When can i feed my baby spinach

Spinach for children0001

Children don't always like spinach. It is a green leafy vegetable that can taste bitter. Bitter is not sweet! Therefore, children often sabotage spinach in complementary foods. Consider at what age can you give spinach to children? How to get to know him so that the children fall in love with him?

What is spinach?

Contents:

Spinach is a vegetable with green leaves. It is a rich source of vitamins A and C and the mineral iron. The scientific name for spinach is Spinacia oleracea.

Spinach is widely grown throughout the world. It requires cool weather and rich, moist soil to grow. Spinach is one of the few vegetables that can survive a light frost.

Spinach is an annual plant. This means that only grows one season and needs to be repotted every year. People grow it to eat only the leaves. Spinach leaves can be either smooth or wrinkled. They are roughly triangular in shape. The leaves are collected in a ring called a rosette.

Spinach is sold fresh, canned and frozen. People eat it as a green salad or as a boiled vegetable. It can also be used to make soups and sauces.

Spinach - is an excellent source of many vitamins and minerals, including vitamin A, vitamin K1, vitamin C, folic acid, iron and calcium.

History of spinach

Spinach is believed to have originated in ancient Persia and its surrounding regions. edible domesticated greens were thought to have originated from selective propagation of wild leafy species , but much of the history of spinach is unknown.

In time, spinach spread to neighboring countries around Persia, traveling through India, and was introduced to Nepal and China sometime before 647 AD. It was also introduced to Italy around 827 AD. through the Arabs, and by the 10th century, the plant was found throughout the Mediterranean. In the 13th and 16th centuries, it was widely grown throughout Europe, creating new domesticated varieties, and the greens became a favorite ingredient of the nobility and royalty.

Spinach gained great prestige when Catherine de' Medici took the throne of France in 1547. Originally from Florence, she ordered the court cooks to add spinach to each of her dishes.

Spinach was also introduced to the New World and was found in home gardens in the United States by the 19th century. Spinach is grown all over the world today.

In the 1930s, the appearance of cartoon character Popeye, the comic book hero who eats spinach to acquire superhuman qualities, gave a new impetus to the vegetable with its wide green leaves. In the United States, at least, its consumption has skyrocketed as the growers of the green have erected a monument to it in Christy City, a Texas town that lives mostly off its sale.

In Russia, spinach is less popular; it was eaten around the middle of the 18th century in aristocratic homes. From the middle of the 19th century, it became accessible to the middle class.

Benefits of spinach in baby food

Spinach is a rich and varied nutritional composition. Water accounts for 91.4%, fiber - 3.6%, protein - 2.9%.

Spinach also contains many vitamins and minerals, such as vitamin A, C, K, folic acid, iron, calcium, minerals such as magnesium, potassium, etc.

It is considered one of the most important vegetables in the world and its nutrient content is very high. Juicy and tender leafy greens are rich in vitamins, minerals and volatile substances. They provide the body with powerful antioxidant protection.

It is rich in calcium and is an excellent substitute for animal dairy products. Instead of fighting oxidative stress, spinach helps the body fight inflammatory diseases, cardiovascular disease, and certain types of cancer (especially prostate cancer).

Unlike other vegetables that contain phytonutrients, researchers have found over a dozen different flavonoid compounds in spinach that help prevent inflammation and cancer, making it an ideal food for children and teens.

Thanks to the above vitamins and minerals, the leafy vegetable is known as a superfood. When consumed, spinach will bring maximum health benefits to children.

Vitamins in spinach

Spinach is a source of three important vitamins, namely vitamin A, folic acid and vitamin K.

This vegetable is rich in vitamin A, which has a number of important functions for good health. The key functions of vitamin A are to strengthen vision and the immune system, improve skin condition, and increase iron absorption capacity.

Folic acid traditionally associated with women's health and pregnancy. In addition, folic acid is needed by the body in many other processes. Just as vitamin A is essential for the functioning of the immune system, and iron plays an important role in counteracting fatigue, folic acid contributes to the amino acid structure. Therefore, folic acid is needed to be able to produce protein and build muscle.

Spinach contains vitamin K. This vitamin plays a very important role in our blood's ability to clot. Vitamin K also helps build strong bones, and more than just calcium is needed for bone health!

It is also worth talking about vitamin C or ascorbic acid, which is also found in spinach. This vitamin is important for the formation of collagen, which strengthens blood vessels, skin, teeth, and bone structure. Vitamin C helps absorb iron from food and is important for protecting cells from free radicals, meaning that it protects fat-soluble vitamins and other fats in the body from oxidation.

Minerals in spinach

Spinach is an important source of calcium. It is well known that calcium is a mineral that basically strengthens and maintains skeletal strength throughout life. However, the mineral also plays a fundamental role in the growth of muscles and the nervous system. Like vitamin K, calcium is important for blood cells and blood clotting.

What about iron? Of course, spinach - an excellent additional source of iron, but it does not cover all daily needs for this mineral.

Recommendations for introducing spinach to children vary greatly. Some pediatricians say it's OK to introduce spinach at 6-7 months of age, while others advise waiting until 8 or even 10 months. As an example, American pediatricians recommend after 6 months, Russian doctors - after 7-8 months.

I think it's best to delay the introduction of the product until 12-18 months , with 12 months being the earliest age to introduce spinach into complementary foods.

Studies have shown that can increase nitrate levels in spinach if not stored properly. Another reason why spinach is not usually recommended as an early complementary food for children is that it is difficult for a child's body to absorb the iron and calcium it contains.

spinach complementary foods Infographics - CLICK ON ME!!!

The oxalates in these greens also interfere with the baby's absorption of calcium from breast milk when given together.

Thus, it is possible to give spinach to children not too often about 1-2 times a week in the amount of 30-50 grams after 12-18 months. I remind you that for the first 3-4 days we carefully observe any signs of an allergic reaction or digestive discomfort in a child.

The first feeding of spinach only after heat treatment. It is preferable to steam it.

We offer fresh spinach for children after 3 years in a salad.

Personally, my children got acquainted with spinach in pizza after 3 years, then I offered a fresh salad. In our Russian diet, it is not such an important product that you should definitely introduce a child into complementary foods early. It is possible that the taste of spinach after 2 years is not to your liking, because they are very picky. But is my task as a parent of to ensure the palatability of basic foods, for me it is not included in this list. So if my child eats spinach omelet, cheese and spinach pizza, and green borscht, this is a nutritional success of a varied diet. Let them learn the rest when they grow up.

Of course, if a child has iron deficiency anemia, then children can be given spinach as a way to assimilate and enrich the body with iron through food. But with such a diagnosis, it is important to consult a good Hematologist.

Also, do not forget about the seasonality and age of the child. If your baby is too young during the spinach growing season to get to know him, then it is best to produce complementary foods for the next year. If spinach is vital for a baby, then we introduce a frozen product or offer half the recommended serving.

Spinach allergy in children

Spinach allergy is not common but not uncommon. It contains certain proteins and nutrients that are not recognized by a person with an allergy and therefore a reaction to spinach occurs, such as inflammation of the tissues and shortness of breath.

Introduce the child to spinach from a small amount to easily notice any adverse reaction, and then gradually increase the amount.

Spinach alternative

Spinach is one of the most nutritious foods, so if you are allergic to it, it is important to find alternative sources of the nutrients found in this product.

• rugula
• Salad Romen
• Cross Salat
• Escarol
• Cabbage
• Green turnip

Crazy or spinach or a strangle can be stolen, although pieces of raw leaves can be stole which will cause vomiting. Since whole fresh spinach leaves are difficult for children to chew and swallow, don't forget to chop them finely both raw and cooked to minimize the risk.

Does spinach cause constipation in a child?

High in fiber and water, which are well known to help prevent constipation, spinach promotes healthy digestion. It has a good property - a slight laxative effect.

Spinach and Sorrel are the same

Spinach and Sorrel are among the most vitamin herbs among vegetables. Outwardly, they are extremely similar, the ripening period is also the same, in some dishes they can be alternated. However, there is still a difference between them.

Tastes like sorrel sourish , and spinach - sour-bitter . The appearance is also different, but not significantly, so they are confused. With the help of sorrel, you can get more useful trace elements, unlike spinach. However, sorrel contains more acids, which makes it dangerous for diseases of the gastrointestinal tract.

Moreover, sorrel is preferable to taste. Therefore, it is better to introduce the child to spinach at the beginning.

How to give spinach

The first spinach food is mashed potatoes if the child is 12-18 months old. It can also be served as a smoothie or raw.

To get all the nutrients from spinach, you need to pay attention to the method and time of preparation. A new study shows that spinach can lose up to 90% of its lutein content if not cared for properly.

In addition, the more spinach is cooked and the higher the cooking temperature, the less lutein remains in it. Thus, the worst cooking method is to sauté spinach, because only 40% of the original lutein remains after 2 minutes.

It can be quite viscous after cooking, so ideally served as a smoothie or puree, it is the safest choice for young children.

Why is spinach bitter?

Spinach contains an organic compound called oxalic acid, which, together with the tannins in leafy greens, makes it bitter in taste.

How to choose and store spinach

Spinach can be bought in the market or in small vegetable stalls in the city, as well as in very large hypermarkets, such as Metro.

Selecting a leafy vegetable based on its appearance. It is necessary that the leaves are green and crispy without tears and darkening. We pay attention to sluggish or yellowed leaves, they should not be.

Do not wash spinach before putting it in the refrigerator. Leaves may spoil faster.

Unwashed spinach can be stored for approx. 3-4 days in a loose plastic bag ; while wrapping the leaves with paper towels. It is better to use a zip bag to squeeze out as much air as possible, then the shelf life can increase up to 5-6 days.

The grocery store sells bagged spinach, which is great because it's pre-washed. Buying frozen spinach is also a convenient option.

The best way to wash fresh spinach…

Immerse the leaves completely in a bowl of water and “wash” them with your hands to remove dirt. Then drain the water and refill the bowl with fresh water, repeating the process until the water in the bowl runs clear.

Wash it thoroughly before use as the sandy soil it is planted in can get stuck between the leaves and the white stem.

Nitrates and spinach

Spinach contains nitrate, which can be converted to nitrite in the body, which in turn can impair oxygen absorption. In young children with low blood volume, this can be harmful, so it is advised to avoid large amounts of spinach during the first year of life. The same goes for other vegetables that are high in nitrates, such as beets, celery leaves, nettles, and chard.

The risk of a reaction increases as the amount of spinach the child eats increases, so portions in baby food are relatively small. Also, do not panic, if the baby ate pasta colored with spinach - they are so little used for coloring that there is no danger.

The process of steaming, boiling or blanching significantly reduces the nitrate content of spinach.

Contraindications

Spinach is a food that contains oxalates as well as nitrates, so it is a good idea for children under 12 months of age to consume these homemade greens in moderation, if at all.

Very little is said about the dangers of spinach. The truth is that it's not much, but basically there are two things you need to know. If the child is prone to kidney stones and is taking blood thinners.

Kidney stones are formed from acid and mineral salts that stick together where calcium oxalate stones are most common. Spinach contains like calcium and oxalate . While it's still unclear how dietary oxalates affect kidney stones, it's a good idea to limit spinach if your child has problems with it.

These greens are also high in vitamin K , which may affect those taking blood thinners. It is important to consult with your doctor here.

Intended consumption

Spinach for children can be prepared in the form of mashed potatoes and smoothies. They also love bright green dough products. Hue can be created with spinach.

• Spinach cooked in cream is good and easy to prepare: boil the cream until it becomes a little smooth. Let the leaves simmer in the cream for 3-4 minutes. Pepper, salt and serve.
• Add spinach puree to pasta as a sauce.
• Sauté spinach with garlic and eat it as a side dish or add it to freshly cooked pasta, top with cheese.
• Stir-fry spinach with garlic and spices, turn into sauce.
• Lentil soup with potatoes and spinach makes an interesting soup.
• Spinach omelette is a wonderful breakfast.

In general, it can be used fresh, in the form of sauces for pasta and pizza, in green soups or borscht, as a separate side dish for vegetables, and used fresh in smoothies. For children, we are just looking for a convenient way to consume, at least one.

How to cook spinach

First, let's see what spinach looks like. Young leaves are ideal for salad and disappear almost completely when heated. The coarser leaves are not as good for chewing raw, but have a much more interesting appearance when cooked. For example, blanch, steam, stew or fry with garlic. Spinach is also good in a feta or goat cheese pie or in a frittata.

It is about 90% water, so it loses a lot of volume when cooked.

150g (3 packed cups) spinach may look bulky, but only makes 1/4 cup spinach puree.

Cooking spinach is easy for kids. Can be steamed or boiled in water for about 1 minute for a softer texture and sweeter taste. Once the spinach is cooked, puree with fresh water until it reaches the desired consistency. Spinach puree can be eaten alone or added to other sweet or savory purees for a nutritional boost.

How to blanch spinach

Blanching is suitable for vegetables with short cooking times and is an excellent method for spinach. In this way, you can prepare beautiful leaves without losing taste, color and usefulness. We do the following:

• Immerse the leaves in lightly salted water that is already boiling.
• Let it boil for about 1 minute.
• Use slotted spoon and dip immediately into cold water.
• Drain and serve.

Blanching is the best way to cook spinach, as this process releases the natural oxalic acid from the leaves. The acid can put stress on the baby's kidneys. For the same reason, you should not use water after boiling spinach.

How to make spinach tasteless?

Blanching spinach for 20-30 seconds in well-salted boiling water is said to remove a fair amount of oxalic acid, which makes some children dislike it.

How to Steam Spinach

Steam cooking is more gentle on vegetables than immersing them in boiling water. With this method, crispy spinach leaves are obtained, in which the taste, color and usefulness remain.

You can use a steamer or multicooker for steam cooking. And you can make a steam apparatus out of a spacious pan with a lid, a small amount of boiling water at the bottom and a colander. Spinach for children should be steamed for about 3 minutes. Let the water drain before serving.

How to make baby spinach puree

Transfer the leaves to a blender or food processor and process until smooth. Add some water or breast milk to reach the desired consistency.

Spinach puree may not be the most appetizing puree on its own. If the child does not accept it, why not try mixing it with other purees. The combinations are endless, and don't forget you can add spices and herbs to your baby food for extra flavor.

How to remove bitterness from fried spinach?

One of the healthiest and easiest ways to hide the bitterness of spinach is with citrus fruits. Choose between lemon, lime and orange depending on the taste of the dish. Drizzle freshly squeezed juice over the leaves as soon as they are cooked. We take into account the age of the child, since citrus fruits can cause an allergic reaction.

Freezing Spinach

Eating fresh, unfrozen spinach is probably the best way to consume this vegetable in terms of nutritional value. But even when frozen, it contains many useful substances. Especially if it is fresh spinach, which is frozen immediately after harvest. Not all vitamins and minerals are lost due to scalding or freezing.

Frozen spinach must be added immediately during cooking without defrosting, then the taste and color of the product is preserved. You can store a frozen product for 3-6 months in an airtight bag, it is better to vacuum the bag, if possible.

In addition to spinach leaves, you can also freeze spinach puree.

First, refrigerate puree in an airtight container for up to 24 hours. Next, place the puree in ice cube trays in the freezer. Once completely frozen, remove from the mold and place in a freezer bag or container. Return to the freezer and store for up to 2 months. Freezing in this way allows you to take out small portions as needed.

Spinach juice or smoothie

Can spinach be juiced? It is possible with due diligence. Do you need it? If only using juice to make green noodles.

Approximately spinach juice or smoothie can be used by children over 3 years of age, since raw product is used.

I hope you understand that you need a juicer to make juice. Spinach is not the main product, it is added to celery or apples.

Smoothie is a busy, tired mom's dream because it's easy to make and a great way to get plenty of nutrition for growing kids in one glass.

Smoothie is perfect for a sick child or on the go.

However, spinach can cause a protest in the child, so we use it in small quantities, for the first time more for coloring the smoothie than for taste.

Finger food and spinach

Not the most obvious food to eat with your fingers. For finger food, spinach as an independent product is not very suitable. Although it is worth a try, boil it for a couple and put the product directly into the highchair without a plate. Here it is worth watching the baby, how he will knead and eat this product. It is important to be close, as spinach can get stuck on the palate or on the tongue.

It can be used for cooking finger food. For example, soft dough with spinach, noodles with spinach, balls of spinach and cheese, hash browns or bread sticks, etc.

How children will love spinach

The most important thing is not to hide it. One thing is green spaghetti with spinach, where the taste of ordinary pasta, and a leafy vegetable is only for color and a small amount of nutrients. But a lot of spinach is completely different, and accordingly a taste that children will not always like, especially for the first time.

Picky Eater and Spinach

Picky Eater and spinach is a complex combination. Despite the fact that my child loves everything green, he eats this leafy vegetable only fresh in a salad. Therefore, for picky parents, it is important to understand in what form he is ready to eat a leafy vegetable. Spinach needs to be prepared in a variety of ways and be creative. Older children can use it themselves in the preparation of ordinary familiar dishes.

It is also important to note the ability of the product to color foods green. This should be used to expand the child's diet. It is important to tell the child that the green tint comes from the spinach and the flavor comes from other foods.

Ideal to serve spinach for the picky eater with pasta or spaghetti . Since the latter are considered safe foods, the addition of a green tint may appeal to children. We are trying to use spinach as a sauce or side dish. It is important to remember that some children do not like to mix food, so for the first time, you can use a separator plate. Or put a mixture of pasta and spinach in the amount of 1 spoon to see the reaction of the child.

Recipes with spinach

• Apple + spinach + pea puree
• oats + spinach + puree from avocado
• puree + cilantro with cinza
• strawberries + puree from green onions with yachmen
• LUKS Leek + Asparagus + Spinach Mini Quiche
• Cabbage + Spinach + Apple
• Spinach + Cheese Dough
• Leek + Spinach + Parsley Cheese Pasta (Pasta)
• Chicken + Spinach Carrot Meatballs
• Baby smoothie - blueberry + spinach with flax seeds

Spinach baby food

Spinach baby food is presented in the form of colored pasta and crepe soup from Mamako.

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