Beets baby food age

Beets for Homemade Baby Food, Age for Introducing Beets to your Baby and Beet Recipes for Making Baby Food

Beets Baby Food Recipes – When can baby eat beets and how to prepare beets for your baby.

Learn about beets and try some beets baby food recipe ideas too. Beets are very nutritious for your little one. A great color to engage your little one’s eyes and pinching fingers, serve up some beets to your little one as a great finger food.

The Goodness of Beets for Baby Food:

Beets contain a wonderful amount of calcium, potassium and even vitamin A. Both Vitamin A and Calcium play a large role in the healthy development of your baby. It’s hard to believe how high in fiber beets are; just 2 medium sized beets contain 2 grams of fiber!

BEETS –
(2 beets, about 2″ in diameter – boiled and drained) from the USDA Nutrient Database

VITAMINS:Vitamin A – 35 IUVitamin C – 3. 6 mgNiacin – .33 mgFolate – 80 mcgPantothenic Acid – .14 mgVitamin B6 – .06 mg

Contains some other vitamins in small amounts

MINERALS:Potassium – 305 mgSodium – 77 mgCalcium – 16 mgPhosphorus – 38 mgMagnesium – 23 mgIron – .79 mg

Also contains small amounts of selenium, manganese, copper and zinc.

When to introduce Beets to your baby – Age for Introducing Beets: 8-10 months

As noted above, many pediatricians suggest introducing beets between 8-10 months of age. As always, we recommend that you thoroughly discuss any feeding issues with your pediatrician as generalities may not apply to your child.

How to select and store beets for homemade baby food

According to the EWG, beets are not one of the “dirty dozen” foods that are most highly contaminated with pesticides – purchasing organic is a personal choice.

When selecting beets for homemade baby food, try to purchase fresh beets whenever possible. The medium sized beets are more tender and tasty than the large beets. Many recommend completely bypassing beets if they are over 3-4 inches in diameter. With beets, bigger is not better.

Choose unbruised or otherwise unblemished beets. Beets come in all types of colors including red, yellow and of course, that well known purple color. When possible, buy beets that still have their green leafy tops attached as as they will remain more fresh. Don’t look at the dirt on beets as a negative, seldom will you find nicely washed and shiny beets in your grocery store.

To store beets, cut off the greens and then place in an airtight container or a freezer bag and put them in the “veggie crisper” or the far back of your refrigerator. Beets will remain fresh for about 1 week as long as they are kept cold.

The best way to safely prepare Beets for Baby Food

When preparing Beets, I like to roast or steam them. Steaming is really the very best method for cooking and preparing them if you want to use them for baby food. They will cook up a bit more mushy and more easy to puree when steamed. Steaming Beets also allows the Vitamin A beta carotene to be more bio-available and readily used by the body.

Beets should be peeled and the greens cut off when making baby food purées. Even adults should not eat the peel of beets as they are not easily digestible.
We have found that more often than not, the recommendation for introducing Beets is between 8-10 months old. Again, please see our Nitrates article for more in-depth information.

Tasty Beets Baby Food Recipes

Beets – Basic Purée

Ingredients:

1 bunch of fresh beets

Directions:

Step 1: Wash then peel the beets (be sure to cut off the tops.) and then cut the beets into small chunks
Step 2: Place chunks into a steamer pan with just enough water visible through the steamer basket. You may also boil them in a scant amount of water if you prefer.
Step 3: Steam until tender
Step 4: Do not reserve any left over water to use for thinning out the beets as Nitrates may seep into the cooking water
Step 5: Place into your choice of appliance for pureeing and begin pureeing. We find a food processor works best to make a really nice textured beet puree.
Step 6: Add water as necessary to achieve a smooth, thin consistency.

Purple Potatoes

Ingredients:

1 cup of cooked mashed beets
2 cups of mashed potatoes

Directions:

Step 1: Mix beets and potatoes together and serve.
Step 2: Add a 1/2 cup soft cooked diced carrots for extra eye appeal.

Purple Rice Casserole

Ingredients:

2 cups of cooked sliced beets
3 cups cooked brown rice
1 small diced onion – sauteed
1 cup cooked shredded chicken or turkey
1/2 cup chicken broth (try a homemade chicken stock. )
3 egg yolks
splash of milk or 1/4 cup of whole milk yogurt
spices as desired

Directions:

Step 1: Combine the beets, rice, onion, and chicken or turkey in a bowl and stir to mix well.
Step 2: Add the milk (or yogurt) and egg yolks, and stir to mix.
Step 3: Wipe a 2-quart casserole dish with nonstick cooking spray or olive oil, and spread the mixture evenly in a dish.
Step 4: Bake at 350 degrees for 50 minutes to 1 hour, or until a sharp knife inserted in the center of the dish comes out clean. Remove dish from oven and let sit for 5 minutes before serving.

+ This dish was created when I could not find anything to do with the leftover chicken, near-ready to be tossed beets and extra brown rice. A nice way to get some color and beets into your baby or toddler.

Roasted Beet Shapes

Ingredients:

5 medium sized beets
cookie cutters
olive oil

Directions:

Step 1: Thoroughly cleanse and then peel the beets. Cut the beets into thin slices.
Step 2: Using small cookie cutters, cut out shapes from the beet slices. You may have to press really hard to do this.
Step 3: Transfer shapes onto a oiled baking sheet and brush the beets lightly with olive oil.
Step 4: Bake at 350 for approx. 10-20 minutes or until the beets are soft and tender. You may wish to cover the baking sheet with a strip of tinfoil.

You may also try to steam the beet shapes. I have never had luck with steaming beet shapes though I do believe that a thicker beet shape might steam well.

Serve as fun finger foods or simply mash and serve.

Mashed Turnip & Beets

Ingredients:

1 very large turnip ( or many small ones)
4 medium Beets ( or as many as you like)
spice to taste

Directions:

Step 1: Peel skin off of the turnip then cut turnip into pieces… size doesn’t matter, but the smaller you cut them the faster they will boil.
Step 2:Place the turnip in saucepan with just enough water to cover then boil until fork tender.
Step 3: Clean and peel then cut up the Beets and steam until tender – or steam Turnips and Beets together.

When Turnip & Beets are ready, put both in one bowl or saucepan and mash them together. Or you can mash them separately (food processor can also be used) and then mix them together. Add spices as desired.

Foods Good to Mix With Beets

Apples
White Potato
Peas
Summer Squash – zucchini or yellow/crooked necked
Brown Rice
Lentils
Chicken
Pork
Tofu – beets turn tofu a wonderful purple color.

Visit our Combinations page to see more Homemade Baby Food Combination Ideas

Poop Alert!

After eating beets, your baby may have poop that is a pink to reddish color so don’t be alarmed.
Blood in poop is seen as red streaks throughout the stool but the whole stool is not colored red.

Remember, always consult with your pediatrician regarding introducing solid foods to your baby and specifically discuss any foods that may pose allergy risks for your baby.

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How to Cook Beets (Beetroot) for Babies

Jump to Recipe

Serve beetroots to your baby with ease and confidence following these cooking tips, serving suggestions, and healthy recipes!

Jump to:

When can babies eat beets?
Health Benefits
Are beets safe for babies?
Selecting the Best Beetroots
Cooking Methods
How to Cut Beets for Baby Led Weaning
How to store
Frequently Asked Questions
Beet recipes for babies
How to Cook Beetroot (3 Easy Methods)

When can babies eat beets?

This nutritious vegetable can be offered to babies as soon as they’re ready to start solids, usually around 6 months. It’s important to remember that your baby is unique and that rather than going by the calendar, you need to make sure your baby is DEVELOPMENTALLY ready to start solids.

If you’re unsure, be sure to grab my FREE handout!

Health Benefits

Beets are nutritional powerhouses. They’re great sources of fiber, potassium, folate, iron, calcium, and vitamin C.

And did you know that the red pigment is also a powerful antioxidant called betalains?

They’re essential for many cell functions and protect our cells against oxidative stress, which can damage cells.

Besides the health benefits, beets provide your baby with such a wonderful flavor and texture experience. The vibrant color is sure to engage their eyes and even pique the interest of your fussy eating toddler.

Be prepared though as they have an uncanny ability to stain everything! Put on a full sleeve bib or serve on bath day ;).

Are beets safe for babies?

As long as it's offered in an appropriate size and texture, it is safe. Let me show you how!

It is also not a common allergen. And If you were told to avoid due to nitrates, be sure to read the FAQ section!

Selecting the Best Beetroots

Choose ones that are rich in color, firm with smooth skin, and round.

And make sure they are small or medium in size (no larger than 3 inches in diameter), as they are sweeter and more tender.

I learned the hard way when the husband brought home large beets thinking bigger is better and they not only tasted terrible but were super tough and fibrous! Never again!

If you're buying beets with leaves and stems attached, the leaves should be crisp and dark green.

Grab ones that are similar in size so they will cook evenly.

They come in many different shades. Golden and white ones are sweet and have a less earthy flavor compared to the red ones. Some even have red and white rings inside! If you can get your hands on these, grab some. It will be a great way to incorporate variety.

Cooking Methods

Be sure to gently scrub under running water to remove any dirt or sand.

It is best to cook with the skin on and some stem and root attached. Otherwise, the beets will stain your hands and everything else that they touch.

The skin will rub off easily after cooking. Once cooled, use a paper towel or gloves to help peel.

It is VERY important that the vegetable is cooked until soft enough to be easily smushed between thumb and forefinger.

Steamed

Insert a steamer basket into a large pot. Fill with water to just below the steamer basket. Bring water to a boil.

Add beets to the pot and cover with a lid. Reduce heat to low and simmer until tender, about 30-40 minutes, depending on the size. Remove from pot. Allow them to cool. Peel skin.

Steam

Roasted

This is my personal favorite as it truly brings out their natural sweetness.

Here’s how to achieve perfectly silky and tender beets that your baby will gobble up in seconds.

Place the beets in a single layer in a greased baking/casserole dish and cover with a lid. Alternatively, you can coat the beet skins with oil and wrap loosely in foil (wrap big ones individually).
Roast in the oven at 400°F for 45-50 minutes. You can check the doneness by piercing it with a knife. It should cut through like butter.
Once cooled, peel, slice and enjoy!

Instant Pot

The downside to roasting is that while it's simple to do, it does take a long time for the beets to get softened. Now that I'm a proud owner of the Instant Pot, when I'm pressed for time, here's what I do!

Place the cleaned beets on trivet or steam basket. Add 1 cup of water.
Close the lid, making sure valve is at sealing.
Press manual or pressure cook at high pressure for 15-20 minutes, depending on the size of the beets.
Do a quick release method by turning the valve from sealing to venting .
Poke the beets with a knife. If it's still too hard, cook under high pressure for an additional 2-5 minutes.
Let it cool before peeling the skin with your hands.

Pre-cooked beets

They tend to be more expensive but can't beat the convenience!

How to Cut Beets for Baby Led Weaning

Beets provide your baby with such a wonderful flavor and texture experience. Its vibrant color is sure to engage their eyes, and even pique the interest of your fussy eating toddler.

6+ months old

Pureed - Add cooked beets into a blender and blend until smooth. Add breastmilk/formula, water, or even broth to thin out to desired consistency.

Finely chopped- I like to use my mini chopper for this. Make enough to enjoy throughout the week in various ways. You can add to:

Homemade baby oatmeal
Quinoa
Lentils
Chia Pudding
Overnight oats
Toast
Yogurt
French toast

6-9 MONTHS OLD

Either go big or really small. You can finely chop (I love to use this mini chopper), grate or serve quartered.

The beets should be easy to smush between your thumb and forefinger.

9+ MONTHS OLD

As your baby develops their pincer grasp and is able to pick up small pieces of food using their thumb and forefinger, you can cut into small, bite-sized pieces. You can also serve thinly sliced.

If you haven't already, this is a good time to introduce utensils. Your baby will most likely just play around or toss it. But it’s still great for exposure!

Try forking a piece of squash and plate on their plate. Be sure to continue modeling. They are like sponges and learn by watching you!

12+ months old

In addition to all of the above, continue practicing with those utensils. And don’t get discouraged if your child doesn’t seem to be getting it. It's a skill that takes time to master, and the best things you can do are provide plenty of opportunities to practice and model.

Going back up in size and offering whole or halved soft beets is also great for practicing taking bites.

How to store

For uncooked

Do not wash before storing. If you purchased ones with the greens attached, remove it from the root, leaving only about an inch of the stem intact. Otherwise, it will suck the moisture from the root.

Store in the crisper drawer for 2-3 weeks. Beet greens will keep for 3-5 days.

For cooked

Store in an airtight container for 3-5 days in the fridge.

To Freeze

I encourage you to cook a large batch so you can freeze some. I personally like to freeze beets whole but you can also slice them. Transfer to an airtight container and freeze for up to 3 months.

Frequently Asked Questions

Do beets cause constipation?

They actually help promote regularity, thanks to their high fiber content. With my firstborn, beets (and chia seeds) were what really helped get things moving when nothing else seemed to work.

Should I be concerned about the nitrates in beets?

Nitrates are natural chemicals that are found in the soil, air, and water. Therefore, they’re found in many vegetables. When consumed in excess, they can negatively affect blood counts, resulting in lethargy and breathing difficulties.

But this is rare for babies 6 months old and up. The American Academy of Pediatrics recommends that foods with naturally occurring nitrates be avoided before 3 months of age.

This should be easy since babies don't need solid foods until around 6 months of age.

Vegetables provide so many beneficial nutrients that the benefits typically outweigh any harmful effects. But this is also another reminder to incorporate more variety into your child's diet. Too much of one food, whether good or bad, is not ideal.

If you are very concerned, purchasing organic will help minimize the intake of nitrates.

Canned beets ok for baby?

Sure! Just choose ones that contain the least amount of sodium and no added sugar. Give it a good rinse before serving to further reduce the sodium.

Will my baby's urine and poop change in color?

Yes, thanks to the betanin pigment, it is normal for them to take on a reddish hue. Although this can be scary, don't be alarmed. Rest assured, it is completely harmless.

Beet recipes for babies

As you can see, it takes a long time to cook beets. So be sure to cook a huge batch while you’re at it! You can serve as is or try these recipes!

Beet Pancakes (egg-free)
Beet Hummus
Beetroot Dip with Chickpeas
Beetroot Blender Muffins
Turkey Beet Meatballs
Beetroot Pesto Pasta Sauce
Beetroot Curry Oatmeal
Beet Zucchini Bread
Bibimbap Sauce

How to Cook Beetroot (3 Easy Methods)

Serve beetroots to your baby with ease and confidence following these cooking tips, serving suggestions, and healthy recipes!

5 from 2 votes

Print Pin

Prep Time: 5 minutes

Cook Time: 45 minutes

Total Time: 50 minutes

Servings: 8

Author: Min | MJ and Hungryman

▢
Instant Pot
▢
Steamer
▢
Baking Mat

▢ 1 pound small to medium sized beetroots
▢ Olive or avocado oil, if steam roasting

Steamed Beets

Insert a steamer basket into a large pot. Fill with water to just below the steamer basket. Bring water to a boil.
Add beets to the pot and cover with a lid. Reduce heat to low and simmer until tender, about 30-40 minutes, depending on the size. Remove from pot. Allow them to cool. Peel skin.

Steam Roasted Beets

Place the beets in a single layer in a greased baking/casserole dish and cover with a lid. Alternatively, you can coat the beet skins with oil and wrap loosely in foil (wrap big ones individually).
Roast in the oven at 400°F for 45-50 minutes. You can check the doneness by piercing it with a knife. It should cut through like butter. Once cooled, peel, slice and enjoy!

Instant Pot Beets

Place the cleaned beets on trivet or steam basket. Add 1 cup of water. Close the lid, making sure valve is at sealing.
Press manual or pressure cook at high pressure for 15-20 minutes, depending on the size of the beets. Do a quick release method by turning the valve from sealing to venting.
Poke the beets with a knife. If it's still too hard, cook under high pressure for an additional 2-5 minutes. Let it cool before peeling the skin with your hands.

Store in an airtight container for 3-5 days in the fridge.

I encourage you to cook a large batch so you can freeze some. I personally like to freeze beets whole but you can also slice them. Transfer to an airtight container and freeze for up to 3 months.

Calories: 24kcal | Carbohydrates: 5g | Protein: 1g | Fat: 1g

Course Side

Cuisine American

Tried this Recipe? Tag me Today!Tag me @KidFriendly.Meals today!

Root crops in child nutrition - NTsZD

Root crops proper include carrots, beets, rutabaga, turnips, radishes, radishes, parsley and celery. Potato and sweet potato (sweet potato) are tubers.

Root crops are a source of dietary fiber, sugars, vegetable protein, and the content of vitamins and minerals in them is higher than in the fruits and leaves of other plants. Radishes, radishes, turnips, parsley and celery roots have a high content of essential oils, which limits their use in the nutrition of young children.

Among the root crops, the most demanded carrot , which contains a lot of easily digestible carbohydrates, fiber and pectin, as well as essential oils, some essential amino acids and pigments necessary for the normal functioning of the organs of vision.. For baby food, carrots are useful primarily because of the high content in it of provitamin A, or carotene. This vitamin is also called the growth vitamin, and it is very important for babies, because it contributes to good vision, maintains the normal condition of the skin and mucous membranes. In addition to carotene, carrots contain B vitamins, vitamin C, K, PP, trace elements: iron, calcium, phosphorus, iodine. Carrots improve intestinal motility, the condition of the mucous membranes, accelerate the healing and regeneration of the skin. However, allergic reactions often occur on carrots, so it should be given to a child carefully, taking into account individual tolerance. It should be remembered that carotene belongs to the fat-soluble group of vitamins, therefore, for better absorption, it is good to add a little vegetable oil to carrots, and for older children - cream or sour cream.

It is better to “acquaint” a baby with carrots at the age of 6-7 months. When choosing carrots, pay attention to the appearance of the root. If the “head” of the root crop is green, it is better not to take it, because a dish made from such carrots will be tasteless. Most carotene is in the pulp closer to the edges, which is why it is colored brighter. But the pale yellow core should not be neglected either - it contains the pigment apigenin, which helps strengthen the heart muscle and relieve fatigue.

A useful vegetable for a child is beets . It is distinguished by a high content of easily digestible sugars (sucrose, fructose, glucose), fiber, organic acids, vitamins C, PP, group B, folic acid, carotenoids, bioflavonoids and mineral salts - potassium, sodium, magnesium, calcium, phosphorus and iron. The betaines present in beets (a group of phospholipids) contribute to better absorption of proteins, regulate fat metabolism, and improve liver and brain function. Mineral salts of calcium, phosphorus and iron regulate calcium-phosphorus metabolism and activate hematopoiesis. For medicinal purposes, beets are used to stimulate the activity of the intestines with a tendency to constipation. Beets can be safely added to the diet of babies older than a year.

Unlike other vegetables, beets retain vitamins and other useful substances all year round. However, it should be remembered that beetroot can cause allergic reactions, and if it is in excess, diarrhea may develop. In addition, beets actively absorb and accumulate nitrates from the soil. Therefore, for a child, you need to choose environmentally friendly beets and give them in moderation. For young children, the amount of beets is approximately 60 g or 12 teaspoons per day.

Turnip has long been valued in Rus' as a healthy and nutritious product. It contains indispensable elements that are necessary for human health. Turnip contains a large amount of vitamin C, which is stored in the root for a long time, contains vitamins B1, B2, PP, beta-carotene, E,. as well as iron, phosphorus, sodium, potassium, magnesium. Turnip is well boiled and absorbed in the gastrointestinal tract. However, the essential oils present in it do not allow the use of turnips in children of the first 2-3 years as the main product, but only in combination with other vegetables, as part of vegetable puree or in soups. Older children can consume the root crop both raw and after heat treatment.

Parsley root and celery root begin to be used only in the nutrition of children who have reached 2-3 years of age. In early childhood, it is recommended to use only the leaf part of plants as a source of vitamins (A, E, K, B6) and minerals (calcium, magnesium, potassium, iron), using them as seasonings for various dishes.

Celery root contains potassium, magnesium, iron and zinc. Parsley roots are rich in vitamins C, A, group B, minerals: potassium, calcium, magnesium, phosphorus, iron. Parsley leaves and roots supply rare elements to the human body: aluminum, lithium, vanadium, titanium, nickel, molybdenum, manganese.

Parsley and celery roots give dishes a distinctive flavor due to the presence of essential oils in them.

Rutabaga is a hybrid of turnip and cabbage, it is also called the Swedish turnip because it prefers the damp climate of temperate and northern latitudes. This root crop is rich in vitamins A, B, B6, P, minerals: calcium, magnesium, phosphorus, sodium, iron and sulfur. In addition, the swede contains sugar, protein, fiber and pectin. But most importantly, it is the undisputed leader among root crops in terms of vitamin C content. Due to its delicate structure, sweetish taste and rather high content of pectin, which promotes digestion, swede is an ideal food product. True, swede can cause excessive gas formation, so the baby should be given it carefully, starting from 8 months.

Rutabaga can be stored for several months without losing its useful properties; when cooked, it retains its valuable substances; it is better to cook it in a double boiler.

Widely used in baby food potatoes . It is high in starch, potassium and vitamin C, as well as vitamins P, B group and bio-flavonoids, which improve the absorption of vitamin C and strengthen the immune system.

Potato tubers are well boiled, the product is easily digested, but in some cases it can increase gas formation in the intestines. In the baby's menu, potatoes can be included from 5-6 months in the form of mashed potatoes.

At what age can a child be given beetroot and beetroot juice?

Beetroot and beetroot juice: when to include in a child's diet?

Beetroot is a vegetable that is very beneficial for the body. It must be present in baby food. But from what age, in what quantities to give beets, how to cook it for a baby, and is it possible to squeeze juice from a root crop? The article will help to understand all the important issues regarding the inclusion of beets in the children's menu.

Contents

Benefits of beets for the body

Most nutritionists advise eating beets and dishes from them regularly. This vegetable has a positive effect on digestion, and that’s all thanks to its rich composition. The main beneficial effects of the root crop are as follows:

Due to the vast amount of vitamins in the composition of beet pulp, its consumption in food will have a good effect on the development of the baby - both mentally and physically. Also, the product will help to function normally to all internal organs and systems.
The root crop contains a sufficient amount of minerals - iodine and iron, and this is the prevention of anemia and iodine deficiency.
In addition to these trace elements, beets contain other minerals and salts of minerals, so the product will have a positive effect on metabolism.
Eat beetroot regularly, it will strengthen the walls of blood vessels, contribute to the good functioning of the hematopoietic organs, and reduce nervous excitability.
The child's immune system will work more smoothly after eating beets, because the vegetable has immunomodulatory and antioxidant properties.
If a child is given light beet salads or mashed potatoes, then he will not have problems with the intestines, the main of which at a tender age is constipation.
Beetroot is very useful for the liver, it is a natural hepatoprotector, which is important for any person.

Does the root crop have harmful properties?

If the beets are not grown in an ecologically clean place without the use of herbicides and soil improvers, then there is a possibility that they contain harmful impurities. A vegetable tends to take salt, nitrates, and other substances from the soil that are not at all necessary for the child's body. Therefore, a large amount of beets can adversely affect the functioning of the kidneys.
Beets are able to lower blood pressure. If for many adults with vascular and heart diseases this property of beets will only benefit, then it can harm babies.
If a child is prone to diarrhea, then eating beets is often contraindicated for him.

Beet consumption must be moderate, not uncontrolled, otherwise you can achieve unpleasant effects!

At what age can you give a baby?

Only after the child has already had other vegetables on the menu (zucchini, pumpkin, potatoes, broccoli, cauliflower, carrots), they begin to introduce beets into his diet. If no allergic reactions were noted, there is no tendency to allergies, then the age of introduction of beets is 8-9 months . If the baby is allergic, he is diagnosed with diathesis, then you will have to forget about beets for up to a year (at least).

If the child does not have allergies and has problems with stool, intestinal motility is reduced, then this may be the basis for introducing the root crop into the menu after 6 months. It is strictly forbidden to make this vegetable the first meal of complementary foods - it will be very difficult for an organism not accustomed to plant foods to absorb a product with a lot of fiber!

In general, earlier than 8 months, the introduction of beets is permissible only to bring the stool back to normal.

Beets and constipation: does it really save you from the problem?

YES, it helps. The vegetable contains a lot of fiber - a type of carbohydrate, which, for the most part, is not digested in the intestines, but helps to carry out normal digestion. As a result of the inclusion of beets in the menu, there is an increase in intestinal motility, it pushes out stagnant feces and eliminates constipation. From vekla eliminates constipation and is an excellent prevention, so you must eat it!

Can beets cure a runny nose? How to make drops?

It may seem strange, but beetroot juice is good for treating rhinitis (runny nose). For this purpose, use the juice of raw or boiled vegetables. Drops are prepared as follows:

Wash beets, grate;
Squeeze the juice from the grated root crop with gauze;
Dilute juice with water (take water and juice equally 1 to 1)
Drip into the baby's nose 2 drops 4 times a day.

This prescription is suitable for infectious rhinitis in children and adults. Allergic rhinitis cannot be treated with beetroot juice!

How to introduce a vegetable into a baby's diet?

The allergenic properties and laxative effect of the root vegetable make it necessary to act very carefully regarding its introduction into the menu. It is best to make puree from vegetables already familiar to the child, and add a little boiled root vegetable juice (literally half a teaspoon) to it. If the reaction of the body is normal, there will be no allergy, then next time you can add more juice.

When the "experiments" with juice start to go well, it is worth trying to make beetroot puree and give the child ½ teaspoon. It is important to feed your child the product in the morning to ensure that the product is well tolerated throughout the day.

How much beetroot can a child eat?

Starting to introduce beets into the diet of an 8-9-month-old child, this root crop is given together with other vegetables in an amount of not more than 1/3 of the mass of the entire vegetable dish. By the year, the amount of beets that can be given to a child in one day is 50 grams. At the same time, it is enough to offer this vegetable to the baby only once a week. After a year to 7 years of age, beets are given in an amount of up to 100 g per day.

Beet puree

Babies under 12 months like boiled beets in the form of puree, and they simply cannot chew the elastic root crop in slices. To prepare puree, take beets, vegetable oil, water.

The manufacturing procedure is as follows: the beets are washed very thoroughly, the leaves are removed, poured with water, boiled to a boil over high heat, then over low heat for 10 minutes. Next, the water is drained to eliminate harmful impurities, poured with fresh water and cooked in the same way under the lid for 1-1.5 hours. You can determine the readiness of the beets with a kitchen knife - they pierce the beets to the middle of the root crop. If the knife goes smoothly, then the beets are soft and ready.

Cooked beets are dipped in cold water for a few seconds to easily remove the skin. The peeled vegetable is rubbed on a fine grater or chopped with a blender, a little vegetable oil is added and the puree is diluted with boiled water (so that the puree is not too thick). This dish is perfect for feeding babies up to 12 months of age.

Beet puree can be added to rice or buckwheat porridge, apple, potato, marrow or meat puree.

Reheating the dish worsens its nutritional quality, so young children prepare beetroot puree only once !

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How to make beetroot juice?

After a successful start of complementary foods from boiled vegetables, you can try to give your child beetroot juice from raw beets. It is worth remembering that beetroot juice must be diluted with water or other juices. Juice can irritate the mucous membrane of the stomach and intestines, besides it does not taste very pleasant. On average, the introduction to the juice menu should be at the age of 11-12 months.

The total amount of beetroot juice offered to a crumb must not exceed 1/3 of the total drink. Apple-beetroot juice is especially useful for a baby, but it should also be diluted with water due to the large amount of acid in apples. It is forbidden to take beetroot juice with diabetes, diarrhea, pathologies of the gastrointestinal tract, kidneys.

If a child does not drink cheese juice well, then do not despair. A boiled vegetable gives more benefit to the baby's body than raw. Despite the destruction of some minerals and vitamins after heat treatment, nitrates are also destroyed, and a significant proportion of useful components are still preserved. Boiled beets are better absorbed by the child's body, which, in the end, will be much more useful.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Rlz-tmyXtuk

It is strictly forbidden to drink raw juice if the baby:

Suffering from some kind of stomach disorder;

Has kidney problems;

Prone to diarrhea;

Suffering from diabetes.

More recipes

Beet salad for children over 1 year old

From the age of 1, a child can be offered salads with beets, adding, for example, prunes to the root crop. The order of preparation of the salad is as follows:

Soak prunes in boiling water;
Boil one beetroot, peel it;
Finely grate the beets;
Prunes cut into thin pieces;
Mix components;
Fill the dish with sour cream.

Carrot (raw or boiled) or apple can be used instead of prunes in salad. Children after 1.5 years old can be given salads with raw beets. In addition to salads, you can include the root crop in various soups, stews and other dishes, make cutlets and pancakes from beets.

Oleg Sheinker, a professional chef and young father, shows how to prepare a delicious beetroot salad for a child:

Beetroot cutlets

To diversify the child's menu, you can cook delicious beetroot cutlets. The vegetable must be cooked until tender, peeled, twisted in a meat grinder, salted. For 100 g of the mass, add 10 g of butter, half the yolk, a spoonful of semolina, mix well. While stirring, boil the resulting mass a little until it thickens, then let it cool. Form cutlets from the mass, roll in breadcrumbs, fry. When serving with cutlets, sour cream is well suited.

Stewed beets

The recipe for another root vegetable dish is like this. Peel and finely cut into cubes 300 g of beets and 30 g of carrots, pour in a small amount of water, add a spoonful of vegetable oil, then wait for the water to boil, reduce the heat and close the saucepan with a lid. Periodically mixing the beets with carrots, simmer in a closed container for about an hour. Next, add 2 tablespoons of sour cream, a little salt and sugar to the vegetables, mix and continue to simmer for about ten minutes.

How to choose a good vegetable?

Home grown beetroot is the best choice for making baby food. Unfortunately, most of us have to buy the product in the store, and there are several recommendations for buying:

Large beets always contain more harmful compounds than small beets.
Buy only beets for baby food, which have a pronounced burgundy hue.
The shape of a quality table vegetable is oval, rounded. There is fodder beet which has an oblong shape.
If there are areas with rot, damage on the skin of a vegetable, you cannot take such a product. The whole skin should be strong, dense.
A soft, flabby vegetable is also not worth buying, it should be firm and even.

Allergy to beets - is it possible?

Unfortunately, this root crop sometimes causes food intolerances and allergic reactions, which is why it is given to any child, starting with the smallest portion (half a teaspoon of puree) to check the body's response. Beetroot juice is introduced into the menu literally drop by drop. If there are no signs of allergy within 72 hours, you can repeat the intake of beetroot juice or puree.

From forums

Months from 10 are definitely possible. But my son was allergic to it (or food intolerance, these are different things, but they look the same), and I no longer gave it to my daughter at all. She tried beets in the form of borscht already after a year.
Komarovsky has about the same plan - up to six months - only mother's milk or mixture, then we add kefir (from the dairy kitchen), then porridge or vegetables, first uncolored. Somewhere in parallel - an apple. After porridge (or vegetables) - vegetables (or porridge, depending on what came first). Then meat. Fish - not earlier than 10 months. Somewhere in this plan, I personally was guided.

Beetroot is a useful vegetable, beetroot contains a lot of iodine and iron, and beetroot is useful for anemia in children and constipation. But I still would refrain from giving the child beets until 1 year old, due to the fact that beets cause diathesis. If you decide to give beets up to 1 year old, then in small portions and only boiled and watch the child, usually there are rashes on the face on beets. If your child already eats dishes from potatoes, broccoli, cauliflower, pumpkin porridge, boiled zucchini, and only after these vegetables should you start giving beets, if your child has not yet tried these foods, then you do not need to introduce beets into the diet.
Beets are very rich in fiber and at the age of 1 year, the child will digest beets better.

If the child is allergic, then this vegetable should be approached with caution. Somehow they gave my ward beetroot salad and she poured it all out, but she didn’t have such a reaction to borscht. And in Soviet times, we mixed beetroot juice with carrot and apple juice. Of course, they didn’t give it in its pure form. At 8 months, they started giving. And, thank God, the kids were healthy.