If your baby has recently transitioned from exclusively nursing to eating solid meals, you should be happy for your baby to try different food. Beetroots for babies can be one of the good first foods to try. Read the post to learn various healthy and tasty beet recipes for babies. When your baby begins to eat solids, you need to gradually increase the number of meals while supplementing with breastmilk or formula. You should also ensure that all recipes are baby-friendly and opt for nutritious ones amidst several food choices. This post discusses the benefits of beetroot for babies and some easy beet recipes for your baby.
Health Benefits Of Beets
The natural sweetness of beets is well preferred by babies and they can serve as great finger food too. Beets play a prominent role in imparting overall health of your baby. Here are some beetroot health benefits for babies you should know:
Nutritional Value Of Beets
Source: https://fdc.nal.usda.gov/fdc-app.html#/food-details/169145/nutrients
When To Introduce Beetroot For Babies?
The ideal and recommended period to introduce beets to your baby is between eight and ten months, as they are higher in natural nitrates than other vegetables. However, guidelines vary around the world when it comes to the introduction of beetroots. In the UK, beets are often included in babies’ diets from six months of age. Lisa Richards, a nutritionist from Greater Edmonton Metropolitan Area, says, “After consulting your child’s healthcare provider and obtaining clearance to begin solids, beets can be among some of the first foods you offer to babies. It is important to start with small amounts and watch for any signs of allergic reaction. As with any new food, it is also important to introduce beets one at a time and wait a few days before introducing any additional new foods. This will allow you to identify any potential allergies or sensitivities. Always ensure you are present when they are eating and that the food is soft and small enough to prevent choking.” Add beets to your little one’s diet once she has had a taste of a few yellow and green vegetables. Serve not more than one to two teaspoons of beets to babies less than a year old, as nitrates cannot easily be digestible and can cause a condition called ‘baby-blue syndrome’ or methemoglobinemia. You can increase the intake after the baby turns one. Avoid beets if your baby has diarrhea, as they have a mild laxative effect. Consult your doctor before introducing them, if your baby suffers from gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD). Some pediatricians suggest not to feed fresh beet puree to babies and instead go for canned beet puree because of high nitrate levels in fresh ones. Beetroot allergy is rare. However, check with the doctor before you try it on your little one. Note: Do not be alarmed if your baby’s poop is pink in color. It is normal after a meal containing beets.
How To Select Beets For Homemade Baby Food?
Beets are available all through the year, while the peak season is June through October. They do not fall under the ‘dirty dozen’ foods contaminated with pesticides. But if desired, you can purchase organic beets. Pick fresh ones for homemade baby food. Select medium-sized beets over large beets as they are more tender and tasty. Opt for beets that are less than three to four-inch diameter, unblemished, unbroken, or unbruised. Go for beets with green, leafy tops (whenever possible). Wash the beets thoroughly before use.
How To Store Beets?
Store beets in a refrigerator after removing the leaf tops. Put them in a freezer bag or an airtight container and place in the veggie crisper or far back of the fridge. They remain fresh for a week, if stored well.
How To Cook Beets For Baby?
The best method to cook beets for babies is by steaming or boiling. Baking is also an easy way to cook beets. Steamed beets are easier to make into puree and have Vitamin A beta carotene readily available to be absorbed by the baby’s body. Cooking can significantly reduce the nitrates in raw beets. Rinse the beets thoroughly, remove greens, peel the skin (or peel the skin after cooking) and dice it into small pieces. Then start cooking: If you prefer to bake the beets, just wrap the slices in foil and cook for an hour at 360ºF or 180ºC. Serve beet purees mixed with raisins, applesauce, sweet potatoes, chicken, brown rice, etc. Typically around ten months, your baby will be ready for finger foods, and then you may serve small cooked pieces of beets. You may refrigerate beet puree leftovers for three days in BPA-free containers. However, it is advisable to give freshly prepared food to babies. Discard the cooking water from boiling beetroot as nitrates may have got into the water during the cooking process.
Quick Beetroot Recipes For Babies
Some of the quick beetroot recipes are discussed below. Have fun while you try them out for your baby.
1. Purple Potatoes
You will need:
2 medium sized beets 1 medium sized carrot 2 potatoes water
How to:
2. Roasted Beet Shapes
You will need:
5 beets (medium sized) 1 tbsp olive oil
How to:
3. Beetroot Rice Casserole
You will need:
2 cups beets slices (cooked) 3 cups brown rice (cooked) 1 small onion (optional) 1 cup shredded chicken (cooked) 1/2 cup chicken broth 1/4 cup whole milk or yogurt 3 egg yolk Spices if needed
How to:
4. Mashed Turnip & Beets
You will need:
1 large turnip (diced) 4 beets spices (for taste/ optional)
How to:
5. Beetroot Soup for Babies
You will need:
3 beets (peeled and diced) 1 potato (diced) 1 small onion (chopped/optional) 16 fl oz (2 cups) homemade vegetable broth/stock. 2oz (1/4 cup) yogurt
How to:
6. Gourmet Beet Puree
You will need:
2 beets (cooked) 1/2 small onion (chopped/ optional) ground nutmeg (pinch) 2 tbsp homemade applesauce
How to: Note: Cooked carrots can be used instead of onion in your baby food recipes if you do not want to add them.
7. Cheesy Beet Bites
You will need:
1 bread slice 1/4 cup cooked beetroot slices 1 tsp cheese
How to:
8. Baby’s Beetroot Mash
You will need:
2 beetroot (peeled and chopped) 1 apple (peeled and chopped) 1 potato (peeled and chopped)
How to:
9. Carrot Beetroot Puree
You will need:
1/2 cup carrot (chopped) 1/2 cup Beetroot (peeled and chopped)
How to:
10. Beetroot Carrot Soup
You will need:
1/2 cup carrot (chopped) 1/4 cup Beetroot (peeled and chopped) 1 cup water
How to:
11. Apple Beetroot porridge
You will need:
1 beetroot (peeled, grated) 1 apple (grated) little fresh ginger (grated) ¼ cup oats ½ cup milk
How to:
12. Beetroot Halwa with Dates
You will need:
1 beetroot (peeled, chopped) 10 dates 2 tsp ghee water
How to: Note: Offer not more than three spoons for babies. Add formula or breast milk to get the desired consistency.
13. Beetroot Risotto
You will need:
1/2 onion (chopped) 1/2 garlic clove (finely chopped) 125g risotto rice (cooked) 2tbsp olive oil 250g fresh beetroot (cooked) 425ml vegetable stock 1tbsp grated parmesan cheese 2tbsp cream cheese
How to:
14. Pomegranate and Beetroot juice
You will need:
1 beetroot (peeled, cut, steamed) 1 bowl pomegranate seeds
How to:
