When can zucchini be introduced into baby's complementary foods? Vegetable purees for first feeding (3 recipes). The benefits of this vegetable include

The baby is growing up, and his mother’s milk - so tasty and nutritious - is no longer enough for him. When it comes to introducing the first complementary foods, one of the dishes popular with pediatricians and children's nutritionists is zucchini puree for babies. It is this vegetable that has properties that are so suitable to allow it to become the first independent food of a small child.

Zucchini is a hypoallergenic product, it stimulates digestion, does not cause bloating, and prevents constipation. Zucchini is also rich in microelements and vitamins, such as:

Iron;
Potassium;
Phosphorus;
Magnesium;
Vitamin C;
B vitamins.

Zucchini is quick and easy to prepare, which will appeal to any mother who knows the value of every minute of free time. Of course you can buy zucchini puree for babies, packaged in jars, in the children's department of the store, but many mothers prepare it at home on their own. Some people are not sure about the cleanliness of the production process, some people feel sorry for paying a lot of money for multi-colored jars, and some people have an excess of zucchini in their garden. N Some mothers simply like to prepare food for their child themselves.

Zucchini puree - my first “puree”

A child who is on artificial feeding, or infant who has a slight underweight, the doctor may recommend introducing complementary foods from 4.5-5 months. If mom has saved breast-feeding, then there is no need to introduce complementary foods until six months. From six months you can already try giving your baby vegetable and fruit purees. You should start complementary feeding with vegetable purees, since if the child tries a sweeter fruit puree, then after that he may refuse vegetable purees. That is why zucchini puree for babies takes a leading place among the products recommended for starting complementary feeding.

The first puree should be one-component: made only from zucchini without adding carrots, cream and other products. The first baby “portion” of puree – 0.5-1 teaspoon – is given in the morning so that there is an opportunity to monitor the child throughout the day. If there is no negative reaction, you can increase the dose every day.

Zucchini goes well with other vegetables, dairy products and meat. You need to switch to multi-component purees in stages: give your child zucchini puree for a week, then carrot puree for a week, etc. When it becomes clear that none of the products causes allergies, you can prepare zucchini puree with the addition of other proven products.

How to choose products for making purees

To prepare zucchini puree for babies, fresh or frozen vegetables are suitable. Preferably fresh. In summer, zucchini can be bought in stores, or grown on your own personal plot. In winter, you can use your own frozen preparations.

To prepare puree for babies, it is advisable to use small young vegetables. They must not have dents, cracks or other damage. There are no particular differences between the varieties - both zucchini and regular zucchini will do.

Before cooking, zucchini must be washed thoroughly. Store-bought vegetables should be soaked in cold salted water for about two hours. This is necessary to remove residues of pesticides and other harmful substances.

Mashed potatoes for babies - recipe and preparation methods

There are several ways to prepare zucchini puree for your baby. Their essence is the same - you need to heat-treat chopped zucchini and grind them into puree. Only the heat treatment options differ.

Options for heat treatment of zucchini:

Bake in the oven;
Boil in water;
Cook in a double boiler.

It takes up to 25 minutes to prepare (on average 10-15 minutes). When the zucchini becomes soft, rub it through a sieve or grind it in a blender.

Wash and peel the zucchini. Remove the loose core with large seeds.
Cut the zucchini into cubes or sticks.
Place the zucchini in a saucepan and add enough water to lightly cover the vegetables. It is better to use special baby water or high-quality purified water.
Cook for 15 minutes until the zucchini is soft.
Grind the prepared zucchini using any in an accessible way(using a blender or through a sieve). This must be done carefully so that no pieces remain.
If the puree is too thick, dilute it with the broth in which the zucchini was cooked.

Ready-made zucchini puree cannot be stored. You need to prepare a new portion of vegetable treats before each feeding. By starting to feed your baby with puree made from zucchini, you will not only introduce him to wholesome and healthy food, but also provide the growing body with the necessary vitamins and microelements.

Thanks to vegetables, the child receives nutritious carbohydrates, as well as a number of vitamins. The fiber and pectins contained in them help remove harmful elements from the body. When the baby is not gaining weight well, the pediatrician may recommend porridge as the first complementary food, but the option with vegetable puree is suitable for children with digestive problems, especially for those who have constipation.

Why is zucchini considered optimal for first feeding? It is easy to prepare, delicate in taste, and the possibility of allergies from it is minimal, but we will talk about this later. A large number of nutrients helps make the baby healthier. Sometimes children under one year old develop physiological anemia, and zucchini helps cure it.

Complementary feeding is a very important process in a baby’s life. And the first dishes recommended for feeding small children are vegetable purees, for example from zucchini

It is ideal to start complementary feeding with zucchini, because it has a wonderful effect on the body, thanks to the following beneficial characteristics:

The puree is well accepted by the child’s body, helps improve digestion, preventing constipation, and also protects the baby from possible bloating and colic.
Hypoallergenic product. Allergic reactions- an extremely rare occurrence.
Zucchini contains a whole range of vitamins and microelements necessary for the full development of the baby. Among others, there are magnesium and phosphorus, iron and potassium, as well as vitamins B and C.

The positive aspects of the vegetable do not end there:

ease of preparation: even a novice housewife can handle the recipes;
low price for the product in the summer;
fresh frozen product can be introduced at any time of the year;
It cooks very quickly, which means mom saves a lot of time.

Zucchini has beneficial properties that are necessary for a child, and the vegetable is hypoallergenic, which is important when feeding for the first time.

Rules for introducing complementary foods

Dear reader!
This article talks about typical ways to solve your issues, but each case is unique! If you want to know how to solve your particular problem, ask your question. It's fast and free!
Vegetable purees appear in the diet of infants closer to six months, if the child is breastfed, and after 4 months, if the baby eats formula. Let us recall the basic entry rules:
the puree must be one-component, homogenized, without salt and sugar;
It is better to give a sample in morning time(at about 11:00) or at lunch (at about 14:00);
first complementary feeding - then breastfeeding or an adapted formula;
the first dose is small - from 0.5 to 1 teaspoon, after a week the dose will gradually increase to 50 grams; as a result, by the age of 7 months the baby should eat up to 100 g, and closer to the age of 150 g per day;
if the baby does not want to eat, try feeding the product a week later or offer another vegetable for introduction, after consulting with your pediatrician;
You should not conduct taste experiments if it is too hot outside or the child is not feeling well - the attempt is unlikely to be successful.

When introducing complementary foods with zucchini, it is extremely important to know when to stop. If you notice a child has a wonderful appetite and a desire to eat more, you should not do this. How much should you give in the end? Give strictly the prescribed dose, otherwise you may get digestive problems.

Before you start giving your baby complementary foods, consult your pediatrician, he will tell you correct scheme complementary feeding of the child (more details in the article:)
Zucchini is a vegetable to which allergies are extremely rare. It is usually offered to children prone to food allergies or its variations, as well as already suffering children with allergies. Still, one should not forget about caution and be extremely attentive, especially if this is the child’s first meal.
Food diary - taking care of your child
It’s a good idea to keep a food diary where you will record all your baby’s reactions to a new product:
bloating;
redness or rashes on the skin;
restlessness, moodiness;
bowel dysfunction or gas formation.

If you notice some of the above signs, you should stop introducing complementary foods and consult a doctor. He will tell you when to start introducing food again. Most likely it won't be before a month. When introducing new purees, it is advisable to choose one-component options, i.e. those in which only one vegetable is present. A mixture of vegetables or fruits will make it difficult to identify the “culprit” feeling unwell or allergies.
When, having bought a product at the market and subsequently prepared it yourself at home, you notice redness or rashes on the skin, then perhaps you should replace the homemade version with canned purees or use frozen vegetables for cooking. We will talk further about all possible manipulations and methods for preparing zucchini.

Choose only young vegetables for complementary feeding (more details in the article:). But it’s better to buy zucchini from friends or grow it yourself
Contraindications for use
Attention! Zucchini is contraindicated in children with hyperkalemia. With this disease, the kidneys suffer, which cannot cope with the task of removing potassium from the body. Also, zucchini is prohibited for children with renal failure of various origins.
Another one possible reaction after eating zucchini - the appearance of peeling on the skin. This reaction is absolutely natural and has nothing to do with allergies. To prevent this, mix the zucchini puree with a small amount of water in which the zucchini was boiled or add a little breast milk. Excessive peeling can be shown to a doctor and you can get qualified advice on this matter.
Product selection and preparation
Most reliable way preparation - do-it-yourself puree from your own vegetables, grown on your own plot, and then boiled or steamed at home. What to do if a baby born in the summer has to try his first complementary foods in winter time? You can find it in stores fresh product, but most likely it will be an imported version. It may contain nitrates and other harmful substances.

Zucchini keeps well in the freezer. In the same way, you can save any other vegetables for your baby.
Solution options in in this case may be as follows:
Freeze fresh vegetables for the winter ahead of time. Buy fresh green young vegetables (you can take greenhouse varieties), their length should not exceed 20 cm. Tender pulp will allow you to easily remove the seeds. When choosing, keep in mind that the surface should be smooth, slightly shiny, without spots or other irregularities. It is advisable to buy from a trusted seller.
Jar puree. Any product on the shelves of children's stores is certified. In this case, the most important thing is to read the composition. Ideal composition: zucchini and water. It is advisable to avoid “pear-shaped zucchini” in a number of ingredients. It is an analogy of pumpkin, which means it is not suitable for the very first complementary feeding due to a possible allergic reaction.

It is not recommended to combine zucchini with milk. At least 6 hours should pass between taking these two products. To combine with zucchini, choose meat protein, vegetable fats (olive oil), other vegetables and herbs.

At the time of buying baby food from zucchini, read the composition of the product. There should be nothing there except the vegetable itself and water
How about a frozen version?
Young summer fruits cannot be stored for a long time, due to the fact that their peel is very thin and there is a lot of water inside. Large zucchini with thick skin fit well, but are less suitable for feeding children. Their structure is more coarse, and nutritional value reduced compared to young fruits. That is why freezing young vegetables is an ideal option for the winter. You can do it like this:
Wash the vegetables thoroughly and cut the skin as thin as possible.
Remove the top and also the stalk. They can be a place where nitrates live.
There is no need to remove the middle, so just cut the zucchini into small circles. Their thickness should be about 3 cm. Then place them in a freezer bag in one layer.

Advice for young mothers: freeze vegetables for the first complementary foods for the winter in disposable cups. For the first small samples, choose small cups, then slightly larger ones. Place the chopped vegetables in a container and cover with cling film or foil. It is very convenient to store this format. The compact option is also convenient because frozen vegetables can be cooked in a matter of minutes, even faster than fresh ones.
Vitamin C retains its nutritional properties when freezing, but it is still better to resort to the quick freezing option. First, you should set the freezer to the lowest setting, wait about an hour, and then put the cups of vegetables in the freezer. Remaining time in the freezer is 1 hour. After freezing, you can return to your usual temperature levels.
When planning to cook, do not wait for the zucchini to defrost. If you do the opposite, you will end up with only a mushy consistency, but not zucchini at all. To cook, place the frozen vegetable in water and cook for about 5-7 minutes. Once the zucchini is cooked, grind it using a sieve. You can choose any cooking option that suits you: steamed or in a slow cooker. The quality and usefulness of the product will not be affected.

Do not prepare a lot of zucchini puree, as for the first samples of the vegetable you only need a spoonful of the finished product
Preparation options for first feeding
Before cooking, it is important to properly process the product:
Wash the vegetable in cool running water.
When preparing puree for a child of the first year of life, you need to remove the skin and rinse again with water.
Having purchased the product in a store or market, you need to soak the vegetables for about 2 hours in cold water with salt. To do this, you first need to cut each fruit in half. These manipulations are done in order to get rid of possible nitrates.

How to cook zucchini for your favorite little one? Let us give you some simple and delicious recipes. All of them are simple and accessible.
In a saucepan
You need to cook with filtered or purchased clean water. Boil some water.
Cut the zucchini into cubes and place in boiling water. Boil for about 10 minutes until tender.
The prepared vegetables should be ground in a blender, or even better, then pass the puree through a sieve, so the consistency will become even nicer and more uniform. Add some vegetable broth.

You should not cook for long, 10 minutes is the maximum. Excessively long cooking will lead to the loss of valuable vitamin C. The measured time period is optimal for preserving all the usefulness of the vegetable.

If the baby does not want to eat zucchini, then there is no need to force him. Or maybe vice versa, then the mother needs to know when to stop and not give more than planned
In a slow cooker
Peel the fruit and remove the seeds, then cut into rings.
Place the chopped pieces into the slow cooker.
To start cooking, you need to press the corresponding button on the panel (“Stewing” or “Steaming”). Set the process time to 10 minutes.
The method for chopping zucchini was indicated above or you can use any other option convenient for you.

For a couple
Steaming is possible using a simple pan:
Pour water into the pan, about ¼ of the volume, and place a sieve or colander on top.
Washed, peeled and seeded, the fruits should be placed in a sieve.
Boiling water will provide the steam needed for cooking. Such a simple device ultimately copes with its task no worse than a double boiler.
To make the process go faster, it is better to cover the vegetables with a lid.

Do not resort to salt, the baby absolutely does not need it, and the baby will not yet notice its absence in food. It is better to cool the puree when room temperature. The finished puree can be stored in the refrigerator for up to 4 days. It is better to heat a new portion separately from the total mass.
Zucchini puree for babies is the beginning of a new “adult” life for your little one. A healthy vegetable not only introduces the baby to the food of mom and dad, but also gives a lot of useful nutrients that are so necessary for active growth and development. With its help, you can show the taste beauty of food, but do not overdo it. Do not put pressure on the baby when feeding. Approaching the age of 1 year, your baby will master many more new dishes. Do not forget to listen to the advice of doctors so that the process of accustoming to new things is pleasant and comfortable for the baby.

How long to cook zucchini for baby puree? This requires 6-10 minutes. It is important to preserve vitamin C after processing, and for this purpose the fruit is placed in water that is already boiling. The young zucchini is cooked until it is completely hidden in the pan under water. This usually happens quickly. You can also not cook, but simply steam the dish. Both taste and benefits will be preserved.

Such a finished product has a complex of properties that are important for the body:

Antiallergic
Antianemic
Diuretic
General strengthening
Increased intestinal motility

Cooking is important for infants, since zucchini is easily digestible, normalizes water-salt metabolism and carries out natural blood purification.

Recipe for zucchini puree for complementary feeding

To test the theory of how long to cook zucchini for complementary feeding in practice, try classic recipe puree that is useful for every mother and every father to know:

Soak the zucchini in cold water. In 15-20 minutes it will remain clean without any nitrates.
Clean the fruit well.
A circle is cut from the middle part.
Cut it into small cubes.
Cook over moderate heat until soft.
It is correct to grind the finished zucchini while still warm through a sieve, achieving the consistency of liquid sour cream. If the mixture is too thick, just add the broth to it and beat everything with a fork.

In a water bath or in a double boiler, you should also focus on the softness of the vegetables.

The vegetable can increase the baby’s appetite, it has a diuretic and restorative effect.
The fruit contains a large number of water, which flushes out all toxins from the growing body.
This complementary feeding is rich in copper and iron, which prevents anemia in infants.
Zucchini puree normalizes intestinal motility.

It is better to introduce the first complementary foods no earlier than 6 months. When breastfeeding, the baby's body receives everything it needs from the mother's milk. Children who are on artificial nutrition can try it earlier. Since children at this age do not yet have teeth, it is better to prepare complementary foods in the form of purees.

Complementary feeding norm for a child

The first complementary food should contain only one component. It is not allowed to add other vegetables to the dish. The child’s body is not yet able to cope with a heavy load.

The first portion should be no more than 1 teaspoon. After the first feeding, you need to monitor the baby.

If no redness or stool upset is detected, you can continue to feed your baby zucchini. The dose should be increased every day until it reaches 200 grams.

You can prepare zucchini puree with other vegetables for your child only after a week. Carrots, meat and other vegetables will be a good addition to the dish.

A vegetable dish is perceived well, but if the child is naughty, you can add a little salt or vegetable oil.

Selecting and preparing vegetables

You need to prepare complementary foods from fresh young fruits. You can choose white squash or zucchini. Before cooking the puree, purchased vegetables are soaked in salt water. This will help remove pesticides that have accumulated in the fruits.

It is possible (and better) to prepare a zucchini dish in a double boiler or oven. It will remain this way most of useful substances. But you can cook zucchini in water.

Preparing an “adult” dish

For the first feeding, it is better to prepare a sweet puree that resembles mother's milk. The recipe for this dish is quite simple. It takes up to 20 minutes to prepare.

Recipe No. 1: Classic zucchini puree

The zucchini needs to be washed and peeled. Remove core and seeds.
Cut the prepared fruit into cubes or cubes.
To preserve all the vitamins, the vegetable is placed in boiling water. The liquid should completely cover the fruit.
You need to cook the zucchini for a few minutes. When the vegetables are soft, remove the pan from the heat.
Grind the finished dish with a blender or fork. It should be of uniform consistency and not contain lumps.
If the dish is too thick, you can dilute it with broth.

According to this recipe, zucchini puree can be made in a double boiler or oven. It is not recommended to store the dish. For complementary feeding, you should prepare a new portion each time.

When the baby gets to know the vegetable better, you can diversify the menu with various soups, sauté, the famous squash caviar, salads or pancakes. But it is better to introduce these dishes into the baby’s diet after 6 months.

Recipe No. 2: Zucchini with semolina in a double boiler

Prepare the zucchini, peel and cut into slices.
Mix 0.5 cups of milk with 1 tsp. semolina, 1 yolk, 1 tsp. Sahara. Pour the prepared mixture over the zucchini.
Steaming the dish takes about 25 minutes.
The finished mixture should be homogeneous. Serve with a piece of butter.

Recipe No. 3: Zucchini puree with potatoes

You can diversify the classic mashed potatoes with potatoes. This will give it a unique taste. The prepared dish will delight your baby.

Peel the vegetables, cut them into cubes and cook until tender.
Rub the ingredients through a sieve or grind in a blender. Add 1 yolk.
Dilute the resulting mixture with milk and boil. It is best to serve the dish warm.

Recipe No. 4: Sweet puree with apple

Peel the zucchini and apples from peels and seeds. Boil vegetables until tender.
Grind the finished ingredients in a blender and mix. Boil the puree for a few minutes.

Even the most capricious kids will love this dish. If the apples are sour, add a little sugar.

Recipe No. 5: Dish with pumpkin and zucchini

To prepare this dish you will need pumpkin, which will give a unique taste to the zucchini. There is no need to add sugar.

Peel the pumpkin and zucchini and cook until fully cooked.
Chop the vegetables.
A dish that is too thick can be diluted with vegetable broth.

When creating a menu for your baby, you should keep in mind that this complementary food does not go well with milk. Therefore, it should be given with a break of 6 hours.

When it's time to give your child juices, you can prepare a freshly squeezed zucchini drink. You need to drink it before meals. Juice saves everything essential vitamins, and also has a positive effect on the baby’s health. To begin with, you can prepare a one-ingredient drink, and then add apple, carrot, beet or orange juice to it.

Secrets of experienced chefs

Zucchini complementary foods should be in a child’s diet all year round. To do this, vegetables can be frozen for future use. Washed and peeled fruits need to be dried, cut and placed in portioned bags. Vegetables should be laid out one at a time. Zucchini cannot be re-frozen. Children's menu should consist only of high-quality and healthy products. Frozen vegetables can be stored for several months.

Complementary feeding is now causing a lot of discussion among young mothers and the older generation. And all due to the fact that doctors’ recommendations regarding the introduction of this or that product into a baby’s complementary feeding have changed very much over the past 20 years. If previously a baby began to be introduced to adult food literally a couple of months after birth due to the fact that a short period of time was provided for child care, today doctors strongly recommend doing this only after 6 months. But one thing has remained unchanged - the first “adult dish” that a baby should try is zucchini.

In order for your baby to grow up healthy and happy, it is important to properly organize his nutrition.

Zucchini is a storehouse of vitamins and minerals; it is well absorbed by the child’s body and does not cause allergies at all. Despite the fact that breastfeeding provides the baby with all essential microelements, with age, he will still not have enough of the nutrients that enter the body with milk. This primarily concerns iron and zinc. It is in these microelements infant begins to need it at the age of 5–6 months.

Zucchini is incredibly easy to cook, and there are so many useful substances in it! In addition, it will contain:

unsaturated fatty acids;
B vitamins;
vitamin A, C, PP and H;
chemical microelements (iron, zinc, sulfur, calcium, magnesium, potassium and many others);
monosaccharides;
disaccharides;
organic acids;
alimentary fiber.

It also contains the necessary normal functioning proteins, carbohydrates and fats. Therefore, its presence in the baby’s diet should be mandatory.

Zucchini is traditionally the first vegetable a baby tries.

Zucchini, like any other vegetable, should be introduced into complementary foods gradually and in boiled form. First, you can offer your baby ½ teaspoon of zucchini puree or juice. Then you should observe the body's reaction.

If the color, smell or consistency of baby's stool has changed, you should wait a little before starting complementary feeding. This only means that the immaturity of the baby’s body does not yet allow it to absorb nutrients. After a month, you can try giving your baby zucchini puree again.

If the body accepts the innovation normally, then you can gradually increase the dose. At 7 months, an infant should not eat more than 80–100 g of puree per day, and no more than 100 ml of juice should be prepared. You can “dilute” your baby’s menu a little and give him 50 g of puree or 50 ml of zucchini juice per day.

It is worth noting that such an innovation may cause peeling skin. But this is not a reason to exclude so much from a child’s diet. healthy vegetable. It just needs to be mixed with breast milk. Peeling of the skin is a kind of reaction digestive system(after all, her work with the innovation becomes more complicated) and is not an allergy. However, if the skin peeling is severe, you should consult a pediatrician.

It is better to cook zucchini in a double boiler - this way it will retain more vitamins

Everyone knows that heat treatment contributes to loss useful properties vegetables and fruits. To prevent this from happening with zucchini, it must be properly cooked. How long should it be cooked? No more than 10 minutes in boiling water.

Zucchini cooks very quickly, and this time is enough for it to become soft, while retaining all its beneficial properties.

Cook baby zucchini in small portions in a small saucepan over medium heat. First you need to rinse it under running water, peel it and rinse it again. Applies only cold water. Then cut it into circles 1 - 1.5 cm thick. Put the peeled zucchini in a saucepan and add a small amount of water. There should not be a lot of it, it should only slightly cover the vegetable. Cook for 10 minutes. This way you will also prepare vegetable broth, which can also be given to your baby or diluted into purees.

You can also cook zucchini using a double boiler. This option, by the way, is much better than the first. Because by steaming, you retain more nutrients. True, you won’t be able to make broth like this, and the puree will have to be diluted with breast milk. Steaming the zucchini also takes about 10 minutes.

You cannot add salt and various spices while cooking vegetables.

It is important that the puree is not too thick, because it is easier for the baby to cope with a more familiar consistency

Preparing zucchini puree is not difficult for a young mother. After you have boiled the vegetable, you need to chop it. For these purposes, either a fine grater or a blender is suitable. Next, to prepare the puree, add the broth that formed during cooking to the chopped zucchini, or breast milk to the required consistency.

The puree should not be too thick, but you shouldn’t make it too liquid either. The juice is prepared in the same way, only more liquid is added. How much liquid do you need? For approximately 100 g of product, 0.5 liters of liquid (broth or breast milk).

Before freezing, zucchini should be washed and dried thoroughly.

Unfortunately, fresh zucchini can only be purchased from us in summer time. But kids also demand healthy food and on winter days. In order to provide the baby with vitamins in winter, zucchini must be frozen. However, this must be done correctly.

For these purposes, it is best to use small young zucchini. They must be washed under running water, peeled and cut into small pieces. Wait until they are dry from the water, place them in a plastic bag and then in the freezer.

This way you can make vitamin puree for your baby and cook healthy juices not only in summer, but also in winter!