Home » Misc » String beans baby food

String beans baby food


Easy Green Bean Baby Food

Learn how to make quick and flavorful Green Bean Baby Food as a baby-led weaning food or as a Stage 1 or 2 puree. Plus, find tips on how to store and combine the puree with other flavors to make yummy baby food combinations.

Green Bean Baby Food

Green beans are such a common veggie and one that can be flavored in so many ways that it’s a wonderful option for baby. I love making the puree and offering a whole bean as different texture experiences, so you can choose the one that works best for where you are in your baby-feeding journey.

Read on to learn how to make a basic Green Bean Puree, how to serve Green Beans as a BLW food, options for easy baby food combinations with green beans, and tips for green bean finger foods.

Your toddler won’t eat? Help is here!

Sign up for our email updates to get tips and ideas sent to your inbox. 

Please enable JavaScript in your browser to complete this form.

Email *

Message

Ingredients You Need

Here’s a look at the ingredients you need to make this baby food recipe, whether as a puree or a baby-led weaning food.

  • Green beans: I am showing this recipe using fresh green beans, but you can use yellow beans, French beans, or frozen green beans.
  • Olive oil: Olive oil adds some flavor and fat and makes the food taste better.

See the Notes at the end of the recipe for options to turn the puree into a baby food combination by pairing it with other purees.

Step-by-Step Instructions

Below is an overview of how to make this baby food recipe. Scroll to the end of the post for the full amounts and timing info.

  • Add the green beans to a steamer basket set in a pot with water. Set pot over medium heat, and when the water starts to steam, cover pot.
  • Cook until the green beans are tender when poked with a fork. Let cool slightly.
  • Serve one at a time, baby-led weaning style.
  • Or, to make a puree, transfer to a blender with olive oil. Blend until smooth.

Green Beans for Baby-Led Weaning

You can serve cooked green beans to a baby feeding themselves in the baby-led weaning style of eating. As long as the green beans are soft and tender, they are a great food for babies to eat starting around 6 months, or whenever they start solids.

Green Bean Puree

You can serve green bean puree on a baby spoon or in a reusable pouch, depending on how you prefer or where you’ll be. It stores well and is easy to vary the flavor as you like.

Green Bean Baby Food Combinations

To vary the flavor and nutrients in this as a Stage 2 baby food, you can combine Green Bean Baby Food with any of the following purees:

Best Apple Puree (with Flavor Combinations + Storage Tips))

There’s no one right serving size for every child, so start with a smaller amount and offer more as indicated by baby. When they turn their head or close their mouth, end the meal—it’s usually pretty obvious when they want to be done!

Get the recipe

Easy Pear Puree (Plus Easy Storage Tips)

Use ripe pears—they should give just a little to the touch and smell like a pear—for the best flavor in this puree. Some babies may want a few spoonful, some a bowlful. Follow baby’s cues to determine the right amount for them.

Get the recipe

Easy Sweet Potato Puree

Perfectly creamy Sweet Potato Puree is a very favorite easy side dish (and baby food!). This is delicious in fall, takes less than 30 minutes, and can be flavored in all sorts of ways.

Get the recipe

Easy Chicken Puree

This chicken puree is a nutrient-rich baby food that's easy to make and packed with flavor. It's a quick blend of chicken and sweet potato that's versatile, so you can make it as a Stage 1 or 2 baby food.

Get the recipe

Easy Avocado Puree

This easy baby food is rich in healthy fats, super smooth, and has a mellow flavor. This is a great puree to make when you’re eating something like tacos…so you can have some too!

Get the recipe

Butternut Squash Baby Food Puree

You can make this puree to feed to a baby or toddler, or as a simple side dish for the whole family to share.

Get the recipe

How to Store

Store the puree in airtight containers in the fridge for up to 5 days. Or freeze in an ice cube tray overnight, transfer to a freezer bag, remove as much air as you can and freeze for up to 6 months. Thaw 1-2 cubes overnight in the fridge in a container or at room temperature for about an hour.

Best Tips for Success

  • Green Bean Baby Food Combination: Mix with equal parts Apple Puree, Sweet Potato Puree, Pear Puree, Avocado Puree, Chicken Puree, or another favorite puree.
  • Use frozen green beans in place of fresh and reduce the cooking time by 2 minutes or so.
  • Use water, no-salt-added broth of any type, breastmilk, or formula as the liquid when blending the puree.
  • You may also enjoy Beets for Baby.

Baby Food

Baby Food

Baby Food

Baby Food

I’d love to hear your feedback on this post, so please rate and comment below!

Prep Time 10 minutes

Cook Time 8 minutes

Total Time 18 minutes

Author Amy Palanjian

Cuisine American

Course Baby Food

Calories 44kcal

Servings 6 8

  • ▢ 1 pound green beans (stems trimmed)
  • ▢ 1 tablespoon olive oil

  • Add the green beans to a steamer basket set in a pot with 4 inches of water. Set pot over medium heat and when the water starts to steam, cover pot.

  • Cook for 8-10 minutes, or until the green beans are tender when poked with a fork. Let cool slightly.

  • Serve one at a time, baby-led weaning style. (Optionally, toss in a little olive oil before serving.)

  • Or, to make a puree, transfer to a blender with the olive oil. Blend smooth, adding ½-¾ cup water or no-salt-added broth at a time to make a smooth puree.

  • Calphalon 5-Quart Pot

  • Storage Containers

  • Store the puree in airtight containers in the fridge for up to 5 days. Or freeze in an ice cube tray overnight, transfer to a freezer bag, remove as much air as you can, and freeze for up to 6 months. Thaw 1-2 cubes overnight in the fridge in a container or at room temperature for about an hour.
  • Green Bean Baby Food Combination: Mix with equal parts Apple Puree, Sweet Potato Puree, Pear Puree, Avocado Puree, Chicken Puree, or another favorite puree.
  • Use frozen green beans in place of fresh and reduce the cooking time by 2 minutes or so.
  • Use water, no-salt-added broth of any type, breastmilk, or formula as the liquid when blending the puree.

Serving: 0.25cup, Calories: 44kcal, Carbohydrates: 5g, Protein: 1g, Fat: 3g, Saturated Fat: 0.4g, Polyunsaturated Fat: 0.3g, Monounsaturated Fat: 2g, Sodium: 5mg, Potassium: 160mg, Fiber: 2g, Sugar: 2g, Vitamin A: 522IU, Vitamin C: 9mg, Calcium: 28mg, Iron: 1mg

Tried this recipe?Rate in the comments and tag @yummytoddlerfood on IG!

Green Bean Baby Food (Stage One)

Looking for the first puree to serve your baby? Try this Green Bean Baby Food recipe! Steamed until just tender, this nutritious and smooth puree features a mild taste for your baby’s emerging palette. It’s a great Stage 1 Baby Food for 4-6 months and up.

Medically reviewed and co-written by Jamie Johnson, Registered Dietitian Nutritionist (RDN), and Lauren Braaten, Pediatric Occupational Therapist (OT).

Green Bean Puree

Hold on ’cause I’m about to tell you something shocking. 😲

This homemade green bean puree is not only full of essential nutrients, but it is also delicious!

I know, this seems hard to believe because pureed green beans as baby food get a pretty bad rap.

But it’s 💯 true! This green bean puree will knock your 🧦 off!

We start with fresh or frozen green beans that are gently steamed to bring out the freshness. Then, we blend them into a velvety and creamy puree for baby. I add a pinch of cilantro, parsley, or basil to this puree to round out the flavor profile, but you can skip that step if you prefer. Because we are using this gentle way of cooking the green beans 💚, their taste doesn’t get aggressive, making it the perfect light puree for your baby’s first bite.

Is it your first time making homemade baby food? If you answered yes, then I suggest you start this journey by reading my in-depth Guide on How to Make Homemade Baby Food. The detailed article goes over all the essential information such as the best cooking tools to have on hand, safe storage, knowing when your baby is ready for solids, introducing purees, making the best first foods for baby, and more! You can also check out my best-selling cookbook for even more information and recipes.

Green Bean Baby Food Video

Watch this video to see how easy this Green Bean Puree recipe is to make!

Reasons to Love this Green Bean Puree
  • simple and easy to make
  • filled with nutrients for a growing baby
  • features a gentle taste
  • great for babies 4-6+ months
  • stage 1 baby food
  • freezer-friendly
  • smooth and creamy 
  • aids digestion
  • budget-friendly

Ingredients

Make sure to read the recipe card below for full ingredients and instructions!

  • Green Beans: You can use fresh or frozen green beans for this recipe.
  • Herbs: You can add a pinch of cilantro, basil, parsley, mint, or chives to this puree to enhance the flavor profile. While I love the boost of flavor that herbs add to the puree, putting in herbs is completely optional.

Health Benefits of Green Beans
  • Good source of fiber to help with any digestive issue.
  • A great source with vitamin C to help support your baby’s immune system.
  • A good source of vitamin K to help strengthen bones.

Want to learn more about the benefits of Green Beans for your baby? Then read the entire Green Bean Profile here.

Green Bean Tip: You can use either fresh or frozen green beans for this recipe. If you want to use organic but are on a budget, try looking for frozen organic green beans in the freezer aisle, which are cheaper than fresh conventional green beans.

Step-by-Step Instructions
  1. Trim: Roughly trim the green beans. If you’ll be adding herbs, roughly chop them as well.
  2. Steam: Fill a medium saucepan with 2” of water and bring to boil over medium heat. Place the green beans (fresh or frozen) into a steamer basket over the boiling water, cover, and cook for 10 minutes or until tender. Let it cool slightly — reserve the steamer water.
  3. Puree: Transfer the green beans and herb to a blender or food processor and puree for 1-2 minutes or until smooth, adding liquid in 1/4 cup increments if needed until you reach your desired consistency.
  4. Eat: Serve to your baby or freeze for later.

Tools Needed

These tools will make it a lot easier for you to make this healthy Green Bean Puree. For more of my favorite kitchen tools make sure to check out my shop.

  • Steamer insert with lid
  • Blender or Food Processor
  • Freezer Tray
  • Storage Containers for Fridge
  • Stasher Bag
  • Bib with catch pocket
  • Reusable pouches

Recipe Tips

  • Adding Healthy Fats: Adding a teaspoon of avocado, coconut oil, or olive oil wonderfully compliments this green bean puree. Not only will healthy fats bring out the natural nuttiness of green beans, but they also add healthy fats into your baby’s diet.
  • Fresh or Frozen: Feel free to use fresh or frozen green beans for this recipe.

Other Cooking Methods

While I love the crisp and fresh flavor of steamed green beans, there are several ways you can cook green beans for baby food. 

Skillet

Trim the green beans and then add them to a large skillet that has been preheated with 1 tablespoon of olive oil over medium heat. Cook for 5-7 minutes, add 2 tablespoons of water, cover, and cook for 2 more minutes. Puree in a blender as directed below. 

Roasted

If you want the baby puree to have a dense, earthy taste, then roast the green beans instead.

Trim the green beans and then toss with 1-2 tsp of olive or avocado oil on a baking sheet. Cook 425 degrees F for 18-20 minutes, tossing halfway through baking time or until tender when pricked with a fork. Puree in a blender as directed below.

Frequently Asked Questions

When can baby eat green beans?

Babies can have green beans as one of their first foods. When a baby can start on solids is determined by their own rate of development, which generally comes between 4-6 months of age. Some of the developmental milestones babies need to reach in order to start solids include: if your baby has solid control of their head and neck, if your baby has doubled in weight, and if your baby is reaching for or opening their mouth when you eat (see my guide here). Before you start baby on purees, you should consult with your pediatrician to make sure your child is developmentally ready.

Can green beans be baby’s first food?

Green beans can 100% be your baby’s first food if you want it to be. It is recommended to wait to introduce the top eight allergen foods to your baby once a few other well-tolerated foods have been introduced, but otherwise, foods can be introduced in any order so choose whatever you are most excited for your baby to have.

Are green beans a common allergen for baby?

No, green beans are not a common allergen, however, as with any food, start with a small portion and be aware of any signs that might be an allergic reaction after introducing it.

Do green beans cause constipation for babies?

Green beans do not usually cause constipation in babies, and may actually help alleviate constipation due to their high fiber content.

Adding Spices

Feel free to add a big pinch of roughly chopped basil, cilantro, mint, parsley, or chives to this puree before blending.

Coconut Oil: Another great addition to this puree is adding 1-2 teaspoons of organic virgin coconut oil. Healthy fats, such as coconut oil, help aid your baby’s brain development and function, repair torn or strained muscles (great for crawlers), and is great for digestion needs.

How to Store Green Bean Puree
Refrigerator

You can store this puree in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 4 days.  

Freezer

This puree can be frozen for up to 4 months.

  • Spoon puree into a freezer storage container. Do not overfill. 
  • Place the lid on the storage container or cover with a piece of saran wrap — label with the date and recipe name. 
  • Place the tray into the freezer and let it freeze completely – preferably overnight. 
  • Pop-out the baby food cubes and place them in a zip-lock baggie or stasher bag. Don’t forget to relabel the baggie or stager bag for future reference.

Need more information on how to store your baby foods? Head over to my Best Baby Food Storage Containers – Plus 6 Tips on Freezing and Thawing post!

Label Tip: Don’t forget to label your purees before you place them in the fridge or freezer with the name of the puree and the date you made it. Take it from me; by the end of the week, you will completely forget what is in your freezer and how long it’s been there. 😉

Green Bean Combination Purees

While Green Bean Baby Food is already tasty by itself, you can also easily mix and match it with other nutrient-dense baby food purees. For a Stage Two puree, give these fun flavor combos a try!

  • Apples
  • Broccoli
  • Quinoa Baby Cereal 
  • Chicken
  • Pea
  • Softened Tofu
  • Yogurt
  • Mango

Green Beans for Baby-Led Weaning: Green beans are also a great food to serve to your baby whole for baby-led weaning (6+ months) or as a finger food (9+ months). You can always serve baby a combination of purees and finger foods right from the start.

Puree Feeding Tips

  • Follow your baby’s lead – when feeding purees from a spoon, sometimes there’s a tendency to keep offering bites past the point of your baby being full. Always follow your baby’s cues for when they are done eating. Turning away from the spoon, closing her mouth, or pushing food away are all signs that your baby is finished with the meal.
  • Try adding a little seasoning or spice to purees – babies like flavor! Or consider changing the temperature of purees from time to time, to slightly warmed or slightly chilled. Varying these aspects adds to the sensory experience!
  • Throwing spoons is a common phase that all babies go through at one point or another. One of the best ways to handle spoon throwing is to ignore it and keep feeding your baby as usual (with an extra spoon you already have at the table). If your baby ends up also throwing back up spoons #2 AND #3, simply encourage your baby to eat with their hands until they appear to be finished with the meal. ***Give baby plenty of opportunities to practice putting items in and taking items out of containers outside of mealtimes.

Or watch a shortened version of this video here.

  • 1 pound green beans, fresh or frozen
  • 1 big pinch of fresh basil, cilantro or parsley, roughly chopped (optional)

  • Trim: roughly trim the green beans and roughly chop the herb (if using).

  • Steam: fill a medium saucepan with 2” of water and bring to boil over medium heat. Place the green beans (fresh or frozen) into a steamer basket over the boiling water, cover, and cook for 10 minutes or until tender. Let cool slightly. Reserve steamer water.

  • Puree: transfer the green beans and herb to a blender or food processor and puree for 1-2 minutes or until smooth, adding liquid in 1/4 cup increments if needed until you reach your desired consistency.

  • Eat: serve to baby or freeze for later.

Age: 4-6 months and up

Yield: 16 ounces

Storage: Fridge – store in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 4 days or in the freezer for up to 4 months.

Adding Spices: you can add a big pinch of roughly chopped basil, cilantro, mint, parsley or chives to this puree before blending. 

 

 

Blender

Freezer Tray

Stasher Storage Bag

Bumkins Grip Plate

Did you make this recipe?

Tag @babyfoode on Instagram and hashtag it #babyfoode!

Pin Recipe Email a Friend

Green beans recipes for children

Contents

  • 1 What is in beans?
  • 2 Useful properties
  • 3 Harm from eating beans
  • 4 When and how to introduce beans into a child's diet
  • 5 Storage and proper selection of beans
  • 6 Red, white, black - what's the difference?
  • 7 Bean recipes: simple and healthy
    • 7.1 Puree soup
    • 7.2 Beans with meat
    • 7.3 Vinaigrette
    • 7.4 Baked eggplant with beans
  • 8 Conclusion
  • 9 Bean dishes are very healthy due to the content of valuable vegetable protein and fiber. So be sure to choose something from our recipes for your baby.
    • 9.1 Green pea cream soup (from 1.5 years old)
    • 9.2 Vegetable platter (from 1.5 years old)
    • 9.3 Green bean soup (from 2 years old)
    • 9.4 Green beans with garlic years)

With the birth of a baby, every parent thinks about the correctness of his diet, the composition of products and their role in the diet. In this article you will find information about legumes - how to properly introduce them into baby food, about green beans, the benefits and dangers of this product.

The nutritional value of legumes is compared with meat. Beans differ from meat only in their low fat content. Despite this, bean dishes are always satisfying. You can cook it not only by preserving it in a tomato, there are many recipes for beans for first courses, side dishes and salads. nine0003

There are more than 200 types of green beans in the world.

What is in beans?

100 grams of this product has an average of 250 kilocalories.

Of the food elements in the beans, the largest amount of protein.

Benefits

Legumes are considered dietary due to their low fat and high protein content. Green beans saturate the body with energy. For children who cannot eat meat, bean protein is the best option to replace animal protein. It is quickly absorbed by the body, the dietary fiber contained in the beans improves the digestion process. nine0003

Carbohydrates do not affect weight gain, are slowly broken down and do not lead to an increase in blood sugar.

Potassium and magnesium help to strengthen the cardiovascular system and are essential for proper heart rhythm.

Vitamins from group B are important for the functioning of the nervous system. For children with hyperexcitability, beans will act as a sedative.

Beans also have a diuretic property and have a positive effect on the functioning of the kidneys.

Amino acids speed up metabolism and are important for the proper functioning of the liver. And also beans are a hypoallergenic product, so it can be given to children without fear of a negative reaction of the body.

Harm from eating beans

A large portion or frequent use of beans can cause bloating and constipation in a baby. The accumulation of gases in the intestines may be accompanied by painful sensations.

When and how to introduce beans into a child's diet

The recommended age to start eating beans is 8 months. To begin with, they use young green beans with the already familiar vegetable puree. nine0003

You can combine beans with broccoli, cauliflower, potatoes.

The maximum number of beans consumed per week is 2 servings.

Start your acquaintance with a new product with half a teaspoon of puree.

See also: Grass chopper for chickens

Storage and selection of beans

The beans must be free of stains, no signs of decay. If you buy frozen green beans , then choose the product with the least amount of ice. nine0003

Store beans in sealed containers, out of direct sunlight. Under these conditions, the beans can stand for 6 months.

Red, white, black - what's the difference?

The main difference between white, black and red beans is in the nutritional content. In general, nothing hyper-different, but in some variety there are less than some micro- and macroelements, and in some - more.

Folic acid is found more in black beans, so it is good for those who suffer from anemia. nine0003

Vitamin C predominates in white beans, they strengthen the immune system. Also, white beans win in terms of the amount of iron and calcium.

Read also: Costus medicinal properties contraindications

Conclusion

Legumes contain not only protein, but also a valuable complex of micro and macro elements and vitamins that are important for the body. Therefore, beans must be present in the diet of the child, it will charge your baby with health and energy. nine0003

There are many recipes with beans: soups, side dishes and so on. Of course, you can go beyond them and combine your baby's favorite foods with beans.

Dear readers, share the link to the article with your friends on social networks and write comments.

String beans are not among the most popular vegetables for babies. But in vain! Legumes are included in the list of hypoallergenic foods that pediatricians recommend introducing into complementary foods from 9months. There is only one caveat - the beans must be young. Young pods are soft light green or even yellow. In adult pods, the fibers are too coarse for the delicate children's intestines.

Green bean pods contain many trace elements useful for a growing organism: vitamin E, carotene, iron, calcium, magnesium, iodine, phosphorus, magnesium, as well as many easily digestible proteins. What and how can children cook from young beans?

from 9 months

Ingredients:

  • green beans,
  • carrots,
  • potatoes (about the same),
  • water
  • butter or olive oil.

Preparation:
Peel and wash potatoes and carrots. Cut potatoes into cubes and rinse again. Grate carrots on a coarse grater. Rinse the bean pods, you can pour over boiling water.

Cover vegetables with water, add a little olive oil and cook until tender. Drain the water and make a puree. Add some butter, baby milk. For children over 1.5 years old, you can not pass through a blender, and cut the beans when cooking. nine0003

from 8 months

Ingredients:

    • 100 grams of chicken,
    • young beans in pod,
    • 1 potato,
    • water,
    • olive oil

    Preparation: Boil everything with a little oil until soft. Place the boiled chicken meat and beans with a part of the broth in a blender and grind until a smooth cream. Add separately boiled potatoes, softened with a fork. You can add baby milk. For children over 1.5 years old, you can not pass through a blender, and cut the beans when cooking. nine0003

    from 9 months

    Ingredients:

    • 500 grams of chicken,
    • 1 small carrot,
    • 1 small parsley root,
    • 5-7 young beans,
    • 1 small potato,
    • 1 tablespoon oatmeal.

    Preparation:

    Cook chicken broth with roots. Strain the finished broth, disassemble the meat. Put a tablespoon of oatmeal and vegetables into the broth. Cook until ready. Then add chicken meat. For children under 1.5 years old, pass through a blender. nine0003

    Ingredients:

    • Boiled rabbit meat,
    • spinach,
    • green beans.

    Preparation: Wash beans, cut into 1 cm pieces, boil. When the beans are soft enough, add them to the pot with the rabbit meat and a little broth. Cook over low heat, immediately after boiling, add the washed spinach leaves (about a handful). When everything is ready, mash with a fork and add a little oil. nine0003

    Bean dishes are very healthy due to the content of valuable vegetable protein and fiber. So be sure to choose something from our recipes for your baby.

    Many baby food manufacturers produce baby food that combines green peas, green beans, green beans with various additives or in pure form. The pediatrician will advise you at what age you can start feeding the baby from these jars. And starting from the middle of the second year of life, you can already cook these vegetables for the little one yourself. nine0003

    The secret of a delicious legume dish lies in the correct technology of their preparation. Dip fresh or frozen peas, like asparagus beans, should only be boiled in unsalted water. And you need to cook them over high heat, without covering the pan with a lid. If the water boils away prematurely during cooking, do not add cold water - only boiling water. Salt should be added only a few minutes before the end of cooking. You should not cook legumes in an acidic environment, for example, along with tomatoes or sauerkraut. Add these vegetables at the very end of cooking. nine0003

    Creamy green pea soup (from 1.5 years old)

    Ingredients:

    • 200 g of frozen peas
    • 50 g curd
    • 2 tbsp. spoons of sour cream
    • salt
    • dill greens

    Preparation:

    1. Boil 500 ml of water, pour the peas into a saucepan, boil until soft and cool slightly.
    2. Then add cottage cheese and sour cream to the same saucepan, gently beat everything with a mixer until creamy. nine0006
    3. Sprinkle the soup with dill and green peas when serving.

    Assorted vegetables (from 1.5 years old)

    Composition:

    • head of cauliflower
    • 1 carrot
    • 1/2 cup each green peas and beans
    • salt

    Preparation:

    1. Separate the cauliflower into florets and boil.
    2. Fry carrot cubes in vegetable oil.
    3. Place all vegetables in a saucepan, add green peas and green beans, pour in some boiling water. nine0006
    4. Season with salt and simmer covered for 15 minutes.

    Green bean soup (from 2 years old)

    Ingredients:

    • 1 l. water
    • 2 potatoes
    • 1 bulb
    • 1 carrot
    • 200 g asparagus beans
    • sour cream
    • parsley

    Preparation:

    1. Put chopped onions and potatoes into boiling water.
    2. After 15 minutes, add the green beans cut into 2-3 pieces and carrots, grated on a coarse grater. Boil for 15-20 minutes. At the very end, put parsley. nine0006

    Green beans with garlic (from 2 years old)

    Ingredients:

    • 250 g green beans
    • 2 garlic cloves
    • 2 tbsp. spoons of sour cream
    • 10 g butter
    • salt

    Preparation:

    1. Boil green beans in salted water, cool and cut.
    2. Mince the garlic and fry lightly in butter.
    3. Then add beans and sour cream, salt, bring to a boil and remove from heat. nine0006
    • Author: Maria Sukhorukih