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Spinach in Baby Food Recipes – When Can Baby Have Spinach? Age for Introducing Spinach: (8)10-12 months

 The Goodness of Spinach for Baby

Spinach is an amazing source of Calcium. Just 1 cup of cooked spinach gives you 42 mg of calcium. Spinach also contains respectable amounts of Vitamin A, Iron and Selenium too. Spinach is truly a wonderful leafy green that packs a lot of nutrients. On this page you will learn about introducing spinach to babies and find great spinach baby food recipe ideas too.

Spinach is an oxalate food as well as a nitrate food so for babies under the age of 8 months, eating homemade spinach in moderation, if at all, is a good idea – see below for information about homemade spinach.

Spinach: (one cup, cooked)

When can I introduce Spinach to my baby? 

Recommendations for introducing spinach to babies vary greatly. Some pediatricians say that introducing spinach between 6-7 months of age is just fine while others say to wait until 8 or even 10 months. Age recommendations on Wholesome Baby Food are more conservative in nature and there is no doubt that the recommended age for introducing spinach is very conservative. I find it would best to wait to introduce spinach into baby’s diet until between 10-12 months of age with 8 months being the earliest; this is mostly for those of you who will be making homemade spinach. Studies have shown that if not properly stored, nitrate levels may increase in spinach. Waiting to introduce baby to spinach will also allow your baby to enjoy spinach in a chopped form rather than a pureed form.

As always, you consult with your baby’s pediatrician on introducing solid foods as generalities may not apply to your infant.

How to select and store Spinach for baby food

 According to the EWG, spinach is one of the “dirty dozen” foods that is most contaminated with pesticides; purchasing organic spinach is a good idea.

When selecting Spinach for homemade baby food, try to purchase fresh whenever possible. You may also purchase bagged fresh spinach if you prefer. Purchasing fresh spinach allows you to select tender and firm leaves that are not wilty or otherwise damaged. Frozen spinach is an option as well.

For proper storage, be sure to keep spinach in the vegetable crisper of your refrigerator and do not let it become damp or collect droplets of water in the bag.

The best way to cook Spinach for baby food recipes

You may steam or boil spinach however I recommend sauteing fresh spinach in a wee bit of olive oil. Spinach is cooked when the leaves are soft, tender and have shrunk. Cooked spinach will appear to be stringy and “wilty”.

Enjoy these Tasty Spinach Baby Food Recipes

Spinach Baby Food Puree

• Any amount of fresh spinach you desire

Step 1: Thoroughly cleanse fresh spinach and pick out damaged leaves

Step 2: Steam in a pot with a steamer basket insert (water should just peek through the holes of the basket).

Step 3: Leaves will shrink and appear wilted when done.

 DO NOT USE COOKING WATER TO PUREE.

Step 4: Drain and puree spinach in blender or food processor,

Step 5: Add fresh water until mixture is of the desired consistency.

Sautéed Spinach Baby Food **

(May be used for Kale and Collards also)

• Any amount of spinach you desire
• olive oil

Step 1: Thoroughly cleanse fresh spinach and pick out damaged leaves

Step 2: Heat olive oil in a frying pan

Step 3: Place spinach in the pan with the heated olive oil and sauté until tender. Leaves will shrink and appear wilted when done.

Step 4: Puree spinach in blender or food processor,

Step 5: Add fresh water until mixture is of the desired consistency.

 Add some spices such as garlic cloves or powder, basil or onion powder if baby is able to have these spices.

Baby’s Souffle of Spinach

• 10 -16 oz fresh or frozen spinach (if using frozen, please drain excess liquid prior to using.)
• 1/3 cup ricotta or cottage cheese
• 2 eggs or 4 yolks (increase if mix is too runny)
• pinch of garlic and basil

Step 1: Combine all ingredients and spoon into a lightly oiled (we always use olive oil.) baking dish or muffin tray.

Step 2: Bake at 375 F for 15 minutes or until golden and springy to the touch.

Step 3: You may wish to insert a toothpick and then withdraw it to check that the insides are done.

Foods Good to Mix With Spinach

• Carrots
• Parsnip
• Peas
• Potatoes (white and sweet)
• Summer Squash – yellow, zucchini
• Lentils
• Chicken