Broccoli for babies can be a fun new vegetable to feed. This nutrient packed veggie is packed with nutrients and super versatile for new eaters.
This easy to prepare veggies si great for serving to your baby. When cooked, broccoli is soft and offers a fun texture, perfect for littles without (or with) teeth!
It’s also perfect for serving to the whole family, just reserve some without the seasoning for baby.
Benefits of broccoli for babies
When starting solids with your little, we’re looking for something that is perfectly soft when prepared and enticing to babies.
- Being a member of the cruciferous vegetable family, it’s packed with antioxidant.
- Packed with calcium for stronger bones.
- Essential vitamins like A, K, C, phosphorus, and potassium.
How to prepare and serve broccoli for a baby
Broccoli si an easy to prep veggie. Get those exposures to the vegetable in while you can, before your kiddos picky eater tendencies kick in.
Puree
BLW is not an end all be all. Veggie purees are easy option for those just starting solids. Some argue purees vs baby led weaning, but I believe there’s a place for each.
Steam your broccoli (this is a great use for frozen!) until very soft and then add to a blender. Blend until smooth.
A little liquid or breastmilk can be added if you need to thin it out.
We love offering purees with preloaded spoons!
Mashed
While broccoli doesn’t mash as smooth as sweet potato for babies, it’s a good option for littles.
Steam your veggie and then gently mash with a fork.
A bit of texture is fine, but avoid any big chunks if giving to a baby 6-9 months.
Feed to baby on the tray, allowing them to use their hand and fingers to pick up and feed themselves. Alternately, give baby preloaded spoons with the squash mush.
Whole
Broccoli is perfect for serving as whole, becuase it easily cuts into sticks for little hands.
Cut your broccoli with about 1-2 inches of the stem and a bit of florets on top. This is a great handle for babies.
Steam well, cool, and serve.
We also enjoy roasting using my favorite roasted broccoli recipe with lemon and garlic. Just omit the parm and salt for baby.
Read this post to learn about how to cut food for baby led weaning.
Diced/Cut Up
Cutting them can be a great option to hone baby’s pincer grip. Instead of cutting into mini stalks, take it and chop into pieces 1/2 inches or smaller.
This is expecially fun for the top florets
Leave a Reply