Beet
- First taste
- 6 months
- Choking risk
- low
- Common allergen
- no
- Iron
- low
May turn poop and urine red
When can babies eat beet?
Beet can be served around 6 months, once baby is ready.
Beet is native to the Mediterranean coast. It comes from a wild plant whose leaves are also eaten. It is a bulbous, colorful root vegetable. It is eaten raw, cooked or preserved.
Nutrition
Beets of every color give carbohydrate, fiber and fluid. Folate, potassium, vitamin C, and zinc are in them, along with some iron. These nutrients give energy for moving and exploring, support digestion and keep the body hydrated. These nutrients play a part in the brain's growth, the balance of electrolytes, absorbing iron, and defending against illness.
How do you prepare beet for babies?
Cooking beets takes quite a while. To save time, buy them pre-cooked, canned or packaged.
Because beets are fibrous, gut bacteria may cause some gas and brief digestive discomfort as they work on the fiber. When fibrous foods come often, in portions baby handles well, digestion adjusts over time. Some gas is normal. Red poop after beets is normal too.
Preparation by age
The same food is served differently at each age. What matters is how your baby sits, grasps and chews, more than the calendar.
6 months
6 months · How to prepare as a puréemash
Cook the beet until it mashes easily between your fingers, then peel it. A beet larger than baby's mouth can go on the tray whole or cut in half. Mash small beets. Red poop and urine are normal. Raw or undercooked beet is firm and slippery, so it is not served.
9 months
9 months · How to cut and serveslice
Serve peeled, well-cooked beet in flat slices. Once the pincer grasp has developed, you can try thin bite-sized pieces or grated raw beet. It is also fine to keep offering whole or halved cooked beet so baby learns to judge bite size.
12 months
12 months · How to cut and servecube
Cut: Bite sized piece
Serve beet cooked until soft, cut into bite-sized pieces. From here on, cooked chunks or grated raw beet can go into salads, warm cereals or stews. Soft beet is good for fork practice. Preload the fork when needed.
Is beet a choking hazard for babies?
Choking risk: low
Raw or undercooked beet is very firm and slippery. Cook it until fully soft and peel it. Offer raw beet only grated.
Beet, especially when undercooked or raw, is very firm and slippery. These traits raise the choking risk. Cook and cut it as described in the age cards.
Safe setting
Seat baby upright and stay within arm's reach during meals.
Is beet a common allergen?
Beet is not a common allergen. Beet allergy is rare. In theory, a person can be allergic to any food.
At the first try
Start with a tiny portion across the first several servings. If all is well, raise the amount slowly over later meals.
Key nutrients
Frequently asked questions about beet
Should I worry about nitrates in beets?
No. Serve nitrate-containing vegetables (arugula, beets, carrots, lettuce, spinach, squash) as part of a varied diet. Too much nitrate may affect oxygen in the blood. Babies who feed themselves rarely eat excessive amounts of solids. The benefits of vegetables outweigh this small risk.
Does beet turn poop red?
Yes. Red beet can turn poop and urine bright red. This is normal and harmless.
Does beet cause gas?
Being fibrous, it can cause a little gas. Add fiber-rich foods slowly and regularly. Digestion adapts with time.
Sources for this page
- Dünya Sağlık Örgütü. (2023). Guideline for complementary feeding of infants and young children 6-23 months of age.
- NHS. (n.d.). Preparing food safely for babies.
- CDC, Infant and Toddler Nutrition. (n.d.). Choking Hazards.
- Brkić D, Bošnir J, Bevardi M, Bošković AG, Miloš S, Lasić D, et al. (2017). NITRATE IN LEAFY GREEN VEGETABLES AND ESTIMATED INTAKE. African Journal of Traditional, Complementary and Alternative Medicines. doi:10.21010/ajtcam.v14i3.4
Guides on iron, allergen introduction, gagging and drinks. Read the starting solids guides
Medical note
This page is for information only and is not a substitute for medical advice, diagnosis or treatment. Talk to your pediatrician before any feeding decision, especially about allergen introduction and reactions.
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Astro Tasarım Simay Yenice · Türkiye · merhaba@lokmini.com