necessary in order to remove excess starch, without it the sweet potato will be more crispy. Pour 2.5cm of peanut butter into a frying pan. Dry the sweet potato slices with a paper towel and slowly dip them one by one into the oil in the pan. Roast the sweet potato at 180°C for 5 minutes or until golden brown. Now sprinkle it with your favorite salty or sweet spices. nine0003

4. Sweet potato pancakes

Potato pancakes are good for breakfast. Why not try replacing regular potatoes with sweet potatoes? These pancakes go well with egg dishes, plus sweet potatoes will add color to your dishes. To make pancakes, grate or finely chop the tubers in a blender and fry with onions in a few tablespoons of vegetable oil until they turn brown and crispy. Now you can sprinkle the sweet potato dish with herbs and spices that you like best. nine0003

Fast-food dishes and appetizers with a batth:

Credits made of sweet potatoes
Latkes (pancakes) with sweet potatoes

Quesadilla with pork and sweet potatoes
Rava dosa lacy pancakes stuffed with sweet potato and cumin

5. Grilling

This method is a bit like roasting. The only difference is that on the grill, the sweet potato will acquire a unique smoky flavor. So, cut the tubers into round slices and brush them with olive oil. Now place them on the hot grill. Fry the slices for 5 minutes. from each side. The thinner the slices, the faster they will cook. To make the sweet potato more fragrant, add apple wood chips to the coal. If you want the sweet potato to turn out more tender and soft, put it on a piece of foil, add butter there, wrap it up and put it on the grill for 20 minutes. nine0003

Grilled Sweet Potato and Green Onion Salad
Warm Baked Sweet Potato and Onion Salad

6. Puree

After all, the peel of this vegetable has 3 times more antioxidants than all other vegetables. If you enjoy mashed unpeeled sweet potatoes, you will do yourself and your children a lot of good. If you prefer mashed tubers without skin, it's okay. At the very least, your body will still get a variety of vitamins, minerals and antioxidants. nine0003

Take three large tubers, cut into pieces (the smaller the pieces, the faster they will cook). Boil water and put chopped sweet potato into it. Cook until the pieces are completely soft. This will take you 15-20 minutes. Now drain the water from the pan, add milk, butter and a pinch each of salt and pepper to give the puree the desired taste.

Sweet potato puree recipes:

Sweet potato puree with mojito flavor
puree from battery
Pyre from the Indian battles
Potato puree from a quick-cook battery

9. Puree soup

Soups are easy to prepare. Plus, they can be frozen for later use. Sweet potatoes are perfect for soup because they are very filling and harmonize well with other ingredients. To make the soup more interesting, you can add curry powder and a pinch of ground red pepper to it. Experiment with different spices and flavors until you find one that you and your family like best.

Lentil and sweet potato soup recipe