What to mix peas with for baby food

Peas Baby Food Recipes and Peas for Baby Food, Learn about Introducing Peas to Baby

The nutritional value of peas is amazing when you think of the small size of a cup of peas. Did you know that one cup of peas contains more protein that a tablespoon of peanut butter and also provides Calcium, Vitamin A and C and Iron too.

These wonderful little vegetables are a great first “green” food for baby as they are nutritious, and mostly pleasant to eat. When making homemade peas for baby, you may find it tough getting the “skins” to puree smoothly. If this is the case and your baby is not used to textures yet, you might wish to run them through a strainer or sieve.

The Goodness of Peas

Peas (1 cup steamed/boiled)

VITAMINS

Vitamin A – 955.2iu

Vitamin C – 22.72 mg

Niacin – 3.23 mg

Folate – 100.8 mcg

Vitamin B1 (thiamine) – . 41 mg

Vitamin B6 – .35 mg

Contains other vitamins in small amounts.

MINERALS

Potassium – 433.6 mg

Phosphorus – 187.2 mg

Magnesium – 62.4 mg

Calcium – 43.2 mg

Sodium – 4.8 mg

Selenium – 3.0 mg

Iron – 2.5 mg

Zinc – 1.9 mg

Manganese – .8 mg

Also contains small amount of copper.

When can I introduce Peas my baby?

Peas are typically recommended for introduction into a baby’s diet between 6-8 months old. As always, it is recommended that you thoroughly discuss any feeding issues with your pediatrician as generalities may not apply to your child.

How to select and store peas

According to the EWG, peas are one of the 15 foods least contaminated with pesticides so purchasing organic is your choice.

“When selecting fresh green peas, check the pod carefully. Look for peas that are firm, crisp, with a bright green color, and a fresh appearance. Fresh peas will feel almost velvet-like when you handle them. Try to buy medium sized pods rather than large ones. Avoid tough, thick-skinned pods, as this is an indication that the peas are over-matured, as well as those that exhibit poor color or show any sign of decay or wilting.
Do not buy peas that are already shelled because you never know when they were shelled. When you bring green peas home from the market, remember they have a very short shelf life, so use them right away.”˚

The best way to cook peas for homemade baby food

Steaming or boiling peas in a scant amount of water is the best way to cook peas for baby food. For a nice flavor, cook peas in a homemade vegetable, chicken or beef stock.

Enjoy these Few Peas Baby Food Recipes

Peas – Basic Baby Food Recipe – same method for Green Beans

Directions:

Step 1: If using fresh Peas, open the pods and scrape out the peas from the pod.
If using frozen Peas (or Green Beans), cook according to package directions.

Step 2: Place fresh peas into a steamer basket in a pan with a just enough water to slightly show through in the basket.

Step 3: Steam until very tender; be sure to check on the water level.

Step 4: Reserve any left over water to use for thinning out the peas.

Step 5: Place into your choice of appliance for pureeing and begin pureeing.

It is best to use the setting that makes the finest liquid purees – green bean and pea skins are rather difficult to completely puree. Using a blender rather than a food processor or stick mixer might be better as well.

Plunging hot cooked peas into a bowl of ice cold water is known to help make a smoother puree.

Step 6: Add the reserved water as necessary to achieve a smooth, thin consistency

Step 7: You may wish to push the peas (or green beans) through a sieve or mesh strainer to get rid of any remaining skins

Nana’s Creamed Peas & Nuggets – 8 months+ due to dairy

Ingredients:

4 cups peas, fresh, frozen or canned as a last resort
1 cup milk
2 tablespoons flour
2 tablespoons butter
salt and pepper to taste
pieces of chicken, fish, pork or beef

Directions:

Step 1: Melt butter in a large sauce pan. Whisk in flour and allow to cook for 1 minute.

Step 2: Slowly add milk, whisking the whole time to prevent lumps.

Step 3: Add salt and pepper and other spices as you find appropriate.

Step 4: Cook until sauce begins to thicken.

Step 5: Add peas, stir and cook until peas are heated through (about 5-7 minutes)

Step 6: Add meat

Step 7: Serve warm alone or over multi-grain toast or rice.

Minty Peas and Rice

Ingredients:

1 1/4 cups reduced-sodium chicken broth (try pacific natural organic!)
3/4 cup instant brown rice
1 1/2 cups frozen peas (6 ounces)
3/4 cup sliced scallions
1/4 cup chopped fresh mint
Freshly ground pepper to taste

Directions:

Step 1: Bring broth to a boil in a large saucepan over high heat. Add rice and bring to a simmer; cover, reduce heat to medium-low and cook for 4 minutes.

Step 2: Stir in peas and return to a simmer over high heat. Cover, reduce heat to medium-low and continue to cook until the peas are hot and the rice has absorbed most of the liquid, about 6 minutes.

Step 3: Remove from heat and stir in scallions, mint and pepper. Cover and let stand until the liquid is absorbed, 3 to 5 minutes.

Peas, Cauliflower and Tofu with Spicy Orange

(leave out “*advanced” ingredients for infants between 9-12 months old.)

Ingredients:

1 Onion, medium size
2 tbs. Garlic, minced
1 lb. Peas, fresh or frozen
1 lb. Cauliflower, florets, fresh
1 lb. Tofu, firm, cubed
1/2 cup Almonds*, whole shelled
1/3 cup Coconut, unsweetened shredded
1 – 12 oz. can *Orange Juice, frozen concentrate
2 Navel Oranges, peeled, sectioned, and cut in half
2 tsp. Ginger, ground
1/2 tsp. Turmeric, powder
1/4 tsp. Cayenne Pepper, ground
3 tbs. Soy Sauce (low sodium)
1 tbs. Corn Starch

This recipe is best served over a bed of Brown Rice. Begin cooking the rice at the same time you begin making this recipe. This recipe can be made in a microwave oven, on the stove top or in a wok.

Step 1: Peel and dice the Onion. Peel and mince the Garlic. Cook the Onion and Garlic until the Onions begin to get translucent. Mix frequently.

Step 2: Add the Peas, Cauliflower, Tofu, Orange Juice concentrate, Ginger, Turmeric, and Cayenne Pepper. When the ingredients become hot add the Orange sections, Almonds, and shredded Coconut. Continue mixing to insure that the ingredients are evenly cooked

Step 3: In a cup or small bowl mix the Soy Sauce and Corn Starch until they are smooth. When the vegetables are tender add the Soy Sauce – Corn Starch mixture and continue mixing until the Corn Starch is dissolved and thickens the liquid, and evenly coats the other ingredients. Serve over the Brown Rice and enjoy. Thanks to All Creatures.org for this tasty one!

Foods Good to Mix With Peas:

Apples
Grapes
Carrots
Green Beans
Dried Beans
White Potato
Sweet Potato
Summer Squash – zucchini or yellow/crooked necked
Winter Squash – butternut, acorn etc.
Brown Rice
Lentils
Chicken
Beef
Pork
Tofu

Resources & Learning More:
Specialty Produce – English-Garden-Sweet Peas

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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Best Baby Food Combinations (50 Easy Recipe Ideas + Tips)

Learn this simple approach to making baby food combinations with this master list of ideas. With this post, you’ll always have ideas for easy baby meals that both taste great and are realistic for you to execute…even with a busy schedule!

Baby Food Combinations

Moving from single ingredient baby foods to combinations in stage 2 baby food is such a fun stage of feeding babies because things can get so much more flavorful and interesting! And it means that you can batch cook basic purees and then combine them in so many delicious ways to keep things interesting and nutrition varied.

And while I am not opposed to sometimes buying baby food, each of these ideas is super easy—even if you are very busy. I love to have a stash of these in the freezer to use for quick meals in a pinch. (And to be honest, we still use them in the toddler years as easy ways to offer up veggies!)

TIP: Scroll to the recipe at the end of the post for all of the details, and read through the post for answers to common questions and basics about making baby food combos.

Ingredients in Baby Food Combinations

To make the baby foods in this post, you’ll need basic ingredients (that will obviously vary according to which specific puree you choose). The base purees are made with:

Apples
Bananas
Blueberries
Butternut Squash
Carrots
Mango
Pear
Peas
Spinach
Sweet Potatoes

TIP: Then, to mix things into combinations, you can add in peanut butter, plain whole milk yogurt, Baby Oatmeal, Baby Rice Cereal, and other purees including those made with beans, chicken, pineapple, avocado, peach, and more.

How to Make Stage 2 Baby Food Combinations Step-by-Step

Here’s a look at the simple process involved in making this sort of stage 2 baby food. Scroll down to the bottom of the recipe for the full information.

Make your base purees.
Store or freeze until ready to combine.
Stir together the purees, adding any optional spices or ingredients, until uniform.
Serve with a spoon or in a reusable pouch.

TIP: I like to make the single ingredient purees and freeze them, then mix and match frozen cubes of purees into yummy combinations. This ensures that you have flexibility to adjust if baby doesn’t love one combination and that you can change up the flavors you’re offering regularly.

How do you combine baby food?

With the way I do it, you simply make two purees (or one puree if you plan to combine it with something like yogurt or oatmeal) and mix them together. You can really do any combinations that sound good to you. I have 10 base purees and 5 easy combination ideas for you to get started, but then you can totally run with it!

Best Baby Food Containers

For storing baby food, I like these Wean Green Storage Cubes (they are glass and are insanely durable—I’ve been using the same set for 8 years), these Beaba Clip Containers, and these Wee Sprout Containers. My go-to reusable pouches include this silicone one from Squeasy Gear and these Wee Sprouts BPA-free plastic ones. (I prefer the 3 ounce size for babies in both pouch options.)

Apple Baby Food Ideas

Once you make basic Apple Puree, you can combine it with so many yummy flavors!

+ plain whole milk yogurt = Apple Yogurt
+ Baby Oatmeal = Apple Oatmeal
+ Spinach Puree = Apple Spinach Baby Food
+ Carrot Puree = Apple Carrot Baby Food
+ Butternut Squash Puree = Apple Squash Baby food

Banana Baby Food Ideas

Try these easy combinations that start with Banana Puree.

+ Peanut Butter Puree = Banana Peanut Butter Baby Food
+ plain whole milk yogurt = Banana Yogurt
+ Baby Oatmeal + Banana Oatmeal
+ Bean Puree = Banana Bean Puree
+ Avocado Puree + Banana Avocado Puree

Baby Food Combinations with Blueberries

Start with Blueberry Puree, then transform it into these fun flavors.

+ plain whole milk yogurt = Blueberry yogurt
+ Baby Oatmeal = Blueberry Oatmeal
+ Banana Puree = Blueberry Banana Puree
+ Mango Puree = Blueberry Mango Puree
+ Peach Puree = Blueberry Peach Puree

Baby Food Combinations with Butternut Squash

Smooth Butternut Squash Puree is a great base as it’s rich in nutrients and has a naturally mild flavor. (Any of these would be great with a tiny pinch of cinnamon.)

+ Pear Puree = Squash Pear Puree
+ Bean Puree = Squash Bean Puree
+ Banana Puree = Squash Banana Puree
+ Applesauce = Squash Apple Puree
+ plain whole milk yogurt = Squash Yogurt

Baby Food Combinations with Carrots

Start with Carrot Puree, then add in new flavors!

+ Apple Puree + Sweet Potato Puree = Carrot Apple Sweet Potato Puree
+ Pear Puree + Sweet Potato Puree = Carrot Pear Sweet Potato Puree
+ Banana Puree = Carrot Banana Baby Food
+ Quinoa Baby Food = Carrot Quinoa Baby Food
+ Bean Puree = Carrot Bean Puree

Baby Food Combinations with Mango

Mango Puree is a cinch to make and is so intensely flavorful—which makes it play really well with other purees!

+ plain whole milk yogurt = Mango Yogurt
+ Baby Oatmeal = Mango Oatmeal
+ Banana Puree = Mango Banana Puree
+ Avocado Puree = Mango Avocado Puree
+ Peach Puree = Mango Peach Puree

Pear Baby Food Combinations

Ripe pears make delicious Pear Baby Food that freezes and combines well.

+ Avocado Puree = Pear Avocado Puree
+ Baby Oatmeal + Cinnamon = Pear Cinnamon Oatmeal
+ Banana Puree = Pear Banana Puree
+ Pea Puree = Pear Pee Puree
+ Carrot Puree = Pear Carrot Puree

Baby Food Combinations with Peas

Keep a bag of frozen peas in the freezer and homemade Pea Puree is just minutes away. Then try:

+ Apple Puree = Pea Apple Puree
+ Pear Puree = Pea Pear Puree
+ Mango Puree = Pea Mango Puree
+ Banana Puree = Pea Banana Baby Food
+ Pineapple Puree = Pea Pineapple Puree

Baby Food Combinations with Spinach

My Spinach Baby food already has peas in it (to ensure it’s smooth and mellow in flavor). You can also combine it with:

+ Apple Puree = Spinach Apple Puree
+ Pear Puree = Spinach Pear Puree
+ plain whole milk yogurt = Savory Spinach Yogurt
+ Quinoa Baby Food and pinch Parmesan cheese = Spinach Parmesan Quinoa
+ Bean Puree = Spinach Bean Puree

Sweet Potato Baby Food Ideas

Start with a batch of Sweet Potato Baby Food and then try these yummy options:

+ Chicken Puree = Sweet Potato Chicken Baby Food
+ Bean Puree = Sweet Potato Bean Puree
+ Applesauce = Sweet Potato Applesauce
+ Carrot Puree + Cinnamon = Cinnamon Sweet Potato Carrot Puree
+ Bean Puree + Cumin = Mexican Sweet Potato Bean Puree

How to Store Baby Food—and Send it to Daycare

I prefer to freeze batches of baby food in a silicone ice cube tray overnight, transfer it to a zip top freezer bag, then store it until I’m ready to serve or combine it. You can then mix and match from the single ingredient purees you have in the freezer by adding a cube or two of two purees to a container. If you do that the night before you plan to serve the food, it will thaw and be ready to stir together.

This makes it easy to batch cook and have a lot of option to feed baby at home or at daycare.

Tips for Making the Best Baby Food Combinations (Stage 2 & Stage 3)

These Stage 2 baby foods are great to introduce after baby has started solids with single ingredient baby foods.
For a 6 month old baby, 1-2 tablespoons baby food may be plenty for a single serving. For a 9 month old baby, they might want ¼ cup or more.
Adjust the servings based on your child’s hunger, using a roughly one to one ratio of the purees in each combination.
Read more about the differences in Baby Food Stages here.
Find my best tips for Baby Food Storage here.
Add in a little mashed avocado, coconut oil, or Prune Puree to help with baby constipation.
Serve with a spoon or in a reusable pouch.

I’d love to hear your feedback on these ideas, so please comment and rate the recipe ideas below! I appreciate all of your comments so much.

Prep Time 15 minutes

Cook Time 10 minutes

Total Time 25 minutes

Author Amy Palanjian

Cuisine American

Course Baby Food

Calories 5kcal

Servings 6

1-2 tablespoons Butternut Squash Puree and with one of the following

▢ 1-2 tablespoons Pear Puree
▢ 1-2 tablespoons Bean Puree
▢ 1-2 tablespoons Banana Puree
▢ 1-2 tablespoons Applesauce
▢ 1-2 tablespoons plain whole milk yogurt

1-2 tablespoons Spinach Puree and one of the following:

▢ 1-2 tablespoons Apple Puree
▢ 1-2 tablespoons Pear Puree
▢ 1-2 tablespoons plain whole milk yogurt
▢ 1-2 tablespoons Quinoa Baby Food and pinch Parmesan cheese
▢ 1-2 tablespoons Bean Puree

1-2 tablespoons Sweet Potato Puree and one of the following:

▢ 1-2 tablespoons Chicken Puree
▢ 1-2 tablespoons Bean Puree
▢ 1-2 tablespoons Applesauce
▢ 1-2 tablespoons Carrot Puree and pinch cinnamon
▢ 1-2 tablespoons Bean Puree and pinch cumin

Prepare each puree. Freeze in a silicone ice cube tray, transferring the cubes to a freezer bag once solid, or store in the refrigerator as needed.
Place roughly equal amounts of the two (or more) purees you plan to combine into a bowl. Stir together. (If the purees are frozen, place a cube or two of each into a bowl or storage container. the night before you plan to serve and let thaw overnight in the fridge before stirring together. Or thaw at room temperature for about 2 hours.)
Serve or store for later.

Mixing Bowl
Reusable Pouch
Silicone Ice Cube Tray

Taste the purees and add more of a sweeter one if needed.
Add small pinches of spices like cinnamon, ground ginger, and cumin to add flavor.
Add small pinches of ground flaxseed to add healthy fats.
Serve with a baby spoon or in a reusable pouch.
Pack for daycare if needed in small airtight containers.
Serve cold or warm just slightly.
If. baby has a dairy intolerance, use a nondairy, unsweetened nondairy yogurt.
If baby has a nut allergy, use a nut-free alternative that's unsweetened such as Sunbutter.

Calories: 5kcal, Carbohydrates: 1g, Protein: 1g, Fat: 1g, Saturated Fat: 1g, Polyunsaturated Fat: 1g, Monounsaturated Fat: 1g, Cholesterol: 1mg, Sodium: 2mg, Potassium: 11mg, Fiber: 1g, Sugar: 1g, Vitamin A: 30IU, Vitamin C: 1mg, Calcium: 5mg, Iron: 1mg

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

Peas complementary foods - Encyclopedia Baby food

Levchuk Victoria © peas

Peas in complementary foods are necessary for a small child. For diversity and health. Strictly speaking, green peas are not a vegetable. It is part of the legume family, it is a plant that produces pods with seeds inside. Lentils, chickpeas, beans, and peanuts are also legumes.

However, green peas are usually cooked and sold as vegetables. You can find it frozen, fresh or canned.

The nutritional value of peas is amazing considering the small size of the peas. Did you know that one cup of peas contains more protein than a tablespoon of peanut butter, as well as calcium, vitamins A and C, and iron. These wonderful little vegetables are a great first green food for a baby as they are both nutritious and delicious.

Types of peas

Contents:

Since childhood I know that peas can be different. There are sweet varieties that are grown for salad or just to eat, and there are varieties that are good to dry and eat in the winter.

Peas are one of the earliest spring ripening crops that can be used in all kinds of culinary dishes.

Peas are fairly easy to grow. The hardest part of growing peas is choosing which variety to grow. There are basically three types of peas: sugar, shelling and brain peas. There are also fodder varieties , but we will not discuss them here. Each goes by several names, which makes the choice even more confusing. But it is important for us to know their differences.

Sugar variety is the sweetest and is eaten fresh with the pod.

green peas for children

Peeling variety is used for conservation, long-term storage, it makes delicious soup in winter. Brain peas are always canned.

Pea season from the beginning of June to July, depends on the strip of Russia. In our south, children can already buy from mid-May.

History of peas

green peas

When exactly peas were first discovered remains a mystery, however, there are many assumptions. For example, the first appearance of the pea is thought to have been in Central Asia, especially in Burma and Thailand or Afghanistan, the eastern edge of the Mediterranean basin, and the mountain ranges and plateaus of Ethiopia.

Fossilized pea pods found in Switzerland date back to 10,000 years ago. In the 3rd century BC, Theophrastus mentions peas that were sown in the later winter. Pea cultivation is believed to have spread to India, China and Europe in the 2nd millennium BC. Roman legionaries harvested wild peas to supplement their diet in the 1st century BC.

Green Peas Complementary Food

Peas were brought to North America by Christopher Columbus in 1942, where they were quickly adopted by Native Americans. During the Middle Ages, peas were a stable food that kept hunger at bay, and during the early modern era in Europe, unripe fresh peas were prized as a gourmet meal.

Peas became famous in Russia only in the 18th century. It was grown throughout Russia, both in the fields and in the gardens.

Green peas “walked” along the roads of Russia, because they were planted along the roads so that travelers could eat. In Russia, about 200 million cans are canned a year, probably because of the Olivier salad.

Benefits of peas

peas baby food

Compared to vegetables like carrots, peas have higher protein levels. In addition, Pea is a good source of dietary fiber, vitamin A, iron, folate, thiamine, vitamin C and manganese. It also has a high level of vitamin K. One of the health benefits of green peas is blood sugar control.

Peas also contain a unique range of health-promoting phytonutrients. One of these phytonutrients, a polyphenol called coumestrol, has recently come to the fore in research to protect against stomach cancer. A study in Mexico City found that daily consumption of green peas, along with other legumes, reduced the risk of stomach cancer, especially when the daily intake of coumestrol from these legumes was approximately 2 milligrams or more. Since one cup of green peas contains at least 10 milligrams of coumestrol, it will not be difficult for us to get these wonderful health benefits.

Don't forget the unique phytonutrients in green peas that provide us with key antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties. Some researchers are now suggesting that the link between consumption of green peas and legumes and a reduced risk of type 2 diabetes may be due not only to the relatively low glycemic index of green peas (around 45-50), fiber or protein in the composition, but also to unusual combination of antioxidants and anti-inflammatory phytonutrients.

minerals and vitamins peas

peas for children

Green peas stand out as an organic food. Agricultural research has shown that planting peas can provide important benefits to the soil. First, peas belong to a category of crops called "nitrogen-fixing" crops. With the help of bacteria in the soil, peas and other crops can extract nitrogen gas from the air and convert it into more complex and usable forms. This process increases the nitrogen content of the soil without the need to add fertilizer. Peas also have a relatively shallow root system that can help prevent soil erosion, and once the peas are harvested, plant debris tends to break down relatively easily to enrich the soil. Finally, crop rotation of peas with other crops has been shown to reduce the risk of pest problems.

Complementary Peas

Although Green Peas are extremely low fat foods (approximately one-third of a gram of fat per cup), the type of fat and fat-soluble nutrients they contain is impressive. Recent studies have shown that green peas are a reliable source of omega-3 fats in the form of alpha-linolenic acid (ALA).

One cup of green peas contains approximately 30 mg of ALA. About 130 mg of the essential omega-6 fatty acid, linoleic acid, can also be found in a cup of green peas. This very low but high-quality fat content helps us get important fat-soluble nutrients from this legume, including significant amounts of beta-carotene and small but valuable amounts of vitamin E.

So let's not neglect green peas in summer and dry peas in winter. In the diet of children, this is a very useful product.

peas for children

Green peas cannot be a first food because they cause discomfort and gas. Russian pediatricians advise introducing green peas to children after 10-12 months, and American pediatricians - after 8 months.

Beans should not be given more than 2 times a week.

Dishes from mature peas can only be given after 2 years of age in soups. Canned peas can be given after 3 years. A portion of the first complementary foods is not more than 30-50 grams, if the child has digestive problems, then let the portion be smaller so that the body gets used to it faster.

Children under 2-3 years old can eat green peas up to 80 grams. Mature grains are given in an amount of not more than 100 grams after 3 years.

Fresh peas can be offered from 2-2.5 years old, only young sweet varieties.

Green peas are considered a hypoallergenic product, so they can be safely given to a child.

green peas complementary foods

pea puree

There is an opinion of doctors that it is better to give green peas up to 12 months so that the body learns to digest it, because it will be more difficult to do it later.

The first feeding with green peas comes in the form of mashed potatoes, which are boiled until cooked and rubbed through a sieve, so it is better absorbed.

Ruth Yaron's Super Nutrition for Your Baby states that whole green peas are dangerous for children under three years of age and should be given mashed, ie. crush with a regular fork. I usually just crush them with my fingers before giving them to a child. But we eat it instead of popcorn, so this way, I peel off the green shell, squeeze it with my fingers and give it, this is enough for a two-year-old child so that he does not choke.

Pea soup with smoked meats is best introduced to a child at the age of 5.

peas complementary food

Allergy to green peas and peas

pea soup

Peas come in several varieties, but green and yellow peas are the most commonly consumed. Pea allergy exists but is not very common. In most cases, pea allergies in children are due to cross-reactivity between peas and other legumes. It is also important to cancel that green peas are considered hypoallergenic , but mature peas are already included in the middle group of allergenic products .

Children may be allergic to peas, especially if they have had an allergic reaction to other legumes. Legumes is a family of products that includes peas, chickpeas, peanuts, beans and lentils, etc.

There is a high degree of cross-reactivity between lentils, chickpeas and peas. In addition, pea allergy can also occur due to IgE-mediated (antibody-mediated) cross-reactivity between peas and peanuts.

pea soup

A child's body can react to such allergens in peas as isoflavone reductase, globulin, glutelin, vikilin, vivilin. And most importantly, these allergens are resistant to heat and chemical treatment.

Cases of reactions to the inhalation of vapors from cooking peas have been observed. Cases of allergies to boiled peas have also been reported, but no allergies to green peas have been found in these patients.

There is a chance for a child to become allergic to peas over a period of time, especially if the portion is too large. But before giving peas to a child, it is recommended to consult a doctor and always adhere to the 4-7 day waiting rule when peas are introduced into complementary foods or any other food in the diet. It is better to give less than more.

Pea allergy symptoms vary among children. Some symptoms may be mild, while others may be severe. Mild symptoms include rashes, hives, itching in the mouth, throat, lips or entire face, stomach cramps, vomiting and coughing, etc.

Severe symptoms include shortness of breath, shortness of breath and rapid heart rate, anaphylactic shock which can cause choking and severe breathing difficulties.

It is best to seek medical attention regardless of mild or severe allergy symptoms. Timely action will help to avoid complications, as well as help in diagnosis and treatment.

How to give green peas to children?

For the first feeding green peas should be boiled in clean water. Beat with a blender and give in the form of pea puree. Babies love bright green puree because of its sweet taste and smooth texture. Depending on how much your child eats, you can store the puree in small bags, ice cube trays, or in a zip-lock freezer bag. Up to 2 years, it is better to give the child only in the form of baby puree. Either neat or mixed with other vegetables.

Why love pea puree?

green peas for children

Versatility: Ideal as a first bean puree for children and as an addition to a range of dishes. It is worth trying to serve peas with fish, seafood, chicken or use as a sauce.
A sensory explosion: pea puree hits all the senses, from delicious taste, fresh aroma to bright green color.
Quick and easy to prepare : Prepare a gentle puree in less than ten minutes.
Available all year round : Using frozen peas means the family can enjoy this puree no matter the season.
Freezing : frozen peas are ideal, either pureed or as peas.

How to select and store peas

Only about 5% of grown peas are sold fresh. The rest are either frozen, or canned, or dry.

green peas for children

When purchasing fresh green peas , we are looking for strong pods, velvety and smooth. Their color should be a lively medium green. Those whose green color is particularly light or dark, or yellow, whitish or mottled grey, should be avoided. Also, don't choose pods that are swollen, soaked in water, or have mold residue. The pods should contain peas of sufficient quantity and size so that they do not have a lot of empty space. It is enough to shake the pod to understand whether it is empty or full. All varieties of fresh peas should be refrigerated as the heat will speed up the formation of sugar in the starch.

Unwashed peas stored in the refrigerator in a bag or unsealed container will keep for several days. Peas are not stored in a pod for a long time, so if you bought a lot, then it is better to peel them and store green peas separately in the refrigerator for up to 5 days or in the freezer for up to 6-12 months.

green peas complementary foods

Unlike round pea pods, sweet pea pods are flat. Choose the smaller size as they tend to be sweeter.

To check the quality of peas, just open one of them and make sure that it is fresh. They should be bright green in color, firm and plump.

Dry peas must be stored in a dry, dark place, preferably in glass. If peas are bought by weight, then we look at the peas themselves so that they are the same color, dry, without mold and dampness, without pests. You can store about 12-24 months, depending on the variety of peas.

Pesticides and peas

Peas in Russia are classified as products with a low pesticide index, apparently because they are relatively easy to grow in any of our territories, they are not whimsical, there is water and sun, they will be happy.

But in 2019, Rospotrebnadzor identified a pesticide, the herbicide 2,4-D acid, in the Mistral brand of peas. Hope they fixed it.

Of course, it is better for children to buy an organic product that is grown without pesticides and nitrates.

complementary food peas

Contraindications

Peas are a difficult product to digest, which complicates the work of the child's gastrointestinal tract. Therefore, if children suffer from colitis or enteritis, then you should refrain from the early introduction of peas into complementary foods and consult a doctor. Also, peas can increase gas formation, which will lead to abdominal pain. With frequent diarrhea or constipation, it is also not advisable to give peas in large portions. Green peas are not recommended for kidney disease. Boiled peas also contribute to an increase in uric acid in the body and the accumulation of salts. You can not this product with diseases such as cholecystitis, nephritis, kidney stones, increased blood clotting, gout and any intestinal diseases.

Suggested way of consumption

Pea and rice broth

Steaming or roasting green peas is an easy and healthy way to prepare this vegetable. Throwing peas in ice water after cooking makes for an even smoother puree for your baby! Peas are sweet and delicious, and can be added to children's meals for a nutritional boost.

Up to 1 year, green peas can only be boiled or baked in the oven, and then made into baby puree. After a year, you can cook soups or add 1/3 of green peas to mashed potatoes, you get an interesting color and taste.

The most common cooking method is traditional, when used in combination with vegetables or potatoes. Boiled peas are also often used in salads or with rice. A well-known option is cooking green peas with meat stewing method . Another alternative would be Pea Soup or Delicious Vegetable Puree. In Russia, you can also find pies with peas, pate, pancakes, cutlets, cereals, etc.

My favorite recipe for baby puree is to mix peas and other vegetables in a 1:3 ratio, about 1/3 of a pea. And add the fried onions before beating until smooth. It turns out tasty and satisfying.

Freezing peas

Peas are ideal for freezing. It does not lose taste, texture and smell. What more could you ask for? It can be frozen as green peas or boiled as a soup dressing. I already wrote about pea soup with bacon, how I freeze it in the form of a soup base.

Children's green peas are easy to freeze. In season, green sweet peas are bought, which get rid of the pod, and the peas are washed, dried, and then frozen in special bags. About 600 grams of green peas are enough for me for the winter. I cook soups with it, I make Olivier. Honestly, I stopped buying canned peas. Boiled and put in a salad, more benefits. You can store frozen peas for about 6-12 months. Moreover, it behaves perfectly, ice rarely forms on it, especially if it is frozen correctly.

Someone likes to blanch peas for 1-2 minutes, the shelf life is longer, but I don’t have it for more than 6-8 months.

In general, I recommend frozen over canned peas and acknowledge the benefits of fresh over frozen. Therefore, it is possible to buy fresh green peas, then we buy it, there is no way, we take frozen.

Why is it better to freeze it yourself in summer? But because the stores already sell old green peas. It is not as tender, it is suitable for soups, but not for baby food or salad. Therefore, in the summer I myself choose green peas, I am engaged in separation and freezing.

How to prepare green peas for children?

canned peas

Remove green peas from their pod, rinse under running water.

Steam: Put the peas in the slow cooker or steamer and cook for about 5-10 minutes, depending on the variety of peas.

Boil: Put the peas in boiling water, cook over high heat until tender, about 15-20 minutes. Depends on the youth of the peas, the younger, the less time is needed for cooking. Ready peas are tender, it is important that the shell should not burst.

Bake: Peas are baked in the oven for about 30-40 minutes, you can add a little butter for a nice taste.

After cooking the green peas, hold them under cold running water for about 3 minutes to make the puree more tender.

Preparing puree: Put the cooked boiled peas in a blender and blend until smooth. You can add liquids or breast milk. For children 10-12 months old, you can additionally pass pea puree through a plastic sieve.

How to prepare ripe peas for children?

cook peas

Mature peas must be soaked before cooking. Ideal for the night, but can be for a couple of hours. Soaking reduces the cooking time by 20-40 minutes. Then you can simply boil in water, the cooking time is up to 2 hours, depending on the degree of splitting of peas.

But I cook all legumes differently. On my site I have already written about this method, but I will repeat.

I throw soaked peas into boiling water. I put in 2 times more water. For about 1 cup of peas, 2 cups of water. And then I cook it for 5 minutes. I usually do this in the morning or at night. To forget about peas for a few hours. After 5 minutes of simmering or boiling, I wrap the pot in something warm and forget about it. Usually about 4 hours of slow cooling is enough for the peas to reach readiness. Very convenient way, economical in terms of electricity.

Finger food and green peas

Green pea puree

Only green peas are suitable for finger food (simply because they are tastier and brighter). It is most often chosen by mothers for tweezing. It is ideal to take peas with your fingers and send them to your mouth. Up to 2-2.5 years, it is better to take boiled green peas of sweet varieties, after which you can take fresh ones.

In principle, many doctors are sure that after 12 months it is already difficult to choke on a small pea, but they still advise crushing them with a fork, in order to avoid various situations with suffocation. We also crush fresh peas for the first time.

It is also important to know that if a child swallows a whole pea, then its size allows you to go out naturally in a few days.

Ready-made baby food from peas

Soup from peas

Mostly green peas are found in ready-made baby food, but peas can also be found in multicomponent purees. In its pure form, puree was discontinued. On the websites of baby food manufacturers, green peas are not presented in the line of one-component purees. Previously, he was at Grandma's Lukoshka, Hipp, Gerber.

gerber

Puree green peas-Brookoli-Kabachki, from 6 months, 125 grams
Puree vegetables with pieces of beef with 12 months 190 grams

HIPP

4 - soup with chicken, from 7 months 190 g
Assorted vegetable puree from 7 months 125 g
Vegetable puree-noodles-chicken from 1 year 220 g (peas)

Sempler

from 12 months 190 gram
Puree vegetables with beef meatballs, from 9 months 190 gram
Sauteed vegetables with sea bass from 12 months 190 gram
Puree potato-vegetable-chicken ragout from 12 months 190 gram

Heinz puree 9015 pasta navy with pieces from 10 months 190 grams (peas)

Foods that go well with peas:

green pea soup

carrots,
cauliflower,

potatoes,

100 grams of peas contain 298 kcal

Vitamins

Macronutrients

Microelements

Vitamin PP - 2. 2 mg

Beta-carotene - 0.01 mg

Vitamin A (RE) - 2 mcg

Vitamin B1 (thiamine) - 0.81 mg

Vitamin B2 (riboflavin) - 0.15mg

Vitamin B5 (pantothenic) - 2.2 mg

Vitamin B6 (pyridoxine) - 0.27mg

Vitamin B9 (folic) - 16 mcg

Vitamin E (TE) - 0.7 mg

Vitamin H (Biotin) - 19 mcg

Vitamin PP (niacin equivalent) - 6.5mg

Choline - 200 mg

Calcium - 115 mg

Magnesium - 107 mg

Sodium - 33 mg

Potassium - 873 mg

Phosphorus - 329 mg

Chlorine - 137 mg

Sulfur - 190 mg

Iron - 6.8 mg

Zinc - 3.18 mg

Iodine - 5.1 mcg

Copper - 750 mcg

Manganese - 1.75 mg

Selenium - 13.1 mcg

Chromium - 9 mcg

Fluorine - 30 mcg

Molybdenum - 84.2 mcg

Boron - 670 mcg

Vanadium - 150 mcg

Silicon - 83 mg

Cobalt - 13. 1 mcg

Nickel - 246.6 mcg

Tin - 16.2 mcg

Titanium - 181 mcg

Strontium - 80 mcg

Aluminum - 1180 mcg

Zirconium - 11.2 mcg

Different varieties of peas may differ in shape and color, and there can also be from 4 to 10 seeds in a row. Peas are divided into two main categories: sugar varieties and shelling.

Composition and nutritional properties of peas

100 g of peas contain:

Proteins - 20.5 g
Fats - 2 g
Carbohydrates - 49.5 g
Dietary fiber - 11.2 g
Water - 14 g
Mono- and disaccharides - 4.6 g
Starch - 44.9 g
Ash - 2.8 g
Saturated fatty acids - 0.2 g
Unsaturated fatty acids - 1.39 g

Useful properties of peas

Peas are well absorbed by the body. It is considered a therapeutic and prophylactic product, since it normalizes metabolism, strengthens the walls of blood vessels, helps reduce the risk of cancer, hypertension, heart attack, and slows down the aging process of the skin.

The protein found in peas is similar to meat protein. It contains a number of essential amino acids. Peas are rich in ascorbic acids, PP vitamins, B groups, carotene, fiber, starch. The nutritional value is much higher than other vegetables.