How To Safely Serve Broccoli to Babies & Toddlers
Written by: Celeidh Cook | October 29th 2024 | Time to Read: 5 Minutes
How to safely serve broccoli to your baby but first, what's so good about broccoli?
As parents, we all know that getting our little ones to embrace vegetables can be a daunting task. The weaning journey is filled with challenges, but introducing nutritious greens to your baby's diet, such as broccoli, can make it a whole lot easier.
Broccoli is a nutrient-packed green vegetable which belongs to the same family as kale and cauliflower. It’s highly valued for its rich vitamins, including vitamins C and K, as well as fiber, which supports digestive health, and antioxidants, which help combat inflammation.
Broccoli boasts a nutritious stem that serves as a convenient handle for tiny hands, while its soft head is perfect for those exploring mouths.
Unlike sweeter veggies, broccoli offers a unique flavor and texture for your baby to discover. It perfectly blends into muffins and soups and can be served simply as side vegetable. This article explains how to safely serve broccoli as a side vegetable. Scroll to the bottom for specific broccoli recipes.
When should I buy broccoli?
In the UK, broccoli is normally harvested from June to November, peaking in late summer to early autumn.
For the best quality and flavour, buy UK-grown broccoli from July through October when it’s at its freshest and most nutrient-dense in local markets.
How to Cook Broccoli
To safely serve broccoli to babies, you have to also know how to safely cook broccoli.
We recommend that you start by steaming the broccoli, which preserves nutrients like Vitamin C while keeping the broccoli soft for easy chewing. Steam for 5-7 minutes until tender, then chop into baby-friendly pieces.
Boiling is another option that makes broccoli soft and easy to mash, ideal for early eaters. Boil for about 5 minutes, drain well to avoid sogginess, but note it may lose some nutrients.
Air frying or lightly pan-frying (without added salt or oils) can make broccoli slightly crispy, adding texture for older children (18 months +). Cook until soft inside to avoid choking hazards, making it a fun new taste.
How to Safely Serve Broccoli to Your Child at Different Ages
6-9 months:
During the initial phase of introducing solids, your baby will be curious and eager to explore. If you're practicing baby-led weaning, broccoli is an excellent choice.
You will want to make it easy for your baby to hold so that they can safely consume it. Cut larger florets close to the stem. Steam the broccoli until it's soft enough to squish between your thumb and forefinger.
Allow your baby to safely serve the broccoli to themselves and practice their fine motor skills of bringing the broccoli to their mouths.
9-12 months:
As your baby develops their pincher-like grasp, you can safely serve smaller florets. If your baby struggles with these smaller pieces, mix them with larger florets initially to help them adapt.
As your baby navigates self feeding, you may be nervous about gagging and choking. In baby-led weaning, gagging and choking are distinct: gagging is a natural reflex that helps babies learn to manage food, often resulting in coughing or noises as they move food forward in their mouths.
Choking, however, is silent and dangerous, requiring immediate intervention. Supervision and learning first-aid are essential.
12-18 months:
At this stage, your baby may be using or learning to use cutlery. Chop steamed broccoli into little chunks. These small chunks encourage your baby to practice using a spoon or fork, while they can still use their hands if needed.
Wondering when your child might be ready for cutlery?
Children can be introduced to cutlery around 10-12 months, as they begin developing hand-eye coordination and grip strength. Start with easy-to-hold, safe utensils like a soft-tipped spoon, encouraging them to scoop foods. By age 2-3, most children can practice using a fork and eventually a blunt knife.
18-24 months:
To further enhance your baby's cutlery skills, finely chop the steamed broccoli.
It's an excellent way to improve hand-eye coordination and cutlery abilities. You can also sprinkle this fine broccoli over various meals for added nutrition.
Once your little one becomes proficient at eating solids, you can serve whole pieces of broccoli. It can be a side dish, snack, or part of a meal.
If whole broccoli seems challenging, you can cut it into bite-sized pieces until your child is ready for the whole piece.
Watch our video on how to serve broccoli safely
Broccoli Recipes for little ones
Cauliflower, Broccoli and Cheese Fritters
Check out more tasty recipes on our YouTube Channel.
Check out this plate to serve Broccoli on
Important Note: Remember to always supervise your child while they're eating. The age ranges provided are general guidelines, but every child is different. Your baby will show signs when they're ready to progress to the next stage. If they struggle with eating broccoli, it might not be the right time for that style yet.
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