After six months exclusive breastfeeding, the mother’s creativity is challenged to provide healthy and tasty weaning foods for their babies. Mothers should be super creative to introduce the babies their first solid food because what the babies get during this stage is important to determine their eating habit in the future.
Pumpkin Soup for the Babies
Mothers should realize that introducing varieties of weaning foods to their baby is very essential and pumpkin is always becoming the easiest choice. The texture of pumpkin is perfect for babies and the flavour will teach the baby to learn how to taste sweet flavour. Not only that the nutrients contained in pumpkin is also excellent for babies.
Pumpkin
Serving Size: 100 gram
| Nutrients | Nutrient Value | % of RDA |
| Energy/Calories | 26 Kcal | 1% |
| Carbohydrate | 6.5 gram | 5% |
| Protein | 1 gram | 2% |
| Total Fat | 0.1 gram | 0.5% |
| Dietary Fiber | 0.5 gram | 2% |
| Vitamins | ||
| Folates | 16 µg | 4% |
| Niacin | 0.6 mg | 4% |
| Panthothenic Acid | 0.3 mg | 6% |
| Pyridoxine | 0.06 mg | 5% |
| Riboflavin | 0.1 mg | 8.5% |
| Thiamin | 0.05 mg | 4% |
| Vitamin A | 7384 IU | 246% |
| Vitamin C | 9 mg | 5% |
| Vitamin E | 1.06 mg | 7% |
| Vitamin K | 1.1 mcg | 1% |
| Electrolytes | ||
| Sodium | 1 mg | 0.5% |
| Potassium | 340 mg | 7% |
| Minerals | ||
| Calcium | 21 mg | 2% |
| Copper | 0.13 mg | 14% |
| Iron | 0.8 mg | 10% |
| Magnesium | 12 mg | 3% |
| Manganese | 0.13 mg | 0.5% |
| Phosphorus | 44 mg | 5% |
| Selenium | 0.3 mcg | <0.5% |
| Zinc | 0.32 mg | 3% |
The bright yellow colour of pumpkin is a strong indication that this fruit is packed with beta-carotene that could act as pro vitamin A which is great for vision. To learn more about the health benefits of pumpkin soup for babies the list below will tell you in details.
- Excellent Source of Basic Nutrients for Babies
From the list above you could see how complete the nutrients contained in pumpkin are. You could provide your babies with all the benefits of iron up to the benefits of vitamin K which is good for bones health.
- Pumpkin Is Rich of Dietary Fiber
The main health benefits of fiber contained in pumpkin could help babies fighting with constipation and improving their digestion health.
- Beta-Carotene for Vision Health
The health benefits of beta-carotene as pro vitamin A is good to maintain vision health especially for babies or infant during development stage.
- Vitamin B Complex for Brain Development
The nutritional facts mentioned above, you could see how significant the amount of vitamin B complex found in pumpkin. This type of vitamin is great for brain development and nerve system.
- Perfect Texture for Baby Tongue
Pumpkin has a perfect texture for baby tongue especially babies who are in the stage of learning to taste solid food.
- Natural Way to Teach Baby How to Taste Sweet Flavour
Serving pumpkin soup for babies without any additional flavouring like salt or sugar will teach baby to learn how to taste sweet flavour from pumpkin.
- Perfect Amounts of Calories
The calories amount found in pumpkin is perfect for babies because you should ensure that your babies get enough energy but not too much that could lead to the health risk of obesity.
- Carbohydrate Source
The health benefits of carbohydrate are essential for babies because carbohydrate is the source of energy strongly required not only for the active babies but also for their development.
- Packed with Antioxidants
The combinations of health benefits of vitamin E, vitamin A and vitamin C as well as beta-carotene are perfect blending of antioxidants to provide additional protection for their babies.
- Excellent Source of Vitamin C
The vitamin C benefits for babies are super essential because vitamin C will help optimizing the nutrient absorption and good for immunity system.
- Helps Babies Sleep Better
One of the amazing compounds you could find in pumpkin is tryptophan. It is one of the amino acids that have essential role in improving the sleep of baby. It is not only making baby sleeps better but the serotonin effect will calm the babies.
- Natural Immunity System Booster
Some of babies’ body systems are not perfect yet so they are prone to infection caused by virus, bacteria or worms. Vitamin C and antioxidants in pumpkin could act as immunity system booster to provide additional protection to the babies.
- Contains Anthelmintic Properties
Anthelmintic properties found in pumpkin has significant role in protecting babies from macroscopic organism including worms infection.
- Good for Baby Skin
Baby skin is very sensitive that is why mothers should provide additional protection to maintain the health of the baby skin. Pumpkin contains some essential vitamins and minerals that could maintain the health of baby skin and protect it from some skin conditions.
How to Cook Pumpkin Soup for Babies
After mothers know about the benefits of pumpkin soup for babies surely the next thing that mothers love to do is cooking it for the babies.
Pumpkin Soup Recipe
Ingredients:
- 3 cups of pumpkin (cut in cubes)
- 2 tablespoon butter (unsalted)
- ¼ cups of onions (chopped)
- 3 cups of water
- ¼ cups of cream
Instructions:
- Add butter to the pan and let it melt.
- And then add chopped onions and sauté them before you add pumpkin and continue to sauté if for a while.
- Add water and cook the pumpkin until tender.
- Drain the pumpkin from the stock but keep the stock aside and then let it cool.
- Blend the pumpkin with the stock until you get the right consistency.
- Put back the pumpkin to the pan and then add cream to the mixture.
- The pumpkin soup is ready to be served.
One important thing every mother should know when preparing weaning foods for the babies is for babies below 12 months is better to avoid the use salt, sugar, pepper or other herbs. If you should use butter choose the unsalted one. It is important for the babies to learn how to taste the original flavour of the foods. After 12 months mothers could do more experiments with the foods to add more flavour for the babies to learn to taste.