“There is medicine in a spoon, poison in a cup.” This famous saying applies not only to medications, but also, in some way, to products. What can be beneficial in small doses will be harmful if abused.

The child's body is especially sensitive to various irritants. In the first years of life, you should be careful about the presence of cabbage in your diet, because it:

  1. When consumed in large quantities, it leads to abdominal pain, flatulence and problems with stool (both constipation and diarrhea).
  2. The coarse fiber contained in cabbage can irritate the mucous membrane of the gastrointestinal tract (GIT), which leads to abnormalities in the digestive system.
  3. May cause allergies. The risk of this problem is minimal, but it also cannot be excluded. And increased histamine levels can provoke a pseudo-allergic reaction when allergy symptoms occur.

When is it allowed to give?

We smoothly moved on to a very important question - at what age can a child be given this vegetable. Cabbage should appear in the diet of children no earlier than six months later. The optimal age is 5 months if the child is fed formula, and 6 months for those children whose mothers are breastfeeding.

It is better to start giving white cabbage to your child after cauliflower and Brussels sprouts.(approximately 7-8 months). You should also first “introduce” the child to other vegetables - zucchini, carrots, pumpkin, potatoes.

As for fresh cabbage, it can be introduced into the baby’s diet no earlier than 3 years. At the same time, the child should not have problems with the gastrointestinal tract (meaning diseases like gastritis and pancreatitis). It is also worth teaching your child to chew cabbage thoroughly without swallowing it in large pieces.

Important! Dedicated to cabbage stalk lovers. Children should absolutely not consume it, since various harmful compounds can accumulate in the cabbage stalk as the cabbage ripens.

Types of vegetables and the age at which you can start eating them

Broccoli

It is customary to start feeding a baby cabbage with broccoli for the first time. It is this representative that is the most harmless for the baby’s body. Such cabbage almost never causes colic or flatulence in a child. However, broccoli contains approximately 3 times more vitamin C and protein than white cabbage. Mothers should introduce their baby to this particular type of cabbage, and only then accustom him to others. But even in the case of this vegetable, you should not be zealous.

White cabbage

The most popular and widespread type of cabbage in our society. At what age are white cabbage given to children? As already mentioned, it cannot be introduced into the child’s diet until 7-8 months without first introducing other vegetables into the diet. White cabbage should first be used as an additive to vegetable puree made from other ingredients.

We have already said that white cabbage can cause flatulence and colic in babies, and sometimes allergies. Undoubtedly, there are also many benefits from consuming this variety. In particular, "classical" Cabbage contains a huge amount of vitamins and minerals, with vitamin U occupying a special place. It also contains fiber and pectins, and cabbage juice produces enzymes and improves intestinal motility, which promotes better digestion.

Brussels

Brussels sprouts should appear in a baby’s diet no earlier than 7 months of age. It should be introduced into the diet before the white cabbage, of which it is a close “relative”. Brussels sprouts are rich in ascorbic acid and riboflavin (vitamin B2). However, it also contains a lot of fiber, which may not have the best effect on the baby’s health and cause bloating.

Marine

Can children under one year old eat seaweed? Strictly speaking, this product is not a vegetable and is not cabbage at all. Sea kale is a food product made from the brown algae Laminaria. And it should appear in a child’s diet only when he reaches 3 years of age, but even then it should be given in limited doses.

Reference. Sea kale has a large number of beneficial properties, but it is difficult to digest by the body, and the digestive system of an infant and a one-year-old baby simply cannot cope with such a responsible job.

Seaweed is most prized for its high iodine content. It also contains many vitamins, minerals, organic acids and amino acids.

Pickled

Like seaweed, sauerkraut should appear in a child’s diet after 3 years. Sauerkraut is, first of all, high in vitamins B, A, ascorbic acid, and minerals. It also contains a lot of fiber and vegetable protein. At the same time, a lot of salt is used in its preparation, which is extremely undesirable for children. Sometimes vinegar is also used, which is contraindicated for children.

Useful and harmful properties

Benefit:

  • regulates intestinal activity;
  • increases the secretion of gastric juice, improves appetite;
  • rids the body of toxins, prevents the deposition of fats and cholesterol;
  • activates metabolic processes and blood flow;
  • strengthens blood vessels, promotes fluid outflow (relieves swelling);
  • contains a large number of vitamins of various groups, minerals, amino acids.

Harm:

  • may cause an allergic reaction;
  • if abused, bloating, colic, constipation or diarrhea may occur;
  • can irritate the gastrointestinal mucosa;
  • Sauerkraut contains a large amount of salt and sometimes vinegar, which is prohibited for children.

Allergy

Perhaps the main disadvantage of eating cabbage for children is the possibility of developing allergies. This happens quite rarely, but an allergic reaction cannot be ruled out.

Symptoms of a cabbage allergy may appear within minutes, after the child eats the vegetable, or maybe a few hours after the allergy sufferer ate cabbage.

Important! The release of histamine into the blood leads to swelling, tingling and itching in the mouth, tongue, lips and face. Swelling, redness and inflammation of the skin are also observed.

These symptoms may well develop into a skin rash and other, more serious skin lesions.

Typically, the symptoms of a cabbage allergy do not pose any particular health risks, but in rare cases, anaphylaxis, a reaction that is life-threatening, can occur.

Whatever the allergy symptoms, you should consult a doctor as soon as possible. Avoid self-medication!

To prevent a recurrence of the allergic reaction, first of all, of course, you should eliminate cabbage from your diet. In addition, it is recommended to do an allergen test. Many experts generally do not recommend doing this analysis before 3 years of age, since it is not very informative. However, there will be no harm to the baby, and therefore it’s worth a try.

After getting acquainted with the types and properties of cabbage, we can say with confidence that the benefits of its use by both children and adults are much greater than the harm. However, a child’s body may react to foods differently than an adult, so you should start feeding cabbage with caution. We wish you to confidently and easily go through the difficult path of introducing new products into your baby’s diet.

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Broccoli, Brussels sprouts and cauliflower are included in children's menus in the first year of life, but most mothers are afraid of white cabbage. Is it possible to introduce this vegetable into complementary feeding for a baby, how is it useful and how to properly prepare it for a child?

Benefit

You can learn even more about the benefits from the program “Live Healthy.”

Minuses

  • Due to the content of coarse fiber, it can irritate the gastrointestinal mucosa.
  • Consumption in large quantities leads to abdominal pain, flatulence and problems with stool.
  • Although rare, allergies can occur.
  • Sauerkraut contains vinegar, which can harm children'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 it be given?

  • White cabbage can be given to a child under one year old, but only after introducing him to other vegetables - zucchini, cauliflower, carrots, pumpkin, potatoes, broccoli and others. It is recommended to add white cabbage to vegetable dishes for a child no earlier than 7-8 months of age.
  • In fresh form, it can be included in the menu of a child 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 the food well enough to consume it.
  • The stalk is considered a harmful food, since various harmful compounds accumulate in it during the ripening of the vegetable. For this reason, children should not be given the stalk.
  • In fermented form, it is acceptable in the diet of children over 3 years old, but in small quantities.

Calculate your complementary feeding table

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Introduction to the diet

To introduce your child to white cabbage without harming his health, you should add a little of this vegetable to a multi-component puree and observe your little one’s reaction to this food. If the child tolerated this product well, 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 are not prepared for children under one year of age. The vegetable is added to puree along with other types of cabbage, carrots and other vegetables, and pureed soup is also prepared. Children over one year old can cook stewed cabbage, as well as steamed cabbage balls, vegetable stews, cabbage rolls and other dishes. For kids over 3 years old, fresh salads, soups, casseroles and much more are prepared with it.

Necessary products (for a 3-liter saucepan):

  • Brussels sprouts – 350-400 g;
  • broccoli – 300 g;
  • tomatoes – 500 g;
  • large carrots – 1 pc.;
  • sweet pepper - 2 large pods;
  • long grain rice – 100 g;
  • vegetable oil – 3-4 tbsp. l.;
  • parsley - several sprigs;
  • ground black pepper;
  • salt.

We invite you to prepare a healthy and tasty Lenten soup, the main “characters” of which are miniature heads of Brussels sprouts and bright broccoli florets.

Brussels sprouts are truly a storehouse of beneficial substances for humans. It contains many vitamins: C, B1, B2, B6, B9, PP and carotene. It should be noted that in terms of vitamin C content, Brussels sprouts are the leader among their relatives. This tiny cabbage is rich in minerals - potassium, calcium, magnesium, iron, phosphorus, sodium and iodine. Broccoli is no less healthy than Brussels sprouts. Broccoli is an excellent source of vitamins C, PP, K, U and beta-carotene. By the way, broccoli contains 2.5 times more vitamin C than citrus fruits. In addition, broccoli is rich in potassium, calcium, phosphorus, sodium and iron. Both broccoli and Brussels sprouts are low in calories, which is important for people who care about their health and figure. The soup is also suitable for people over 3 years old.

For younger children, you can also cook rice.

Directions for making Broccoli and Brussels Sprouts Soup:

Prepare all the necessary vegetables, cereals and other products according to the recipe.

Boil the rice in salted water until tender. Drain in a colander and rinse with cold water.

Wash the tomatoes. Using a sharp knife with a thin blade, make cross cuts on the skin of each tomato.

Boil water in a saucepan and place tomatoes in it for 30 seconds. Then remove with a slotted spoon, remove the skin and finely chop.

Wash the carrots, peel and grate on a coarse grater.

Wash the sweet pepper pods, remove the stalks and seeds. Cut the pulp into small strips.

Heat vegetable oil in a frying pan. Add carrots and fry for 4-5 minutes. Add chopped peppers and brown everything together.

Rinse Brussels sprouts and broccoli well under running water. Remove any yellow leaves from the Brussels sprouts, if any. Divide the broccoli into small florets.
Wash the parsley and dry it. Remove the leaves from the branches and leave them to decorate the dish.
Pour 1.5 liters of water into a saucepan and bring to a boil. Add the fried carrots and bell peppers and cook over low heat for 5 minutes.

Then add the chopped tomatoes and cook for another 5-7 minutes.

Add Brussels sprouts, broccoli, pepper, salt and simmer over low heat for 5 minutes.

In the nutrition of babies up to one year old, you can safely use cauliflower and white cabbage, broccoli and Brussels sprouts. Cabbage is unique in that it almost never causes food allergies, and, in addition, it is necessary for the growth of a child.

Broccoli
Interestingly, broccoli ranks second after apples in the list of the healthiest foods. In terms of its nutritional and dietary properties, broccoli has surpassed even cauliflower. Its protein quality is not inferior even to animal proteins: in terms of the amount of protein it surpasses asparagus, corn, spinach and sweet potato.

Broccoli contains calcium, magnesium, iron, zinc, manganese, sulfur, fiber, potassium, phosphorus, vitamins B1, B2, B5, B6, C, PP, E, U, K and provitamin A. Broccoli mobilizes the immune system, prevents anemia, infections, liver diseases and tumors. Chlorophyll, which is part of cabbage, has a beneficial effect on blood composition.

Broccoli will be especially beneficial for breastfeeding mothers, as it contains sulforaphane, a compound that reduces the likelihood of developing breast cancer. Sulforaphane blocks the division of cancer cells and prevents the further development of the disease. Moreover, sulforaphane kills even those bacteria that are resistant to antibiotics.

White cabbage
The most popular on Ukrainian shelves is white cabbage, which, unlike other vegetables, is perfectly stored throughout the year and does not lose its beneficial properties. This type of cabbage is rich in potassium and phosphorus salts and vitamins C, B1, B2, B5, B6, C, PP, E, K.

It is better not to use white cabbage in the diet of children under 1 year of age, because it causes gas formation. But for a nursing mother, this is a whole storehouse of vitamins!

Cauliflower
Cauliflower is an excellent dietary product for your kids. It is richer than white cabbage in protein content by 1.5-2 times, and ascorbic acid by 2-3 times. Nutritional value is associated with a high content of vitamins and minerals: C, B1, B2, B6, PP, A; sodium, potassium, calcium, magnesium, phosphorus and iron. This variety of cabbage is well absorbed by the body of babies, so nutritionists recommend introducing it into the diet of children under 1 year old, just like broccoli.

Cauliflower has the ability to remove toxins and heavy metal salts from the body; it is recommended for diabetes and atherosclerosis.

Cauliflower puree
Take a small saucepan and boil the inflorescences in unsalted water for a few minutes. Then we take the cabbage out of the water and begin to beat it with a blender, adding a little of the same broth in which the cabbage was cooked. After all, most of the trace elements remained in it. Bring the puree to a homogeneous mass, and you don’t have to skimp on the broth. The point is that the thinner the puree, the easier it will be for the baby to switch to adult food. Getting to know a new product always starts with 1/2 -1 teaspoon. So, day by day we increase the portion by 1/2 teaspoon per day. Gradually, after a month, you can reach 50 or more grams per day. Don't be afraid that your baby will find it tasteless. In fact, infants under one year old perceive such products completely differently; these are just new taste sensations, so to speak, the first acquaintance with adult food.

Brussels sprouts
Brussels sprouts are a unique source of vitamin C, which is why they are especially valuable. However, unlike other types of sprouts, Brussels sprouts do not store well when fresh, so try to use them within three days. This cabbage contains fiber, iron, phosphorus, potassium, vitamin C, B vitamins, provitamin A. Brussels sprouts juice is very useful for diabetes, as it normalizes pancreatic function.

Up to 1 year of age, you can gradually introduce grated puree from different types of cabbage with potatoes, carrots, pumpkin and zucchini into your baby’s diet, or use ready-made canned vegetable puree.