At what age can children be given cranberries?

Cranberries are one of the most beneficial berries in helping to fight or prevent a variety of diseases. But in order for the kids to get only benefit from it, such a berry should be introduced into their diet correctly.

Benefit

It is a source of many vitamins, among which there are vitamins E, C, groups B, K, PP, A.
The berries contain a lot of phosphorus, iron, potassium, and calcium.
Its use helps to strengthen the defenses of the child's body, preventing colds.
Beneficial at high temperatures as it has diaphoretic and detoxifying properties.
The presence of natural phenols in the composition determines its bactericidal effect.
She has a diuretic effect, so this berry is recommended for diseases of the urinary tract, including bacterial infections.
Due to the large amount of pectins, its use contributes to the elimination of radioactive compounds and other toxic substances from the body.
The pectins in cranberries also have a positive effect on digestion.
Fruit drink or jelly from such a berry has the ability to quickly quench your thirst.
The berry has an astringent effect, so it helps with diarrhea.

Cranberries can turn into poison if not properly cooked. How exactly - see the video.

Watch Live Healthy to learn when to use it.

Minuses

Contraindicated in liver diseases, as well as in peptic ulcer and gastritis with high acidity.
Consumption in large quantities can damage the enamel of the teeth.
Some children have an allergic reaction.

At what age can you introduce into complementary foods?

The introduction of cranberries, like other berries, into the children's diet is performed after the baby gets used to vegetable purees and cereals. This often occurs from 6 months of age in formula-fed babies and from 7.5 months in breast-fed babies. If the crumbs have a tendency to allergies, they postpone the acquaintance with cranberries until the age of one year.

How to give?

Children under one year old are given cranberries only in thermally processed form... The berries are dipped in boiling water for a minute or steamed for 2-3 minutes. Then a few berries are rubbed and added to fruit or vegetable purees. Also, fruit drinks, compotes, juices and jelly are made from it for children.

This berry is included in the child's weekly diet 1-2 times. At the age of 1-3 years, the optimal portion is 10-20 g of cranberries per day. Fresh berries are offered to the baby from the age of 3. The child can eat cranberries with sugar or use them in drinks, smoothies, or desserts.

How to make fruit drink?

For 500 g of cranberries, you will need about 1500 ml of water. Juice is squeezed out of the washed berries and set aside, and the remaining pomace is poured with water, after which it is brought to a boil. Add sugar to the broth to taste, let it boil again and filter. After cooling, it is mixed with previously squeezed juice. To determine the maximum daily portion of such cranberry juice, you need to multiply the child's age in months by 10 ml.

How to make jelly?

Take 4 tablespoons of cranberries, rinse and pour over boiling water, then mash with a spoon.
Boil 2 cups of water separately, cool a quarter cup and stir 2 teaspoons of starch in this water.
Combine the remaining water with mashed cranberries, bring to a boil and strain.
Add 2 tablespoons of sugar to the cranberry broth and pour in the diluted starch.
After putting the drink on fire, stir constantly until it thickens.

Tips for choosing

It is best to buy cranberries in the fall, as this is its ripening season. Choose firm berries of bright color without damage. Avoid buying overly soft or shriveled berries.

Storage

Fresh berries should be stored in a refrigerator in an open container for no longer than a week.

How to prepare for the winter?

To prepare healthy meals and drinks with cranberries for your baby in winter, you can:

To freeze. The cranberries are not washed, but only cleaned of visible debris, and then sent to the freezer.
Dry. After several hours of drying in the sun, the berries are placed in a special dryer or oven.
Grind with sugar 1: 1. So it can be stored in a sealed jar in the refrigerator.
Keep in the refrigerator by pouring water or syrup over the berries. This method of harvesting is only suitable for cranberries, which were harvested before the first frost.

What to do if you have an allergy?

If the first samples of cranberries ended in the appearance of a rash, redness, nausea, swelling in the face, a runny nose and other signs of intolerance, the berry is immediately excluded from the child's diet. Having consulted a doctor, the child is given an antihistamine prescribed by the doctor. Trying to reintroduce complementary foods is advised not earlier than a year.