It is difficult to imagine a human diet without potatoes. This is a versatile vegetable, so it is added to various dishes. The mashed potato tastes good and this dish is very easy to make. It is liked not only by adults, but also by children. When can I give mashed potatoes to babies? From the article you will learn about the secrets of its preparation, the benefits of the dish and from what time it is included in the baby’s diet.
The benefits of mashed potatoes
This will seem unusual, but potatoes are not inferior to broccoli, cabbage, zucchini in terms of the number of useful substances, and in some ways even surpasses them. Many people consider dishes from this vegetable to be useless and unhealthy food, but scientists completely disagree with them.
What is the use of mashed potato for babies:
- Folic acid. Pregnant women know that it is necessary for the development of the brain and the entire nervous system.
- Potassium and aluminum. The first element helps the heart and kidneys, and the second - the growth and development of tissues.
- 20 g of potatoes contain up to 5 mg of ascorbic acid. By the content of vitamin C, the vegetable is ahead of the apple and avocado.
- Rutin (Vitamin P). Together with ascorbic acid, they strengthen the immune system and increase the body's resistance to viruses, which is especially important for a fragile baby's body.
- There is a lot of selenium in tubers (more than in nuts or seeds), it is a leader among other vegetables by its content. It helps the thyroid gland and immune system work efficiently.
Can babies mashed potatoes? To answer this question you should find out all the advantages of a vegetable:
- Protein content. It consists of amino acids, which are the building blocks for the cells of a growing baby’s body.
- Thanks to fiber, digestion is improved and the body is cleansed of toxins.
Potatoes are a source of strength for the developing organism of the baby. In this situation, the calorie content of the product is rather a plus than a minus, because the body constantly needs energy. Harmful and too high-calorie potatoes are obtained precisely because of the features of cooking. Indeed, there is a huge difference between a roasted root vegetable or a “uniform”.
Cons dishes for kids
In the use of mashed potatoes for babies, there are negative aspects. Here is what they are:
- The presence of starch can cause an allergic reaction. If it manifests itself, then potatoes should not be given to infants until they are 12 months old. Moreover, he can get all the necessary substances from hypoallergenic products.
- Solanin, which is a deadly poisonous substance, can accumulate in the root crop. Because of it, it acquires a greenish color. Solanine is formed under the influence of sunlight, so potatoes are best stored in a dark room.
- Problems may arise associated with the digestive tract (flatulence, constipation). To avoid this, potatoes are best combined with foods that remove food from the body.
Excessive inclusion in the diet contributes to weight gain. Therefore, it is necessary to control the amount of potatoes that enter the body along with various dishes.
How to choose a root crop?
When buying a vegetable, you should pay attention to such recommendations:
- It is best to buy new potatoes. It contains the most ascorbic acid and lacks solanine.
- Tubers are best chosen in medium size. They have more vitamins and less starch.
- If the tubers have a lot of water, then they have a large amount of nitrates. This is verified simply. You need to pierce a tuber cut in half with a toothpick. If water leaks through the hole, then there are a lot of nitrates in it.
- It is best to buy potatoes produced by a local producer, and not brought from abroad.
- Parents need to stock up on root crops during the harvest season in order to protect themselves from a genetically modified product.
Choose potatoes without damage and sprouts. The best root crop is the one that is grown on your own personal plot or from conscientious summer residents.
When can I give mashed potatoes to babies?
The recommended age of the baby, at which it is allowed to introduce root crops into the diet, is 6.5-7 months. Infants who are breast-fed get acquainted with mashed potatoes much earlier than babies. The root vegetable is not the first vegetable that the baby has tried. Before that, he already ate mashed potatoes from zucchini, cauliflower and pumpkin.
Mashed potatoes for babies since how many months can I enter on the menu? According to Dr. Komarovsky, it is best to start complementary foods from 8 months. First it should be a potato broth, then mashed potatoes and soups. He believes that the root crop should be included in the diet after fermented milk production and cereals.
Do not rush if the baby has constipation and digestive problems. Like any new products, it’s best to cook potatoes in water without adding any additional ingredients (salt, milk or butter). You need to start with 1-2 teaspoons and be sure to watch the reaction. If you experience an allergy or a stool is delayed, potatoes should be discarded for a while. It is not an indispensable product, so its absence does not affect the health of the baby.
If there were no negative reactions when introducing mashed potato into the diet, then mom can give it further. Such a dish in the menu of the baby should not be present more often 1-2 times a week.
Mashed potatoes contribute to weight gain with a lack of it. In this case, it can be cooked much more often. However, you should not overdo it so that there are no problems with the digestive system.
How to cook?
There are no difficulties in the process. How to cook mashed potatoes baby? No effort or special kitchen equipment is needed for this. To get a tasty dish, you need to have basic culinary skills for cooking root crops.
Before starting the process, you need to pay attention to its quality and freshness. Tubers are best taken medium size. Potatoes for crumbs parents should buy directly during the ripening period.
For the first feeding puree is prepared as follows:
- It is necessary to add potatoes for 2 hours with cold water. This will help free it from nitrates and starch. Useful substances will leave along with harmful substances, but you cannot do without it.
- You can cook potatoes in three of the most famous ways: bake, cook as usual or steamed. The most useful option is the first.
How to make mashed potatoes for babies? And what is needed for this?
Kitchen tools
To prepare mashed potatoes you need to have at hand:
- blender
- a small saucepan;
- a bowl for soaking the root crop;
- knife;
- a plate;
- a teaspoon.
You will need a blender to chop potatoes, which will be cooked in a pan. A bowl is necessary to rid root crops of starch and nitrates.
A knife needs to be used for cutting tubers, and a plate and a teaspoon - for feeding the baby.
Step-by-step recipe for mashed potatoes
For cooking, you need to take:
- potatoes - 1-2 pcs.;
- glass of water;
- 2-4 teaspoons of milk.
A step-by-step recipe for mashed potato for babies includes the following sequence of actions:
- Peel the tubers. In this case, it is best to cut it off with a thick layer to free from harmful components.
- Soak the potatoes for 2 hours. As a result, potatoes are "freed" of starch and other harmful substances.
- Put in water and bring to a boil. It is necessary to cook until fully cooked over medium heat. A vegetable is considered fully cooked when it can be easily pierced with a knife.
- After determining readiness, water must be completely drained. The tubers should cool slightly.
- Beat them in a blender or knead with a blender with the addition of broth or milk. This is done so that the mashed potatoes become soft and tender. There should be no lumps in it.
- The dish can be cooled and given to the child.
Pediatricians are not advised to salt mashed potatoes, like other dishes for the baby.
The second recipe for mashed potatoes
Breasts older than 8 months can already be fed with multicomponent dishes. You should prepare not only mashed potatoes for babies, but also add cauliflower, carrots, zucchini, as well as chicken or veal meat to the dish. This is especially true when the baby refuses potatoes.
How to cook mashed potatoes baby? The recipe includes cauliflower and root vegetables. If the child does not like potatoes, then you need to take quite a bit, gradually increasing its amount.
Vegetables are placed in a pan and poured with water. You can add greens. All cook until tender and chopped using a blender. Puree is made on the basis of a vegetable broth with the addition of milk. In the dish, you can add 1 tsp. olive oil.
Mashed potato soup
To prepare the dish you will need the following ingredients: 2 root vegetables, 150 ml of milk, 1 tbsp. l butter and stalk of leek.
Cooking process:
- Wash tubers thoroughly, peel, cut and soak for 2 hours in cold water.
- Wash, chop and fry the onion in butter. Pour in water and simmer.
- After boiling add potatoes, boil for 30 minutes.
- Grind vegetables with a blender or crush.
- Add milk and mix well.
Soup should be given to the baby only in a warm form. And remember that the age of the baby must be at least 8 months.
Useful Tips for Parents
The introduction of complementary foods is an interesting, but at the same time difficult process. There are some tips on how and when to give mashed potatoes to babies:
- For cooking, take high-quality products. This applies not only to potatoes, but also to other products.
- It is best to cook root vegetables in enameled or ceramic dishes.
- Before feeding the baby puree, the mother should taste it. Even quality potatoes can be bitter.
- Initially, the root crop must be diluted with broth. Milk can be added several times, and it should be skimmed.
- Usually babies like potatoes. You can alternate it with other vegetables. If this is not done, then the infant may abandon the latter.
- Mashed potatoes should be given no more than 2-3 times a week. The dish must be fresh.
- Breastfed babies eat complementary foods without much desire. In such cases, do not rush things and force the baby. This situation should be discussed with the pediatrician.
For any baby, the time comes when he needs to switch to plant and animal food. Parents should understand that the process requires them time and special patience.
Conclusion
When can I give mashed potatoes to babies? It is allowed to introduce a dish into lure from 6.5-7 months. Potato is not the most useful root crop, but it is able to diversify the kid’s menu. Vegetables rarely cause allergies, but can also cause constipation and bloating. Initially, mashed potatoes are prepared in water without the addition of any ingredients. So the baby will quickly get used to the taste of the dish, and it will not negatively affect his body.