At what age can pineapple be given to a child?
Fruits bring us pleasure thanks to the sweet pleasant taste and many benefits due to the vitamin and mineral composition. That is why fruit food is very important for the baby. All parents heard that it should be started with apples, pears and other fruits that are familiar to us. But when can you try more exotic types of fruit, such as pineapple? Can it harm the child's body and in what form should the toddler offer it?
Benefit
Pineapple is called a wonderful source of magnesium, as well as vitamin C. In addition, its fruits contain a lot of copper, iron, iodine, potassium, phosphorus, zinc, vitamin PP, beta-carotene, vitamin E, manganese, and B vitamins. Due to this composition fruit strengthens the immune system, lowers blood clotting and pressure, improves the functioning of the nervous system. Also, a fresh fruit has an anti-inflammatory effect.
Fresh pineapple has an enzyme that speeds up the breakdown of protein foods (bromelain), so this fruit has the ability to improve digestion. It should be noted that such an enzyme is destroyed during conservation.
Harm
The harmful effects of fresh fruit are mainly due to the presence of a large concentration of essential oils and fruit acids. As a result, when using pineapple, tooth enamel can be damaged, a large amount of gastric juice is produced in the stomach, and many children and adults are diagnosed with allergies to such fruits.
Canned pineapple, consumed in excess, can be harmful due to the high concentration of sugar and citric acid in this product. It is not recommended for children with overweight or diabetes.
Contraindications
Pineapple should not be consumed by children who have:
- Gastritis or peptic ulcer disease.
- Damage to the tooth enamel.
- Allergic diseases.
- Diabetes.
Can cause allergies?
Such an exotic fruit as pineapple is really marked with high allergenicity. For this reason, it is not recommended to include nursing moms and small children in the diet. Pineapple introduction should be very careful. After giving the child a small piece of the fetus, you need to observe the reaction to it and increase the single portion only in the absence of adverse symptoms.
Is it possible to give up to a year?
In hot countries where pineapples are the daily food of most adults, babies are treated with such fruit from an early age - from 6-7 months. For kids in such regions, pineapple is as familiar as apples and pears for us.
Our children should not try this exotic before a year. Mom can take a chance and offer a slice of pineapple to a crumble of up to a year, and it happens that the baby perceives such fruit normally, but there is always a very high risk of allergies or digestive problems.
When is it better to enter the diet?
The best age for the introduction of pineapple in the children's menu is called 3-5 years. An earlier introduction can harm the stomach of babies or cause an allergic reaction to such an exotic fruit for our latitudes.
In what form to give?
The child can eat pineapple in the form of fresh or processed (canned) fruit. It is often mixed with other fruits and offered to the crumbs in the form of vitamin salad. Adding pineapple to porridge, cottage cheese, yogurt, stuffing for pies helps sweeten foods. Many children like the combination of pineapple with meat.
You can also give pineapple juice. It is most often mixed with other juices, for example, orange. If this juice is obtained from fresh fruit and is given separately, it must be diluted with pure water.
Another type in which you can eat pineapples is candied fruits from these fruits. It should be remembered about their high calorie content, so you should give this delicacy to children in small quantities.
Surprise the baby with a chopped pineapple in the form of a bird. How to do this, see the next video.
Is it worth it to eat canned pineapples?
Such a product is valid for the nutrition of children older than 3 years. Canned pineapple is a good source of vitamin C. With this product you can easily sweeten yogurt or cottage cheese for your child.
Tips for choosing
- When buying fresh fruit, it is preferable to choose larger pineapples, because of them after cleaning, more pulp remains. At the same time, high-quality fruit will be bright, firm and brilliant. Do not take a dull yellow-green fruit, as it is not mature. In ripe pineapple color orange or yellow.
- Look at the leaves of the tops of the fruit. They should be green and fresh. In addition, the ripe fruit leaves will be easily separated.
- Also look at the "eyes" on the surface of the fetus. They are flat in the ripe fruit, so pineapple with hollow or sharp eyes should not be taken.
- Also, be sure to smell the pineapple. The ripe fruit will smell strong enough and the flavor will be sweet. If you feel fermented or sour, the fruit is overripe.
- Do not buy fruit with dark spots or patches of softness. They indicate the onset of decay. After tapping the pineapple with your finger, you will hear a solid sound from the ripe fruit.
