Pumpkin puree is a product that can be included in the diet of an infant as a complementary food one of the first. It meets three basic requirements: safety, easy digestibility, and usefulness.
The benefits of pumpkin puree
Pumpkin vegetable puree is very good for babies. Pumpkin is a vegetable that is enriched with nutrients and B vitamins. Pumpkin contains iron, calcium, potassium and magnesium. Even during heat treatment, it retains all its fortified composition. Pumpkin puree is delicate, sweetish, and kids like it. Complementary feeding with this product will not only be useful, but also enjoyable.
How to make pumpkin puree
Before making mashed potatoes, pumpkin must be thoroughly washed and peeled and seeds removed. The tender pulp can be cut into medium-sized cubes. There are two ways to cook pumpkin. Immerse in boiling water and cook for 30 minutes, or place in a double boiler for one hour. The second option is good because the pumpkin retains its sweetness and remains more delicious than after cooking in water. After the pumpkin has boiled, it must be cooled to 30-40 ° C. It is better to grind boiled pumpkin pieces with a blender so that the mass is homogeneous and without lumps. In boiled and chopped pumpkin, you can add a spoonful of olive oil, breast milk, or the formula that your baby usually eats. You can add some egg yolk. There is no need to sweeten the pumpkin. It is naturally sweet, and excess sucrose can be harmful to a small child.
How to introduce complementary foods
For the first feeding, dairy-free cereals or natural vegetables are best. Pumpkin can be one of them. Delicate vegetable puree is easily absorbed by the baby's digestive system. It is important to remember that new foods are introduced into the diet one at a time. They fed one, watched for several days, introduced another. The simultaneous introduction of several products at once can cause an allergic reaction, overload the digestive system, and disrupt metabolism. Gradually, pumpkin puree can be combined with cereals and fruits. Later it can be used as a side dish for meat.
Complementary feeding requires special care so as not to overload the digestive system. Depending on the age of the baby, you set the rate of complementary foods, at 4-5 months this rate is 1-2 spoons. Gradually, the amount of puree increases. After a month, the baby can eat up to 100 grams of pumpkin per day.
It is better to introduce pumpkin into the baby's diet from 5 months. If the child is prone to allergies, then it is better to postpone acquaintance with pumpkin until 8 months.
