Broccoli is one of the healthiest vegetables. Great if he finds a place in your child's menu. But how do you introduce broccoli into your diet?
Broccoli is a significant product in the baby's diet. If your child is already six months old, feel free to introduce this healthy vegetable into his diet, because broccoli is easy to digest and does not cause allergies. As a rule, the first test of a new product for a child is carried out according to the standard recommendations of pediatrics: half a teaspoon of puree is given, and in the absence of negative reactions, the volume is brought to the age norm within a week.
After a new meal, you need to feed the baby with regular food, that is, breast milk or formula. To avoid complaints about the tummy due to increased gas production, do not give broccoli (and any vegetables, fruits) too often. You should always carefully monitor the child's reaction to new foods: his still imperfect digestive system may not be able to cope with their processing.
Why is broccoli so useful? This variety of cabbage contains vitamins that have a beneficial effect on the nervous system, beta-carotene - for vigilant eyes, and in terms of vitamin C content, broccoli is even ahead of citrus fruits. It is noteworthy that eating broccoli is an excellent prevention of gastric ulcer and oncological diseases due to the content of sulforaphane, an organic compound of plant origin that has anti-cancer and antibacterial effects.
In order not to deprive this product of all useful properties, follow simple rules of storage and preparation. This vegetable is best kept frozen. In a fresh state, broccoli will "last" for several days on the bottom shelf of the refrigerator. For a kid, this vegetable should be steamed or baked in the oven. It is better not to use a microwave oven at all - you will kill 85% of all nutrients. If you prefer boiled broccoli, do not overcook it to maximize the benefits of the product. Vitamins are partially destroyed during heat treatment, so it is advisable to cook the vegetable in a gentle mode. The cooking time for frozen broccoli should not exceed 10 minutes, fresh - 5-6 minutes.
Not all babies enjoy mashed vegetables from the first spoonful. But mom shouldn't be upset. If a child spits out a substance unfamiliar to him, this does not indicate his capricious disposition. It just takes a baby time to evaluate a new dish and get used to it. Do not “put pressure” on the kid, forcing him to eat this notorious spoonful of vegetable puree. Just postpone the "tasting" for a few days, and then repeat again.
