Pumpkin is a universal fruit. Even in the diet of a small child, it should be present. Why? Yes, because the pumpkin contains many useful elements. And which ones? Let's find out.
Fetal benefits
The pumpkin contains such useful elements as phosphorus, potassium, iron, magnesium, copper, silicon, vitamins (B1, C, T, E, B2, K, B6, PP, A), as well as beta-carotene.
All these components contribute to the proper development of the child's body and growth. Trace elements help the development of the nervous system, musculoskeletal system, strengthen the immune system. They also prevent the occurrence of inflammatory processes. Beta carotene has a positive effect on the baby’s vision.
Pumpkin contains well-absorbed fiber, as well as a large amount of water. Therefore, it is suitable for feeding children and for diet. The best option is mashed pumpkin for babies. The recipe is quite simple. Therefore, each mom will be able to cook such a dish for the baby. There are many options for creating such baby food.
Introducing mashed potatoes in the diet
Before you cook mashed pumpkin for babies, you need to find out when it needs to be introduced. Pumpkin, like any complementary foods, should gradually appear in the diet of the child. To enter you need to start with ¼ teaspoon. Boiled pumpkin is mixed with the mixture or breast milk. After the first test, you need to observe the reaction.
When to give a baby puree pumpkin for babies, the recipe of which we will describe below? To introduce such a meal in the baby’s diet is right after the apple, zucchini and broccoli. Someone does it in four to five months. Some later. Experts believe that it is better to start introducing complementary foods at six months.
Buy or cook at home yourself?
Of course, the easiest way is to buy a jar of mashed potatoes and feed the baby. But in this case there are no guarantees of the quality of the products and their proper processing. In addition, the finished puree does not exclude the presence of dyes and preservatives, which, by the way, may not be indicated on the package.
Homemade puree, of course, will require time and physical effort. But it will be healthy and 100% natural.
The first recipe: mashed potatoes for children
How to make mashed pumpkin for babies? There are many options. Let's start with a simple one. To cook it, you need pumpkin and water. The fruit can be either fresh or frozen.
First peel the pumpkin, then cut into slices, fill with water. Next, put the saucepan with future mashed potatoes on the fire, close the lid. Stew the contents over low heat for about twenty minutes. When the fruit is soft, the dish is ready. After that, the water can be drained. Wipe the finished pieces through a fine sieve. You can use a blender for these purposes.
But watch out for fibers. When feeding a baby of this kind, food can be rejected by him because of the feeling of something solid and unfamiliar. The appearance of even a gag reflex is not excluded.
The second recipe: mashed potatoes (up to 1 year)
This dish is suitable for children from four to twelve months. Dill, which is included in mashed pumpkin for babies, the recipe of which we are now describing, will help strengthen the digestive system, and also save the baby from bloating.
Ingredients:
• a pinch of green chopped dill;
• pumpkin pulp;
• some mixture or breast milk for dilution.
Cooking
How to cook mashed pumpkin for babies? First, boil the main ingredient in a double boiler or pan. You can also bake in the oven. Then beat the pumpkin in a dill blender, mix until smooth. If the mashed potatoes are too thick, add breast milk or a few drops of the mixture.
Recipe Three: Mashed Green Apple
Use only a green apple for this dish. This fruit is not allergic, and it also contains more vitamin C than red. The proportions should be 1: 1. Although you can cook mashed potatoes according to your preferences.
Ingredients:
• green apple;
• pumpkin.
Cooking process
How to make mashed pumpkin and apples for babies? Heat the pumpkin first. This is necessary so that the fetus becomes soft. Then peel and mash the pulp.
Peel the apple from the peel and seeds. Next, grind in mashed potatoes separately. Then mix it with pumpkin mass. If you want to diversify the dish, then you can replace the apple with a banana.
The third recipe: mashed pumpkin for babies for the winter (from 6 months)
Of course, feeding mashed potatoes in the summer is not difficult. But what to do in the winter when the vegetables are gone? Of course, it is worth pre-stocking them, freezing. Although you can do otherwise. How? You can immediately prepare mashed potatoes for the winter.
Ingredients:
• about a glass of sugar (brown);
• medium ripe pumpkin;
• litere of water;
• a pinch of clove;
• 200 g cranberries.
Cooking process:
1. Initially peel pumpkin seeds and fiber. Next, cut it into two halves, cut into small pieces.
2. Mix water with sugar in an enameled bowl.
3. After, put the pumpkin slices there.
4. Then put on the stove, bring to a boil, while stirring constantly.
5. Squeeze the juice from the cranberries and add to the pumpkin. Cook for twenty minutes.
6. Add clove kernels five minutes before being cooked.
7. Next drain the water. Grind solid ingredients in a blender.
8. While the mashed potatoes cool, boil jars, lids, and dry in a hot oven.
9. Then spread the mashed potatoes over the jars. Next, plug.
The fourth recipe: mashed potatoes with zucchini
We offer you one more option of mashed potatoes. In addition to the main ingredient, we need another zucchini. The dish is prepared simply and quickly enough.
Ingredients:
• pumpkin (gram 150);
• 100 g zucchini;
• a glass of milk;
• fifteen grams of butter;
• salt (although it is better for children not to salt).
Mashed potatoes:
1. Wash vegetables thoroughly, peel, seeds.
2. After they are cut into small pieces.
3. Then put the chopped vegetables in a pan, pour milk.
4. After salt. Cook for thirty minutes over low heat.
5. Next, beat the prepared vegetables in a puree with a blender. Then, before serving, add oil and transfer to a plate.
Recipe Five: Vegetable Soup
How to make mashed pumpkin soup for babies? Now we will tell. First, prepare the right ingredients. For cooking you will need:
• 30 grams of carrots, cabbage and potatoes;
• 100 grams of pumpkin;
• vegetable oil (teaspoon);
• salt;
• sprig of dill;
• water (50 ml).
Cooking:
1. Wash all vegetables and herbs first. Then peel and chop finely.
2. Then fill with water, cover with a lid. Simmer for twenty minutes.
3. Beat mashed potatoes with a blender, then add vegetable oil. After salt and mix.
Recipe Six: Mashed Potatoes with Meat
Now we will tell you how to cook a pumpkin dish with meat.
Ingredients:
• 100 ml of water;
• 150 g pumpkin;
• vegetable oil (teaspoon);
• salt;
• 50 g of poultry meat.
Cooking:
1. First, wash the pumpkin and peel, cut into small pieces.
2. Next, add water to the pumpkin, cover, simmer for twenty minutes until soft.
3. After wash the meat, process and cut. After boil until cooked meat.
4. Beat pumpkin and meat in a blender. You can do this both together and separately, and then mix.
5. Then add oil, salt and mix the dish.
Recipe 7: Pear puree
Ingredients:
• 50 ml of water;
• 150 g pumpkin;
• 100 g of pear;
• sugar.
Cooking a delicious dish for babies:
1. Wash the pumpkin, peel. Then cut the pieces. After pour water on the pumpkin, cover. Simmer for twenty minutes until soft.
2. Then wash the pear and peel. Next, cut into small pieces.
3. After combining the pumpkin with the pear, beat in a blender until puree. If you want, then the dish for the child can be slightly sweetened.
Recipe Eight: Puree with Semolina Puree
It is better to start giving such a dish to children from 10 months.
Will be required for cooking:
- 1 spoon semolina porridge;
- 60 ml of milk;
- pumpkin (a large handful).
Making mashed potatoes for the baby:
1. Boil the pumpkin to soften, add milk.
2. Then pour in the semolina. Cook for five minutes.
3. Then remove from heat. Then beat with a blender.
4. Wait for the mash to cool. Then it can be given to the baby.
Tips for young mothers
1. In the puree, you can add a few drops of vegetable oil. Carotene is better absorbed, of course, with fats.
2. Pumpkin puree can be given from four months. And with rice porridge or meat - about eight months.
3. The water in which the pumpkin was prepared can be used to make soups for children.
4. We note that in no case should babies be given raw vegetables. This is too heavy a product for the baby’s stomach. It is possible that after eating the baby will have diarrhea or indigestion.
Little conclusion
Now you know how to make mashed pumpkin for babies. As you can see, there are many options for creating. It is not worth it to abuse such lure. Since the child from frequent use may develop "carotene jaundice." That's all that can be said about how to make pumpkin puree for babies, the recipe of which (and not one) we examined in our article.