Often, young mothers refuse to eat healthy foods such as berries, fruits and nuts, for fear of harming the child. Such an unreasonable restriction leads to the fact that the diet of mothers becomes monotonous. What can be introduced into a young mother’s diet without doubt and what is the best way to do it?
The importance of proper nutrition during breastfeeding
The diet of a young mother during lactation should include foods rich in protein and vitamins. The fact is that the produced milk maintains a constant level of iron, calcium and other useful substances, which is compensated by the mother’s reserves, so their lack in a woman’s body is fraught with negative consequences.
The following measures will help balance your diet:
- consumption of protein foods;
- limiting the amount of sugar;
- organization of drinking regime (about 1.5 liters of liquid, including compotes and fruit drinks).
One of the main dietary requirements is to eat enough fruits and berries. What berries can you eat?
Cowberry
Beneficial features
Lingonberries during breastfeeding in acceptable quantities have a beneficial effect on the body:
- improves vision and functioning of internal organs;
- increases immunity, fights infections;
- prevents the development of anemia, normalizes blood composition;
- removes excess fluid from the body, eliminates constipation;
- improves general condition and psycho-emotional background, fights depression.
Can I have lingonberries while breastfeeding? Of course, yes, however, before doing so, it is better to familiarize yourself with some contraindications.
Contraindications
- low pressure;
- diseases of the housing and communal services in acute form, increased acidity of gastric juice;
- heart and kidney diseases;
- urolithiasis disease;
- in the postoperative period, due to the fact that it thins the blood.
You should choose soft fruits with elastic skin; they should be whole and dry. The berries are collected in the fall; lingonberry leaves are no less useful during breastfeeding - they are collected in April-May. The berry absorbs radioactive substances, so it is important to ensure that the product is environmentally friendly.
When dry, it is stored in small linen bags that need to be ventilated periodically. Nutrients are perfectly preserved when frozen, and fresh lingonberries are stored in wooden containers. The duration of storage of a fresh product depends on the ambient temperature: at 3-5 degrees above zero, it does not lose its properties for up to 3 months, and at room temperature it is stored for no more than 10 days.
How to include in the diet during breastfeeding
Can a nursing mother eat lingonberries immediately after giving birth? No, it is better to do this in 4 weeks. In the first days, 2-4 berries are added to tea or compote, then gradually the amount increases to two handfuls per day. If negative reactions are detected, then the introduction to the diet should be stopped.
It is known that lingonberry tea or fruit juice increases lactation, but there is no need to overdo it: 1-2 cups of this drink a day is quite enough.
It is best to eat the berries fresh, so they retain the maximum amount of nutrients. Lingonberries are used to prepare compotes, fruit drinks, fresh juices; some chefs supplement soups with lingonberry seasoning.
During breastfeeding, lingonberry berries and leaves are used to prepare vegetable salads; the leaves make aromatic tea.
Healthy lingonberry recipes for nursing mothers
Morse
Lingonberry juice during breastfeeding will provide the body with all the necessary microelements.
It is prepared as follows:
- A glass of berries is filled with a liter of water.
- Bring to a boil, remove from heat.
- Add fructose, wrap the container warmly and leave for 2 hours.
Tea
Cooking steps:
- Grind 1 spoon of dry leaves.
- Pour two glasses of boiling water over them (you can use a thermos).
- Leave for at least 30 minutes.
Blueberry
Beneficial features
Blueberries are no less useful during breastfeeding and have the following effects on the body:
- improves immunity, restores strength;
- stabilizes metabolism;
- stimulates brain function;
- thins the blood, preventing heart and vascular diseases;
- useful for skin diseases;
- improves visual acuity;
- renews and rejuvenates the body.
Contraindications
Can a nursing mother eat blueberries? This is a question that interests many. It should be noted that this berry contains substances that can cause allergies, so its consumption should be treated with caution.
If you have the following ailments, taking the berry is not recommended:
- intestinal obstruction, constipation;
- low blood clotting;
- increased acidity and acute housing and communal diseases.
How to include in the diet during breastfeeding
You can start eating blueberries during breastfeeding 2-3 months after birth, after the baby’s intestines have adapted to new conditions. To begin with, it is better to limit yourself to consuming 2-3 berries in the first half of the day in order to observe the baby’s reaction during the remaining time.
If there is redness on the baby's body, a runny nose or cough, you should avoid berries for a while.
In what form can it be used?
Is it possible to eat blueberries while breastfeeding? Of course, well, in what form is it advisable to eat them?
In any way: fresh, dried or baked. Dry fruits, by the way, retain their beneficial properties and very rarely cause allergies. You can make compote from frozen berries; Blueberry jam is allowed during breastfeeding, but not often. Well, if you want to enjoy something tasty and healthy, you can make blueberry jelly.
Raspberries
This berry is rich in vitamins A, B, C, E, PP, potassium, calcium, iron, copper, but can a nursing mother eat raspberries?
Beneficial features
Raspberries during breastfeeding are not only tasty, but also healthy. It is effective against colds, coughs, improves immunity, reduces fever and has the following effects on the body:
- calms, relieves fatigue;
- regulates hematopoiesis, prevents anemia;
- strengthens blood vessels;
- has a positive effect on hormonal levels;
- removes excess moisture from the body, improves kidney function;
- stops vomiting or diarrhea.
Contraindications
The main criterion that determines whether raspberries can be consumed while breastfeeding is the presence of an allergy to the product. Also, you need to pay attention to the fact that the berry contains an impressive amount of sugar and purines, so it can be harmful for diabetes mellitus.
Raspberries during lactation are unacceptable if a woman suffers from a chronic ulcer or gastritis; it can be dangerous in case of kidney disease or gout.
How to choose and store correctly
Whether you can eat raspberries while breastfeeding largely depends on the quality of the product. So, it is better to refuse to buy berries if they are dented or have released juice. This is a perishable product, so if you consume berries that are not fresh, you can harm yourself and your child.
The best place where you can enjoy healthy berries is your own dacha or garden. Well, if they are not there, then it is better to buy berries at the markets in the morning. It is better to consume raspberries during breastfeeding than those varieties that grow in the area where you live.
Raspberries can be frozen or dried in the oven at a minimum temperature. Raspberry tea for breastfeeding, made from dried or frozen fruits, will be especially beneficial.
How to include in the diet during breastfeeding
Young mothers who are wondering whether raspberries can be consumed during breastfeeding need to know the rules for introducing the product into the diet.
This is done 3 months after birth, just like in previous cases, 2-3 berries will be enough to start with. In case of allergic reactions, you should stop consuming berries and consult a doctor. The daily intake of raspberries is about 50 grams, which is approximately 3 tablespoons.
In what form can it be used?
Raspberries are useful not only in their fresh form: they can be used to make compote, fruit drink, preserves, marmalade or jam. Tea made from dried raspberries helps fight cold symptoms; you can add not only fruits, but also plant branches to the decoction. You should avoid store-bought teas; they usually contain flavorings and preservatives that are harmful to health. Raspberries are also used in cosmetology: masks prepared at home rejuvenate, whiten, and tone the skin.
Eating berries in unlimited quantities can cause allergies in a child, but a handful of vitamin-rich treats will be incredibly useful for both baby and mother.
Video
From our video you will learn how to prepare a healthy vitamin cocktail from berries.
This version of vitamin preparation for the winter is distinguished by its bright color, pleasant aroma and delicate taste (with a slight sourness). Thanks to the simple manufacturing process, even the youngest and most inexperienced cook can master raw jam.
Blueberry-raspberry jam is simply a real storehouse of vitamins, so you can easily prepare such sweetness for future use. Bright fruits retain their beneficial and taste qualities as much as possible, so this recipe is an excellent option to saturate your body with useful substances in the winter.
Grated raspberries and blueberries with sugar can be consumed as an independent dessert, served with a few scoops of creamy ice cream, or poured over pancakes or cottage cheese. This jam will be especially relevant during the period of colds, because... the combination of blueberries and raspberries perfectly boosts the immune system, fights colds, sore throats and is a mild antipyretic. From raw confiture you can cook compote, jelly, make various soft drinks and jelly desserts. The main principle of creating such sweets is to use only clean dishes to avoid the ingress of harmful microorganisms.
Taste Info Jam and marmalade
Ingredients
- 500 grams of blueberries and raspberries;
- 1200 grams of sugar.
How to make jam from grated raspberries and blueberries with sugar
If you use raspberries from your own garden, you don’t have to wash them, as long as you are sure they are clean and fresh.
If you use store-bought raspberries, it is better to wash them and then dry them.
Blueberries need to be sorted, leaves and twigs removed, washed in several waters, and spoiled berries and debris removed. First, I rinse the berries in a large bowl, then drain the water through a colander.
Place clean and dry raspberries into the bowl of a kitchen blender. 
Add fragrant blueberries. 
Mix the ingredients until they acquire the texture of a puree.
Pour the resulting mixture into a glass bowl. 
Pour the required amount of refined sugar into the container. We carefully observe the proportions of the ingredients, since the quality of the dessert depends on this, because the sweetener in this dish acts as a preservative. 
Mix the sweet mass and leave it for 3-4 hours (so that the sugar dissolves). 
Place the blueberry-raspberry “live” jam in a preheated clean glass container, seal it with a lid and put it in a cool place for storage (refrigerator or cellar). 
We use it at our discretion for 5-6 months. This jam can be used in pies, added to tea, made into drinks, and also eaten with your favorite cookies. 
Berries are a universal product: they can be eaten fresh or stored for future use, dried, prepared into preserves, jellies, preserves, compotes, wines, sauces, tinctures and liqueurs, used as a filling for pies and much more.
For most of us, berries mean summer, sun, forest or garden. But the most important thing is always tasty and healthy! Therefore, at the height of the season, caring parents do not miss the opportunity to treat their children with fresh gifts of nature. The substances contained in berries are irreplaceable in our diet and simply necessary for a growing child's body. We have already written in detail about the queen of the garden - strawberries, so now we will talk about other equally useful and favorite berries.
Honeysuckle
Keeps up: the beginning of June
Honeysuckle is a product with excellent taste and healing qualities, which has a rich vitamin and mineral composition and a whole range of beneficial properties. The fruit contains vitamins B, C, P, A, fructose, glucose, organic acids, large amounts of phosphorus, magnesium and calcium, potassium and aluminum, iodine, copper and manganese, as well as many other useful substances.
Regular consumption of honeysuckle lowers blood pressure and relieves headaches caused by it. Honeysuckle does not lose its medicinal qualities even after short heat treatment. Including fruits in the diet increases the secretion of gastric juice, strengthens the walls of blood vessels and even removes heavy metal salts from the body. One cup of freshly picked or frozen berries contains the daily value of iron and B vitamins.
This berry has no contraindications, but excessive consumption can cause an allergic reaction and stomach upset in children.
Strawberries
Keeps up: mid June
Doctors and nutritionists recommend eating strawberries for metabolic disorders, gastritis and peptic ulcers, hypertension, atherosclerosis and other chronic diseases. Fragrant berries are very rich in vitamins: A, PP, group B, C, E, H, as well as beta-carotenes. The mineral composition is also varied. Strawberries contain potassium, calcium, magnesium, sodium, chlorine, sulfur, iron, zinc, copper, boron, fluorine, manganese, molybdenum, iodine and organic acids. In terms of vitamin E content, strawberries are record holders compared to other berries and fruits. Regular consumption of strawberries during their ripening season helps preserve beauty and youth. Antioxidants in its composition remove free radicals from the body, which cause premature aging.
Infusions and berries are used as a general tonic that stimulates the process of hematopoiesis.
Cherries
Keeps up: May June
This is one of the sweetest berries. Both adults and children love her. Regular consumption of this dessert in the morning can protect the body from stress. Cherries contain potassium, calcium, manganese, magnesium, iron, copper, iodine, phosphorus, vitamins C, K, B1, B3, B6, E and PP.
This berry is recommended for people suffering from hypertension and atherosclerosis; it is also useful for anemia. Cherry stimulates the functioning of the kidneys, liver, and intestines. Its regular use cleanses the blood and removes harmful substances from the body. Cherries are useful for pregnant and lactating women, as well as children. Choose fruits with a stalk - its condition will tell about the quality of the berries. If the stalk is green, the cherries are fresh and tasty; if they are brown, the berries are overripe and will quickly spoil.
Raspberries
Keeps up: July
Raspberries are known for their diaphoretic properties and the ability to reduce fever during colds thanks to salicylic acid in its composition. It is also useful for anemia, diseases of the gastrointestinal tract, atherosclerosis, kidney diseases and even hypertension. Phytoncides are destructive to Staphylococcus aureus, yeast spores and other pathogenic microflora. Regular consumption of raspberries has a beneficial effect on skin color and tone. Copper is included in most antidepressants, so raspberries are useful for people prone to stress. Unlike many other berries, raspberries do not lose their healing properties even after heat treatment.
Cherry
Keeps up: July
Cherry is one of the most famous, tasty and healthy berries. It contains vitamins A, C, E, H, PP, group B, pectins, organic acids, starch, natural sugars, carbohydrates; minerals: calcium, magnesium, sodium, potassium, phosphorus, chlorine, sulfur, iron, zinc, iodine, copper, manganese, chromium, fluorine, molybdenum, boron, cobalt, nickel and some others.
The fruits also contain high levels of folic acid, so pregnant women simply need to consume them.
Due to their antioxidant activity, natural dyes in berries not only strengthen capillaries and prevent premature cell aging, but also reduce high blood pressure. Vitamins and minerals are involved in the process of hematopoiesis, improve the activity of the central nervous system and brain.
Black currant
Keeps up: July
Black currant fruits are rich in vitamins, microelements and other biologically active compounds, sugars, organic acids, pectin, tannins, and coloring substances. The berries contain a lot of fiber, vitamins E and K. But the main advantage of currants is the ability to increase immunity.
Fruits and leaves are a valuable source of vitamin C. Green fruits are richest in it; as they ripen, this indicator decreases. The berries also contain other vitamins, but in small quantities - B1, B2, PP, B6, folic and pantothenic acids.
Like all fruits with a rich color, currants can cause an allergic reaction - especially in children, although in reasonable quantities they will only benefit.
Blueberry
Keeps up: July
Blueberries are best known for their eye-healthy properties. However, she also has other qualities. The main wealth of blueberries is their antioxidants. It is also rich in potassium, calcium, phosphorus, magnesium, organic acids, sodium, copper, iron and other minerals. It contains vitamins: C, B1, B6, PP and pantothenic acid. In addition, the berries contain pectins that can remove toxins and heavy metal salts from the body.
Regular consumption of blueberries is a good prevention of diseases of the cardiovascular system. And these berries help preserve vision by strengthening the blood vessels on the back surface of the eyes. Blueberries are used as a rejuvenating agent, improve memory, prevent infectious diseases and maintain normal weight.
Gooseberry
Keeps up: second half of July
Gooseberries are useful for anemia, for healing the intestines, and stimulating bile secretion. Juice from ripe berries normalizes metabolism, has mild laxative, diuretic and choleretic properties. Its use helps remove heavy metal salts and even radionuclides from the body.
Gooseberries are also useful for pregnant women. It provides prevention of anemia, prevents kidney disease and helps the body replenish vitamin and mineral composition. Fresh gooseberries and compotes are very useful for children. These berries are practically not capable of causing allergies.
Blueberry
Keeps up: end of July
Blueberries, the sister of blueberries, ripen a little later.
Blueberries contain vitamins B1, B2, PP, C, A, P, calcium, phosphorus, iron, phenolic compounds, sugars, organic acids, fiber, tannins, coloring and pectin substances. This berry is very good for health. Blueberries increase concentration, have anti-inflammatory, anti-sclerotic, antipyretic and capillary-strengthening effects.
Blackberry
Keeps up: end of July
Blackberries contain a lot of vitamins and microelements. Among the main vitamins: B3, B1, B2, B9, E, K, PP. In terms of nicotinic acid (vitamin PP) content, blackberries are significantly ahead of other fruits and berries.
The presence of calcium in berries makes it a very useful product for those suffering from osteoporosis. In addition, blackberries contain a lot of iron, phosphorus, magnesium, manganese and copper.
Thanks to biologically active substances, blackberries strengthen capillaries and have anti-sclerotic and anti-inflammatory effects. Leaves and fruits are widely used in cosmetology and dermatology.
The berries are perfectly preserved in the refrigerator for 7-10 days.
Berries in a baby's diet
To ensure that your little one gets acquainted with berries without any problems, do it correctly. Do not forget that brightly colored fruits and berries contain a large amount of pigment. Lycopene (red pigment) and carotene (yellow-orange pigment) can cause allergic reactions not only in children with food allergies, but also in healthy babies (if consumed in excess).
For the first time, it is possible to enrich the complementary feeding of infants with some types of berries after 8-10 months. At this age, you can introduce blueberries, raspberries, currants, and sea buckthorn.
For children aged 1 to 3 years, 10-20 g of berries are recommended per day (in the absence of an allergic reaction). During the berry season, their volume can be increased to 40-50 g. For preschool children, 100-150 g of berries are recommended daily.
Industrially produced baby food products or fruits collected from your own garden (if you are sure that the soil is safe) are best suited for your baby’s diet. When buying berries at the market, you should ask the seller to show a certificate of radiological control.
During the harvest season, do not forget about winter supplies. To preserve all vitamins and microelements as much as possible, it is better to freeze the berries in small portions (at a time) or grind them with sugar. Then you can pamper your baby with a delicious and healthy dessert all year round.
Recipes
Blackcurrant Pie
For the test:
1.5 cups flour
2 tbsp. spoons of sugar
5 tbsp. tablespoons vegetable oil
6 tbsp. spoons of ice water
1 packet vanilla sugar
soda on the tip of a knife
a pinch of salt
For filling:
1 cup frozen blackcurrants
2-3 tbsp. spoons of sugar
1 tbsp. spoon of flour.
Sift a glass of flour into a bowl, add salt, sugar, vanilla sugar, water and vegetable oil. Stir, add the rest of the sifted flour and soda. Knead the elastic dough, wrap in film, put in the refrigerator for 1 hour. Add flour and sugar to the defrosted berries and mix. Turn on the oven at 180⁰, grease the pan with vegetable oil. Divide the dough into 2 unequal parts. Roll out most of it, place it in a mold, and form sides. Spread the filling on top. Roll out a smaller part of the dough, cover the pie, carefully bring the edges together, grease with vegetable oil, sprinkle with sugar, and make a small hole in the middle for steam to escape. Bake for 30-35 minutes, without overcooking the pie in the oven. Cool in the pan, then place the dessert on a plate.
magazine for parents “Raising a Child”, July-August 2013
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Of course, the baby should be given berry and fruit puree or compote as complementary foods. These are the main sources of vitamins. But this does not mean that you need to give your baby as many berries as possible. A child’s body simply cannot absorb excess vitamins. At best, the excess will come out in the urine, at worst, it will cause diarrhea and allergies will begin to develop.
When should berries be limited?
Many berries contain vitamin C; it perfectly improves immunity and helps avoid colds, but is not recommended for kidney diseases. If you consume too much vitamin C during such diseases, it will lead to the formation of kidney stones.
If there are problems with the child’s digestive system, berries can only be given in the form of jelly, compote, mousse or jelly, that is, after heat treatment. If your baby has a food allergy, then under no circumstances should you give strawberries, raspberries, wild strawberries, blueberries, blackberries, or blackcurrants as complementary foods. For babies with allergies, it is better to give complementary foods in the form of gooseberries and red currants.
The main rules of berry feeding
The main rules for feeding a baby with berries are as follows:
- Know when to stop and don’t overfeed your child with vitamins;
- At what age should a doctor tell you to introduce berries into your diet?
- If your baby has any problems with the digestive system, be sure to consult with your pediatrician before introducing berries into complementary foods;
- Feeding foods made from berries can cause intestinal infections. And even in a completely healthy baby. To avoid such troubles, the berries must be washed with clean water and then doused with boiling water.
Where is the best place to start?
Pediatricians recommend starting complementary foods with red or white currants, blueberries, and raspberries. But berries such as strawberries and wild strawberries can be given a little later, and it is better to make sure that the baby is not allergic to them. Berries can be given to children at least 6 months old.
You need to start introducing berries into complementary foods, like any other product, with very small portions - at the tip of a teaspoon. Gradually, the amount of berries in the diet can be increased, provided that the baby does not have problems with the digestive system and does not develop allergies.
When can you give berries?
Young parents often ask the question: at what age is it better to introduce berry complementary foods, and in what volume? From the age of six months, a portion of berry fruits can be 50 grams. By the age of one year, the portion is usually increased to 100 grams. They are given as a puree until the child learns to chew.
Don’t experiment, don’t give your baby several berries at once. Teach him to one type first. Moreover, if diathesis or allergies occur, otherwise it will be impossible to determine which product the body does not absorb.
Under no circumstances should children be given berries under five months. During the first months of life, the baby's stomach accepts exclusively mother's milk or a specialized formula well. If your baby is given berries early, the following unpleasant consequences may occur:
- disturbance of intestinal microflora;
- development of pathologies of the digestive system, the occurrence of inflammatory processes;
- disruption of the gallbladder;
- development of allergies, manifestation of diathesis.
Typically, six-month-old children enjoy eating dairy products with the addition of berries. For example, cottage cheese or yogurt. Add berry puree or juice. Do not add under any circumstances. The baby should try and love the natural taste.
How to cook?
If you decide to feed your child berries, then you should not prepare the berry dish in advance. Do it immediately before feeding your baby. The fact is that the vitamin C contained in them is oxidized under the influence of oxygen and loses its beneficial properties.
In addition to fresh berries or juices, a baby’s diet must contain fruits that have undergone heat treatment. Children usually like various compotes, mousses, jellies, and jelly. During cooking, a significant part of dietary fiber is lost, which benefits children with unstable stools.
Let's look at a few tips for properly preparing berry dishes for babies:
- Berries are placed only in boiling water, this way more beneficial minerals are preserved. The lid should always be closed during cooking. It is better not to use aluminum cookware for cooking;
- Do not overcook the fruits;
- You cannot store the prepared dish for a long time. It's better to eat it right away;
- It is better not to cook the berries, which are delicate in their structure, but to pour them with syrup or boiling water;
- The jelly should not be very thick. Use potato starch, not semi-finished jelly;
- Edible gelatin should be used for the jelly base. Berry juices are added to it.
Mousse is a jelly mass whipped into foam.
Useful berry properties
The variety of berries is great. It is always difficult to decide at how many months which fruits are best to give to a child. To choose, you need to understand the beneficial properties of berries.
Raspberries
Raspberries have healing properties and contain large amounts of vitamin C, as well as calcium and carotene, necessary for a growing body. It can be introduced into a child’s diet from six months. Raspberries are often used to prevent or treat colds. Experts recommend consuming it fresh or as berry puree in case of intestinal dysfunction. For the winter you can make jam or compote. Many people add raspberry leaves to herbal teas. There are contraindications only when the child has only individual fetal intolerance or allergies.
Black currant
Like raspberries, currants are very common and have a wide range of beneficial properties. It contains vitamins A, B, C. Moreover, they are perfectly preserved even in preparations for the winter, such as compote, preserves, jam. It can be dried for the winter, and the dried leaves of the plant can be added to. Berries are prohibited for infants who have food allergies.
Red Ribes
Red currants contain slightly less vitamins than black currants, but they do not cause allergic reactions in children and generally have no contraindications for consumption. Therefore, pediatricians allow it to be introduced into the baby’s menu from the age of five months. Currant juice has a unique property - it makes excellent jelly without the addition of edible gelatin. You can make compote, puree, jelly, and fruit juice from currants.
Strawberry
Strawberries most often cause allergies in infants; you need to be careful with complementary foods made from these berries. The fruits contain a large number of different vitamins and acids. Strawberries can be given to children fresh in small pieces or as a puree.
The berry has a beneficial effect on the baby’s digestive system and increases appetite. Strawberries are recommended as a diuretic, as well as for babies with diabetes from the age of six months. Strawberries perfectly fight various intestinal infections and restore microflora.
Gooseberry
Gooseberries are rich in fiber, pectin, acids and minerals. The fruits are used to make compote or preserve juice, jelly and jam. Usually gooseberries do not cause allergies in children.
Cranberry
Cranberry is the richest berry in vitamin C. The acids contained in it easily “kill” dangerous bacteria. Cranberries can be stored frozen; they do not lose their beneficial properties. You can make fruit drink, juice, jelly, compote, or make puree from the berries. Cranberry helps a child’s body cope with infectious diseases, but often it causes allergies.
Blueberry
Blueberries have anti-inflammatory properties and are recommended for children to normalize the functioning of the digestive system. You can make complementary foods in the form of puree or cook compote from the berries. But doctors do not recommend giving blueberries to a child if he has food allergies.
Strawberries
Fragrant strawberries, like strawberries, are rich in beneficial minerals and acids. Children are recommended to give berries fresh, as puree or to cook compote. Strawberry leaves are added to herbal infusions. These leaves have diuretic properties. Like other berries rich in vitamin C, strawberries should be introduced into complementary foods carefully; they are not recommended for babies with allergies.
Cherry
Among the non-allergenic and healthy berries is also cherry. Children can be given fresh berries after removing the seeds. The only limitation: if the child suffers from constipation, then feeding cherries will have to be postponed a little.
Berry preparations
The most useful thing, of course, is to eat fresh berries. But when winter comes, babies also need vitamins and beneficial microelements. The question arises, what type of berries is better to choose for the winter season. The most effective way is to freeze the fruit. Strawberries, currants and raspberries are best suited for freezing. Berries for the winter need to be prepared correctly so that they do not lose all their beneficial properties.
For high-quality freezing there are several simple rules:
- Select juicy but not overripe berries;
- Remove leaves and stalks;
- Rinse the fruits thoroughly and dry;
- Store in a plastic container.
In winter, you can cook compote or make puree from frozen berries. Strawberries can simply be thawed and given to children as complementary foods, provided that there are no allergies. For comparison: berries prepared as compote or ground with sugar retain only 30% of their beneficial properties, while frozen berries retain up to 70%.
When choosing the first complementary food, it is worth remembering that the child’s digestive system is still developing and its health depends precisely on the food that you give to your baby.
