When can you give your child white cabbage?

Broccoli, Brussels sprouts and cauliflower are included in the children's menu even in the first year of life, but most mothers are afraid of white cabbage. Is it possible to introduce this vegetable into complementary foods for babies, how is it useful and how to cook it correctly for a child?

Benefit

This vegetable common in our latitude, which is well stored, contains useful vitamins and minerals, in particular, phosphorus, calcium, ascorbic acid and B vitamins.

In addition, it has other advantages:

It belongs to hypoallergenic products.
This is a low-calorie food that can be included in the diet of an overweight child.
When fresh, it stimulates the production of enzymes and intestinal motility.
Sauerkraut is rich in vitamins C, A and group B.

You can learn even more about the benefits from the program "Living Healthy".

Minuses

Due to the content of coarse fiber, it can irritate the gastrointestinal mucosa.
Eating large amounts leads to abdominal pain, flatulence and problems with stool.
Although rare, there may be allergies.
Sauerkraut contains vinegar, which can damage the baby's digestive tract.
Due to the increased content of histamine in sauerkraut, its use can lead to a pseudo-allergic reaction (signs of allergy appear).

At what age can you give?

White cabbage can be given to a child under one year old, but only after getting acquainted with other vegetables - zucchini, cauliflower, carrots, pumpkin, potatoes, broccoli and others. Adding white cabbage to vegetable dishes for a child is advised not earlier than 7-8 months of age.
Fresh, it can be included in the child's menu from 3 years old, provided that the baby does not have diseases of the digestive tract, for example, gastritis or pancreatitis. In addition, the child must chew food well enough for consumption.
The cabbage stump is considered junk food, since various harmful compounds accumulate in it during the ripening of the vegetable. For this reason, children should not be given a stump.
In fermented form, it is permissible in the diet of children over 3 years old, but in small quantities.

Introduction to the diet

To acquaint a child with white cabbage without harm to his health, you should add a little of this vegetable to a multicomponent puree and observe the reaction of the little one to this food. If the child has tolerated this product normally, the next time the amount in the puree can be increased slightly. If any symptoms of intolerance occur, the introduction of complementary foods should be postponed.

Cooking methods

Independent cabbage dishes for children under one year old are not prepared. The vegetable is added to mashed potatoes along with other types of cabbage, carrots and other vegetables, and mashed soup is also prepared. For children over a year old, you can cook stewed cabbage, as well as steamed cabbage meatballs, vegetable stews, cabbage rolls and other dishes. Kids over 3 years old can cook fresh salads, soups, casseroles and much more with her.

Tips for choosing

When buying white cabbage for a child, carefully examine the head of cabbage. Do not use vegetables with cracks, bruises, or flaking leaves. Buy a product with not thick leaves of a uniform color. The vegetable should be strong and firm to the touch.