Broccoli Puree for Babies: Recipe and Benefits

Broccoli puree provides babies with a significant amount of antioxidant substances, thus improving their health. Learn more!

Broccoli puree allows a large amount of phytochemicals with antioxidant capacities to be included in the diet of babies. These elements have been shown to improve the functioning of the body and reduce the risk of developing complex pathologies in the future. Therefore, it’s essential that they be ingested daily and from the early stages of life.

Before delving into the subject, it’s key to highlight the importance of guaranteeing the consumption of vegetables in little ones. From the age of 6 months, this type of product can be offered, and the sooner children get used to them, the less rejection they’ll experience.

Ingredients for the broccoli porridge

To prepare a wonderful broccoli porridge, you only need the following ingredients:

• 4 pieces of broccoli
• Between 1/2 and 1 cup of filtered water

There’s also the option of complementing the preparation with breast milk or with a couple of scoops of formula. This way, the nutritional density of the final product improves, which helps to cover daily energy requirements.

If it’s only made with water, the dish is still a good source of phytochemicals, something that your child needs in their diet. However, it’s a slightly more scarce version from the point of view of macronutrients.

Step-by-step instructions

Start by cutting the broccoli into medium pieces. Once ready, place them in a saucepan with boiling water and cooked for at least 5 minutes, until they acquire a tender and soft texture.

Then, you have to remove the broccoli and place it inside a food processor, along with the cooking water. Blend everything well until you get a smooth puree.

In the event that the final result is too thick, you should add a little more liquid, be it water, breast milk, or baby formula.

Once the puree is ready, you can serve it or save it for later. It can be kept refrigerated for a few hours before consuming, without this affecting its properties.

The benefits of broccoli puree

As we’ve mentioned, the consumption of broccoli puree and its inclusion in the context of a balanced and varied diet offers several benefits to the health of infants.

First of all, we’re talking about a vegetable that provides a series of phytochemicals with antioxidant capacities. These neutralize the formation of free radicals and their subsequent accumulation in the body’s tissues.

This mechanism is related to a lower risk of developing chronic and complex pathologies. As an example, we can mention cardiovascular diseases, diabetes, or even cancer. This is evidenced by research published in the European Journal of Medicinal Chemistry.

At the same time, it’s important to emphasize the fiber content of broccoli and cruciferous vegetables in general. We’re talking about a substance that can help clean the digestive tract and prevent harmful elements from sticking to its walls. This effect is related to protection against the development of colon cancer, according to a study published in the International Journal of Food Sciences and Nutrition.

Of course, in the case of any intestinal-type inflammatory disease, it’s key to modulate the supply of fiber to avoid excessive fermentation and an increase in symptoms. For this reason, in the face of this condition, it’s best to first consult a specialist before introducing the ingredient.

Prepare baby broccoli puree in a simple way

As you’ve seen, preparing baby broccoli puree is really simple. It’s a simple preparation, but it provides a significant amount of antioxidant compounds and essential micronutrients, such as vitamins and minerals. Its inclusion in the diet of the little ones is recommended by specialists.

To finish, remember that there are multiple possibilities when making puree for babies. It’s a good idea to alternate them to achieve optimal nutritional intake and avoid deficits in a key stage of development. On our site, you’ll find hundreds of healthy and delicious recipes!