Today we stop at our review of vegetables in child feeding in cauliflower and broccoli or broccoli, two vegetables that by their characteristics are suitable for the diet of the baby from six months.
Both cauliflower and broccoli are from the Brassicaceae family, and for their beneficial nutritional properties, as well as for their ease of digestion are vegetables that, cooked cooked in the form of porridge or puree, can be part of the complementary diet.
Of course, as long as these vegetables do not produce gases that can disturb the baby, because if we notice that he has flatulence, his introduction could be delayed a few more months. In this sense, broccoli is softer than cauliflower.
We will know what are the nutritional properties of these two vegetables, as well as their way of preparing for complementary infant feeding.
Cauliflower in infant feeding
Cauliflower is a plant of the Botrytis Group of Brassica oleracea in the Brassicaceae family. Other species in this family are broccoli, cabbage, kohlrabi and Brussels sprouts.
As we have commented, cauliflower can produce gases, so it is sometimes convenient to delay this vegetable in the baby's feeding and wait for the digestive system to be a little more mature if we observe that the baby is uncomfortable.
But if it doesn't produce gas, Cauliflower is a very beneficial vegetable for babies They are starting their complementary feeding with solids, for their ease of digestion when boiled and their nutritional properties.
We must not confuse cauliflower with cabbage (it does not have the central part or white “flower”, but they are all leaves), which we will talk about soon included in vegetables from 12 months, since cabbage accumulates nitrates They can be harmful to the baby. But cauliflower, like broccoli, are vegetables with a very low nitrate content.
The main component of cauliflower is water and it is a food with little caloric intake since it has a low content of carbohydrates, proteins and fats.
It is considered a good source of dietary fiber, Vitamin B6, folic acid, Vitamin B5, as well as small amounts of other Vitamin B group (such as B1, B2 and B3), vitamin C and minerals (especially potassium, calcium and match). It does not contain cholesterol and has diuretic properties.
Broccoli in infant feeding
Broccoli, broccoli or broccoli (Brassica oleracea italica), from the Latin brachium (arm) is a plant of the Brasicaceae family. It is very similar to its close relative, cauliflower, but it is green.
It has a high content of vitamin C, vitamin B2, vitamin A, vitamin E and soluble food fiber. It also supplies significant amounts of minerals.
The nutritional value of broccoli per 100 grams of edible product is as follows: proteins (5.55 grams), calories (32 Kc.), Lipids (0.3 g.), Carbohydrates (4.86 g.), Vitamin A (3500 IU), Vitamin B1 (100 mg.), Vitamin B2 (210 mg.), Vitamin C (118 mg.), Calcium (130 mg.), Phosphorus (76 mg.), Iron (1.3 mg. ).
Like cauliflower, it can produce flatulence, so if we observe that it bothers the baby it can delay its introduction into the porridge later than six months.
Broccoli has a "practical" advantage over cauliflower when cooking, since its lower sulfur content does not give off that characteristic strong smell of cauliflower.
How to prepare cauliflower and broccoli
To prepare the baby puree we must choose fresh and good quality products. Do not overcook food and use small amounts of water so that vitamins and minerals are not lost. Like the rest of vegetables, they can also be steamed.
Both the cauliflower and the broccoli must remove the thickest and hardest parts of the trunk and boil exclusively the part of the "flower" and its small branches.
Do not add salt to the mash until one year of age, or other condiments, but you can add a teaspoon of raw olive oil to the porridge when the baby is going to take it.
It is convenient mix the vegetables such as broccoli and cauliflower with other suitable for the baby from six months, such as zucchini, potatoes, green beans ... Before making these combinations you must check that none of them are rejected by the baby, offering them for separated.
When mashing the mash, add enough water so that it has a smooth consistency, although little by little you have to keep larger pieces and let the baby take the cooked vegetables by hand and eat.
It is not convenient to reheat the mash from one time to another. What is not going to be consumed is better to remove it before and taste it in the fridge or freeze it if it is not going to be consumed in the next 24 hours.
Following all these tips we will achieve that Vegetables as healthy as cauliflower and broccoli are part of infant feeding since they start with solids.
