How long to steam zucchini for baby food
Zucchini for Baby Led Weaning (with Recipes)
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Zucchini, also known as courgette, is a versatile and healthy vegetable for babies. Here is everything you need to know to serve it in a way that is safe and delicious.
Jump to:- When can babies eat zucchini?
- Health Benefits
- Selecting the best zucchini
- Top Cooking Methods
- Zucchini for Baby Led Weaning
- Frequently Asked Questions
- Baby-friendly zucchini recipes to try
- Breakfast/Snack
- How to Cook Zucchini for Babbies
When can babies eat zucchini?
It 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
Fun fact - while it is referred to as a vegetable, it is technically a fruit. It is a great source of vitamin B6, which supports brain development and function, and vitamin C, which helps enhance the absorption of iron.
It contains smaller amounts of vitamin A, folate, magnesium, and potassium.
Best iron rich foods for babies
Selecting the best zucchini
While it is available all year round in most grocery stories, you will find the best zucchini in the summer.
Look for shiny skin that is free of bruises, blemishes, and soft spots. The skin should be firm, particularly at the stem. It should also feel heavy for its size.
Top Cooking Methods
Here are the three best cooking methods for babies. It's VERY important that the flesh is cooked until soft enough to be easily smooshed between thumb and forefinger.
I personally don't recommend roasting for this age as the exterior of the vegetable can get too crispy or even burnt before it softens.
You can boil, but I don't recommend it as most of the nutrients will leach into the water.
In regards to size, cut into big spears. Once cooked, you can cut into smaller pieces depending on your baby's age. This way you can serve both big and small pieces as suggested below.
Steam
Place water in a pot, add steamer basket, and bring to a boil. Add zucchini, cover, reduce heat to medium, and cook for 8-10 minutes. It should be easily pierce-able with a fork.
Steam roast
This method is my personal favorite! You can learn more about steam roasting as well as cooking times for ALL other vegetables.
Add zucchini to a baking pan, toss with oil and seasoning(s) of choice, COVER, and roast at 425°F for 10-15 minutes! Perfectly soft and flavorful!
Herbs and Spices for Baby Food
Sauteed
I don't recommend doing this with spears as they won't get soft enough. Slice into thin rounds and cook in a skillet with oil and seasoning(s) until soft.
This is great for 9+ month olds.
Zucchini for Baby Led Weaning
6+ months old
Pureed - Add cooked zucchini into a blender and blend until smooth. Add breastmilk/formula, water, or even broth to thin out to desired consistency.
Mashed - Whether you are advancing in texture after doing purees or starting with baby led weaning, this is such an easy and versatile way to serve zucchini to your baby.
Finely grated
You can add mashed or finely grated zucchini to (so many options!)
- Homemade baby oatmeal
- Baked Quinoa - a great alternative to oatmeal
- Lentils
- Chia Pudding
- Overnight oats/quinoa
- Toast
- Yogurt
- Vegetable omelette
How to start baby led weaning
6-9 months old
Bigger is better and safer at this age so your baby can easily grab the food with their palm and bring to mouth.
Big spears are perfect! Again, the zucchini should easily smoosh 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 finger, you can cut into small, bite-sized pieces. I still suggest continuing to offer larger pieces so they can practice taking bites.
It is a great skill that will help your child to slow down and take bites rather than shovel, which is what my son did for the longest time because I always cut his food into small pieces.
You can also offer raw grated zucchini by itself rather than folding into foods.
15+ Months old:
Depending on your child's chewing abilities (and your comfort level), you can start to offer raw zucchini.
I highly recommend using different cookie cutters (I LOVE these). They played a tremendous part in getting both of my kids interested in raw vegetables.
How to introduce raw vegetables
Frequently Asked Questions
Is zucchini safe for babies?
As long as it is offered in an appropriate size and texture as I have shown here, it is safe.
It is also not a common allergen.
Do I have to peel zucchini for baby food?
It is not necessary as your baby will be able to gnaw/suck the soft flesh away from the skin. Most likely they will spit out the skin.
Can babies eat raw zucchini?
Only if it's grated. It is best to hold off on offering larger pieces until your baby has had more practice with chewing.
What is the best way to store cooked zucchini?
Transfer to an airtight container and keep in the fridge for up to 5 days. Since they're very soft in texture, I don't recommend freezing them. If you have a lot of leftovers and want to invite more variety, add them to the recipes I suggest below!
What is the best way to reheat?
I suggest reheating very briefly in the microwave. Otherwise, the zucchini will get too mushy.
I like to serve straight from the fridge or allow to come to room temperature.
What is the difference between zucchini and yellow squash?
Zucchini has dark green skin and is straight in shape while yellow squash is rich yellow and has a wide bottom and narrow top. Yellow squash also contains more seeds.
They are both part of the summer squash family (and cousins of winter squash) and have a mild flavor. Prepare yellow squash the same as zucchini as I have shown you here. You can also use them interchangeably in recipes.
If you want to learn how to prepare other specific food(s), check out my How To Series!
Baby-friendly zucchini recipes to try
Whether you have an abundance of zucchini or want to incorporate more variety into your child's diet, try these recipes! You can also freeze fresh zucchini.
Breakfast/Snack
Did you make this recipe? Leave a rating below and let me know how you liked the recipe! Your feedback means so much to me!
How to Cook Zucchini for Babbies
Zucchini, also known as courgette, is a versatile and healthy vegetable for babies.
Here is everything you need to know to serve it in a way that is safe and delicious.
5 from 2 votes
Print PinPrep Time: 3 minutes
Cook Time: 10 minutes
Total Time: 13 minutes
Servings: 4
Author: Min | MJ and Hungryman
- ▢
Steamer
- ▢
Baking Mat
- ▢
Baking Mat for Toaster Oven
- ▢ 1 medium zucchini, sliced into spears
- ▢ Oil for steam roasting or sauteeing
- ▢ Seasoning(s) of choice
Steam
Place water in a pot, add steamer basket, and bring to a boil. Add zuccchini, cover, reduce heat to medium, and cook for 8-10 minutes, until easily pierce-able with a fork.
Steam roast
Add zucchini to a baking pan, toss with oil and seasoning(s) of choice. It's ok if they overlap a little bit. It will create more steam resulting in softer zucchini.
COVER with baking mat, and roast at 425°F for 10-15 minutes, until fork tender.
Saute
Recommended for 9+ month olds. Slice into thin rounds instead of spears. Heat oil or butter in a skillet over medium high heat. Add the slices, stir in seasoning(s) of choice.
Cook several minutes until tender, flip so they cook evenly. You can also add a splash of water and cover to speed up the process.
- It is not necessary as your baby will be able to gnaw/suck the soft flesh away from the skin. Most likely they will spit out the skin.
- Transfer to an airtight container and keep in the fridge for up to 5 days. Since they're very soft in texture, I don't recommend freezing them.
Calories: 8kcal | Carbohydrates: 2g | Protein: 1g | Fat: 1g
Course Side Dish
Cuisine American
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About Min
Thank you so much for stopping by! I am Min, a Registered Dietitian, a Christ follower, a wife, and a mom to our two miracle babies! Currently, I’m having a ton of fun feeding their tummies and sharing our baby led weaning journey! Follow me on Instagram if interested in seeing daily menu as well as tips and tricks.
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How to Make Zucchini Baby Food
Are you wanting to give your baby the most nutritious baby food possible? Then make your own! Find out here how to make your own zucchini baby food!
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Zucchini Baby Food
When it comes to our children, we as moms want to give them the best! We want them to be healthy and we want them to have the best start at life possible!
A great way to give your baby the best optimal start is to make your own baby food! Unfortunately store bought baby food can be laden with chemicals and other nasty ingredients.
Making your own baby food fresh is a great way to not only avoid these nasty ingredients, but to give your baby the freshest, most nutritious food possible!
When all four of my children were babies I made my own baby food for them.
If you have never done it before, then don’t worry, it’s very easy! I’ll walk you step by step through the entire process:)
And I know it sounds time consuming, but it’s really not. You can make up a whole months worth of baby food in just a few hours!
Making Zucchini Baby Food
Zucchini are very nutritious!
They contain vitamin C, Manganese, Vitamin B-6, Vitamin K, Zinc, Iron and more!
The majority of the nutrients are found in the peels.
Even as your baby gets older zucchini should still be an important part of their diet.
When you child is old enough to chew and eat larger items, you can grate the zucchini, and then when they are even older you can cut zucchini into sticks for them to eat by themselves!
But for now, when they are still little, we want to make the zucchini into baby food to prevent choking.
How to Make Zucchini Baby Food
So let’s get started and go make some zucchini baby food!
The only ingredients that you will need for this recipe are zucchini, and a little filtered or reverse osmosis water.
As with all veggies for baby, I recommend only buying organic zucchini.
You want to choose zucchini that are bright green. They should feel firm and heavy, but should be tender enough that you could puncture the skin easily.
The best zucchini for baby are smaller in size so that they are not too tough. About six inches long is a good size to look for.
How to Prepare Zucchini for Baby Food
The first step is to wash the zucchini.
You also need to cut off and throw away the ends.
If the zucchini are small you can cook them whole. If they are a little on the larger size, or if you would like them to cook a little faster you can cut them into even slices.
Should I Peel Zucchini for Baby Food?
As I already mentioned, the majority of the nutrients are found in the peels.
So you do not want to peel the zucchini. Leave the peels on so that your baby can benefit from the wonderful nutrients found in them!
This is also another good reason to buy organic zucchini.
Buying organic zucchini means that you do not have to worry about harmful pesticides being present on the zucchini peels.
How Do You Cook Zucchini for Baby Food?
There are a couple of healthy options when it comes to cooking zucchini for baby food.
My favorite method for cooking zucchini is to steam it. Mainly because that’s what I’m used to doing when preparing zucchini for myself.
But zucchini can also be baked, which doesn’t require any water.
How to Bake Zucchini
Baking zucchini is very easy.
Simply place zucchini in a covered baking dish and bake at 350 degrees for about 25 minutes.
It’s that easy!
How to Steam Zucchini for Baby Food
Steaming zucchini is really just as easy and actually faster as far as cooking time.
To steam zucchini, simply add water to the bottom of the steamer, put the steamer basket in place, and add your zucchini to the basket.
Place the lid on and turn on the burner.
Once steam begins to build up you want to steam whole zucchini for about 10-15 minutes, and sliced zucchini for about 5-8 minutes.
How to Make Zucchini Into Baby Food
To transform zucchini pieces into baby food you need to puree them.
I highly recommend purchasing a Vitamix Blender to make your baby food with. It is one of the best blenders and will blend baby food to a super smooth consistency to insure that you do not end up with zucchini chunks in the baby food that baby can choke on.
This is the only blender that I will use when pureeing not only baby food, but other recipes such as Sweet Potato Pie or Apple Butter as well!
It is the best! And it lasts FOREVER! I have had my Vitamix for over a decade and it’s still going strong and purees foods just as good as the day I got it! Definitely worth investing in!
Zucchini Baby Puree
So add the zucchini to the blender.
I usually fill mine about 1/3 full at a time and blend in batches to help speed the process up. You may also need to add a little water at this time.
If you want to add back in some of the nutrients that were lost during steaming you can use the water that you used to steam the zucchini. Just be sure that you use a good quality filtered or RO water when you steam them.
Start with a few tablespoons of water as you can always add more. If the zucchini gets too thick it will not blend well. So keep stopping and scraping down the sides of the blender as needed and adding water until all the zucchini are smooth and well blended.
You want it to be somewhat thick and not runny, so don’t add too much water. You basically only want to add as much water as is needed to help the blender out. Otherwise the zucchini will just stick to the sides and won’t fall down to the blades.
Once all the zucchini is blended to a super smooth consistency you have baby food! Yep, it’s that easy!
How to Store Homemade Baby Food
But wait, we’re not done yet!
What are you supposed to do with this large batch of zucchini baby food? I mean, as good as zucchini are for you, your baby isn’t going to eat the whole batch at once;)
Like I mentioned above you can make a LOT of baby food in a short amount of time.
The key is to freeze the zucchini puree that you won’t be using in the next couple of days for later.
However, you don’t want to freeze it all together. You want to be able to freeze it in serving sizes so that you can easily thaw out and use a small amount at a time. This way you can have baby food for a month or more!
Zucchini Baby Food Freezing
To freeze baby food efficiently you really need to get these baby food cube trays. They’re kind of like ice cube trays that have lids.
Simply scoop the pureed zucchini into the trays, place the lid on, and put it in the freezer. Once they are completely frozen you can pop them out and store them in freezer bags that are labeled with the date made.
Now you have a large supply of ready made, single serving, zucchini baby food cubes! How easy is that?!
How to Thaw Frozen Baby Food
When it comes time to use your frozen zucchini cubes you need to be sure that they are thawed in advance.
There are a couple of different ways to thaw out zucchini baby food.
The easiest is to put it in a bowl with a lid the night before and let it thaw in the fridge. That way the next day it will be soft and ready to use.
However, I know from experience, that this isn’t always an option! There were many times that I forgot to lay my baby food out and had to do it just before serving it.
I really don’t recommend thawing baby food in the microwave. Not only does it leave hot spots in the baby food that can burn your baby, but it also is bad for the baby food! You can read here about the dangers of microwaves and why I don’t have one.
So, the best way to thaw frozen baby food cubes quickly is to fill a bowl that is a little larger than the bowl holding the baby food with hot water. Sit the bowl with the cubes in the hot water. The heat will be enough to cause the cubes to melt.
You might have to change the water a few times and add fresh hot water as it gets cold.
Also occasionally turn the cube and break it up as it gets softer to help speed up thawing.
I know this might seem like a pain, but it’s the best way to thaw the cubes so that they don’t get too hot for baby and the best way to preserve the nutrients in the food that you worked hard to make!
Be sure to test the thawed zucchini to be sure that they are not too hot before feeding it to your baby.
And that’s how you make homemade zucchini baby food!
Now the only thing left to do is to serve it to your little one:) I hope they enjoy it as much as you enjoy giving your baby the healthiest food possible!
Baby Food Recipes
For additional baby food recipes be sure to read:
How to Make Spinach Baby Food
How to make Green Bean Baby Food
How to Make Sweet Potato Baby Food
How to Make Avocado Baby Food
How to Make Carrot Baby Food
How to Make Butternut Squash Baby Food
How to Make Plum Baby Food
How to Make Banana Baby Food
How to Make Pear Baby Food
Zucchini Baby Food Recipe
Prep Time 10 minutes
Cook Time 10 minutes
Additional Time 15 minutes
Total Time 35 minutes
Ingredients
- Organic Zucchini
- Filtered or RO Water
Instructions
How to Bake Zucchini
- Simply place zucchini in a covered baking dish and bake at 350 degrees for about 25 minutes.
How to Steam Zucchini for Baby Food
- To steam zucchini, simply add water to the bottom of the steamer, put the steamer basket in place, and add your zucchini to the basket. Place the lid on and turn on the burner.
- Once steam begins to build up you want to steam whole zucchini for about 10-15 minutes, and sliced zucchini for about 5-8 minutes.
Zucchini Baby Puree
- Fill blender about 1/3 full with zucchini. If needed add a little water.
- Start with a few tablespoons of water as you can always add more. If the zucchini gets too thick it will not blend well. So keep stopping and scraping down the sides of the blender as needed and adding water until all the zucchini are smooth and well blended.
- You want it to be somewhat thick and not runny, so don't add too much water. You basically only want to add as much water as is needed to help the blender out. Otherwise the zucchini will just stick to the sides and won't fall down to the blades.
- Once all the zucchini is blended to a super smooth consistency you have baby food! Yep, it's that easy!
Zucchini puree for the first feeding
The introduction of zucchini in the first feeding is recommended by WHO, and zucchini puree for feeding the baby can be prepared without any problems yourself. There is nothing complicated in growing zucchini and the mature fruits of many varieties can be stored throughout the entire frosty period. The pulp of the fruit with elementary heat treatment retains its beneficial properties and is easily absorbed by the child's body even from an early age.
Contents
- How to cook courgettes for the first feeding
- Courgettes for complementary foods in baby food
- Composition of marrow
- Benefits of zucchini for children and adults
How to prepare zucchini for first feeding
If you decide to start feeding your baby, start with zucchini. It will be the best addition to breast milk or adapted formula.
Zucchini is a hypoallergenic product and contains a large amount of nutrients needed by the child. nine0003
Zucchini puree recipe
Cooking zucchini puree for the first feeding at home. Of the ingredients you need only zucchini and water. Let's start by rinsing the zucchini under cool running water. Peel off the skin and cut into cubes. Next 2 options. Either put it in boiling water, cook the zucchini for 6-10 minutes, while retaining the benefits of vitamin C. Or steam it, which will undoubtedly be tastier and healthier. Then we wipe through a sieve or grind with a blender. nine0003
You need to start complementary foods with one teaspoon, gradually day after day, increasing the number of spoons. It is important to introduce your child to this product at a very young age. When the child grows up, he will also need nutrients. And you can spoil him with many different zucchini dishes.
How to cook zucchini correctly and how much
For the first feeding, it is recommended to boil zucchini for up to 10 minutes.
Usually this time is enough to soften the cut pieces. Do not forget that the longer the heat treatment of the vegetable takes place, the less vitamins and useful trace elements remain. Then everything is thoroughly crushed into puree and the first complementary foods are ready. Depending on the period of introduction of the puree to the baby, you can add a little vegetable oil to the puree if the mass of the portion of the puree has reached 100 g (usually on the 6th-7th day of feeding). nine0003
For the preparation of mashed potatoes, babies need to select only young and fresh zucchini fruits: without rot, cracks and dents. The fruit is thoroughly washed under running water. Then its lateral parts are cut off: the tail and the “butt”; peel is removed. The zucchini is cut lengthwise into several parts, from which the central soft part with seeds is removed. The remaining parts are cut into cubes. If the vegetable is bought at the market or in a store, it is recommended to soak the zucchini in clean water for about 2 hours to remove unnatural trace elements from the fruit in the form of fertilizers and pesticides.
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How to freeze and defrost zucchini? Cooked cut fruit cubes in the right amount are placed in plastic bags or containers, and then in the refrigerator. For the preparation of frozen fruit puree, it is recommended to use a defrosted vegetable. To speed up the process, bags or containers with zucchini are placed in water at room temperature or under running tap water. After 1-2 hours, you can start cooking according to a known scheme.
Squash for complementary foods in baby food
Squash is widely used in baby food for its unique properties. In addition, vegetable squash purees are considered the most popular when introducing the first complementary foods to a child. One-component zucchini puree manufacturers recommend using for children from 4 months.
Table of the introduction of the first complementary foods with zucchini according to WHO recommendations
Baby food recommended for the first complementary foods includes Heinz zucchini puree, which additionally includes corn flour and water.
A similar product is Hipp zucchini puree, which contains coarse rice flour. These products are sold in glass jars with a net weight of 80 grams, and the puree contains no salt, sugar, starch, preservatives or dyes. nine0003
At a later age, in baby food, zucchini is used with vegetables, fruits, cereals and meat. For children over 5 months:
- Frutonyanya Broccoli and Zucchini Puree
- Puree Frutonyan zucchini and potatoes
- Frutonyanya puree cauliflower and marrow
- Puree Frutonyanya apples and zucchini
- Frutonyanya zucchini-oatmeal puree
- Gerber potato and courgette puree
- Puree Gerber apples and zucchini
Children's puree Tyoma beef with zucchini is recommended to try not earlier than 6 months from birth.
Ingredients of zucchini
Zucchini is a source of substances that have a beneficial effect on digestion. They contain a small amount of calories when cooked (20 to 25 kcal per 100 grams), so you can use them in food during therapeutic diets.
Fruits contain not only carbohydrates, fats and proteins, but also useful trace elements: sodium, iron, magnesium, zinc, iodine. In addition, the composition contains vitamins of groups B, C, E, H, PP, A.
Benefits of zucchini for children and adults
Zucchini has a very pleasant taste. Doctors advise them to use those who have undergone surgery on the stomach or intestines. I would like to mention that these fruits are very useful for those who suffer from edema.
Zucchini juice for men and women can help with obesity. Helps the body to get rid of toxins and slags, relieves constipation well, strengthens the heart. The glycogen in them has a positive effect on the activity of the liver. Zucchini significantly improves blood formation, helps to restore strength after prolonged exertion. Zucchini seeds will help get rid of worms. With hepatitis, regular consumption of zucchini will lead to a significant improvement in well-being. nine0003
Thus, the use of zucchini in the first feeding is the best option for both the child and the parents (of course, excluding the case of his individual intolerance).
How to cook zucchini for weaning - tips and tricks
Contents
- 1 Health benefits of zucchini
- 2 How to introduce zucchini into the diet?
- 3 How long to cook zucchini for feeding
- 4 How to cook zucchini
- 5 Zucchini juice for a baby
- 6 Zucchini and continued breastfeeding
- 7 Preparing vegetables for a child for the winter
- process it correctly. Therefore, we propose to learn how to cook zucchini for feeding and when it is better to introduce it into the baby's diet.
Health benefits of zucchini
This vegetable is a source of vitamins and minerals, in addition, it is well absorbed by the child's body and does not cause discomfort in the stomach. Let's make a reservation right away that we are talking about a single-component puree, without the addition of milk, cream or other products.
Breast milk provides a small child with everything he needs, but with age, his need for useful trace elements increases.
It is known that a baby already at the age of six months needs iron and zinc, so it is best to make a zucchini dish for him. nine0003
Advice
Zucchini is one of the few foods that can also be used for early weaning. Half a spoonful of it can be given to a baby from the age of four months.
Zucchini pulp is rich in unsaturated fatty acids, B vitamins, ascorbic acid, important trace elements - iron, zinc, calcium, magnesium and others. And also the vegetable is rich in dietary fiber, pediatricians talk about the benefits of which for a small organism.
One-component and well-digestible dish does not overload the intestines, is quickly and easily digested, has a diuretic effect, removes toxins and excess moisture from the baby's body. Some children are prone to constipation, so they should be given a healthy vegetable without fail. nine0003
How to introduce marrow into the diet?
Like any other food, the vegetable is gradually introduced into the daily menu of the baby.
First, offer your child half a teaspoon of zucchini puree or juice, be sure to observe the reaction of his body. Diathesis, bloating, diarrhea, vomiting, any other disorders signal that the time for complementary foods has not yet come. After 1 month, try again to give the baby zucchini puree - for sure he will eat it with pleasure and will not experience any discomfort. nine0003
Advice
After a portion of marrow, especially with regular use, the color of the feces may slightly change in the baby and the stool and urination become a little more frequent - you should not be afraid.
If the baby's body has accepted the new food normally, then the portion of the vegetable can be increased. But at 7 months, the baby should not eat more than 100 grams of puree, so try to keep breastfeeding. In rare cases, zucchini causes peeling of the skin, but such a reaction is not considered a reason to remove the vegetable from the menu. nine0003
The response of the digestive system of children is not an allergy, so parents should carefully monitor the baby and, if necessary, show it to the pediatrician.
How long to cook zucchini for feeding
Ready-made zucchini puree is sold at the grocery store, but many mothers want to make a healthy treat at home on their own. Vegetables cooked by hand are much tastier. It is important to know that the new dish should resemble breast milk or a special formula for the baby, so complementary foods must be made sweetish. nine0003
The consistency of mashed potatoes is thick, like kefir - it will be easier for a baby to eat such food, and his body will be able to digest food in a short time.
Preparing marrow squash is easy: first rinse the vegetable in cold water and peel, then rinse again under the tap. Cook the product for no more than 10 minutes, periodically checking the pulp.
Tip
Bottled baby water is best for making baby purees.
There should be little liquid in the pan, otherwise unnecessary water along with useful components will have to be drained. Some parents cook zucchini in a double boiler, in time this manipulation is longer than boiling.
For steam and , the vegetable should be cooked for 15 to 20 minutes.
Zucchini should be boiled without oil, salt or sugar. Breast milk or a small amount of milk formula will add sweetness to the product, and the broth where the vegetable was located also has a pleasant taste. Occasionally, mashed potatoes are salted if the baby refuses to eat it several times in a row, but the amount of spice should be very small. nine0003
Zucchini must not only be boiled, but also mashed with a fork and rub through a sieve to eliminate dense pieces of pulp. But using a blender in this case is inconvenient, since the child needs a small portion of puree.
Principles of cooking zucchini
Many mothers recommend soaking the vegetable in cold water for about 2 hours, this rule is especially true for a product bought in a store or on the market. But if the zucchini was grown in its own garden, this is not necessary. For the first feeding, take young fruits of small sizes, pay attention to the peel - it should not have cracks.
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Seeds from the pulp of the fruit should be removed, but they usually do not exist in small marrows. Such food has a light texture and does not contain large particles.
At the stage of the first feeding, it is important for parents to observe the following rules:
- comfortable temperature of the new food;
- absence of other ingredients in puree;
- the gradual introduction of a vegetable into the menu.
Boil zucchini for the first feeding and give it to the baby in the morning, which will allow you to observe the reaction of the body. If symptoms of allergy or stool disorder are not noticed, then the portion can be increased the very next day. Offer a new dish to the child before taking his main meal - breast milk or special formula. nine0003
If you make puree with your own hands, carefully monitor the cleanliness of food and utensils, and it is also important to know that the food must be fresh and warm, it cannot be stored.
Tip
The maximum shelf life of homemade puree is one day. To do this, take one or two jars of baby food, pour over the container and lids with boiling water or boil. Only after that spread the puree, close, let cool slightly and refrigerate.
Zucchini should only be cooked with water, it does not mix well with cow's milk. Only breast milk or a special formula can be added to puree in order to add sweetness to complementary foods. This vegetable goes well with fruits and herbs, but you can’t mix products at the stage of introducing a child to adult food. nine0003
Discomfort in the intestines is caused by large particles of the fruit - seeds, peel, coarse fibers, so even a young zucchini is carefully ground and inspected mashed potatoes before feeding.
Zucchini juice for babies
Freshly squeezed drink is famous for its medicinal properties, has a mild diuretic effect and even increases appetite in children who are reluctant to eat.
Treat your baby to zucchini juice 30 minutes before the main meal, but drink it no more than 10 minutes after preparation. nine0003
Do not forget about the correct processing of the vegetable - always wash it in cold boiled water, peel off the skin and rinse the vegetable again. Zucchini juice is especially rich in vitamin C, to begin with, offer your baby a few drops of the drink and gradually increase its volume to 3 teaspoons.
Zucchini juice normalizes the water-salt balance in the baby's body and has a beneficial effect on the heart rate, and this drink also stimulates the digestion process and does not provoke bloating. You can also treat the baby with a raw vegetable, but first the pulp should be doused with boiling water. nine0003
This method is suitable for picky children who often refuse mashed potatoes. Babies who are teething will also like this option - the pulp will act as a soft and appetizing teether.
Important
When giving a piece of zucchini to a baby, calculate the size so that the baby cannot swallow it whole.It is also important to ensure that the baby does not "bite off" a small piece - they can choke, it will not be digested well.
Zucchini and continued breastfeeding
At the first stage, the child eats zucchini puree without adding other ingredients, but later on the baby's menu can be varied. It is recommended to supplement it with the following ingredients:
- vegetables - carrots, broccoli, beets;
- fruits - apple, banana, pear;
- meat - beef, chicken, rabbit.
A few months after the baby is introduced to a new food, parents add 2 drops of unrefined vegetable oil to the puree for complementary foods, olive oil is best suited for this purpose. nine0003
New vegetables should not be introduced immediately into squash puree, introduce the child to each product separately. Little by little they are combined, mixing carrots, broccoli and other ingredients into a neutral zucchini, and not vice versa. So, by the age of 1 year, the baby will eat up to 200 g of puree per day, it can be either single-component or mixed.
Pediatricians recommend during this period to add a little onion to the dish, which must be boiled in water along with the rest of the ingredients. nine0003
If the baby does not feel well or is ill, the introduction of new foods should be postponed until complete recovery. Otherwise, you risk exacerbating the existing problem with such a phenomenon as worsening stools.
Harvesting vegetables for a child for the winter
Sometimes it is necessary to introduce the first complementary foods in winter, when there are no fresh vegetables on store shelves. It is unprofitable to buy ready-made purees, since most of the purchased jar is thrown away due to the impossibility of storing the product. The best option in this case would be to pre-freeze fresh vegetables from your own garden or purchased from a trusted supplier. nine0003
Vitamins and minerals are not destroyed by rapid freezing of zucchini, so cut the vegetable into large cubes and place it in an airtight plastic container.
