Brussel Sprouts for Baby Food – When Can Babies Eat Brussel Sprouts?

When Can Babies Eat Brussel Sprouts?

Brussel Sprouts. The words,  the veggie – it  just doesn’t sound like “baby food”!   But, don’t discount these little cruciferous cabbage type vegetables as a tasty (yes, tasty) and nutritious food for little ones.

Are Brussel Sprouts Safe for Babies to Eat?

When it comes to feeding babies, brussel sprouts may pose a challenge.  Beside being a bit strong in taste, the brussel sprout is notorious for causing humans of all ages to have gas ( a.k.a wind).

If your little one has had, or currently experiences, issues with gassiness or generally tends to have an upset tummy, it might be good to give brussel sprouts a pass for a while.  Typically a baby will have a more settled tummy around 8-9 months of age.  By settled I mean that his/her tummy has now encountered a variety of foods and the digestive tract is more mature.

Holding off on foods that cause gas is a good idea simply because babies cannot tell you that they have gas.  Babies are unable to move around, change positions or even stand and stretch or bend to help relieve the pressure and pain that gas often causes.  Of course, you should always speak with your baby’s pediatrician about any feeding questions that you may have.

But, Eww….Yuck!

While the stink of the sulfur compound may be unpleasant, it is thought help cleanse the bloodstream so be sure to give the poor little a sprouts a break.

One of the main reasons that brussel sprouts have a bad reputation as being stinky and yucky is because most people overcook them.  When brussel sprouts are overcooked they lose a lot of flavor but also change in smell.  They release a sulfurous odor that is very, very unpleasant.  It’s interesting to note that the odor is sulfurous in nature because the sprouts actually release a sulfur compound!

Selecting, Storing and Preparing Brussel Sprouts for Baby

When selecting brussel sprouts at the grocery store, look for nice green leaves that are tight together and not loose or flopping off the sprout.  Avoid any sprouts that are discolored or mushy.  Always rinse the brussel sprouts under cold water and use a veggie wash whenever possible.

Brussel sprouts may be stored in the fridge for up to 7 days as long as they were nice and firm and green when purchased.  Cutting and then storing brussel sprouts in the fridge limits the “fridge life” so only cut and prep when you are ready to cook the sprouts.

❄ Brussel sprouts do not freeze well when they are raw.  Brussel sprouts freeze with mixed results once they have been cooked.

Don’t forget to check out the nutritional values for brussel sprouts.  You’ll see that just a 1/2 cup of these little veggies pack in quite a lot of valuable nutrients like Vitamin C and Folate too!

To prep cook brussel sprouts for babies, you could puree with a bit of water or even plain yogurt. You may want to add a bit of applesauce too.

The recipes that follows are ones that you can make for the whole family.  I will note where you need to make substitutions if you wish to share the sauteed dish with your little one.  For example, you may want to skip saving the bacon grease and use plain olive oil if you want to serve these to your baby.

Enjoy!

Yield: 4 -6 servings

Easy and Basic Brussel Sprouts for Baby

Easy and Basic Brussel Sprouts for Baby

Simple and easy way to prepare brussel sprouts for babies

Prep Time 10 minutes
Total Time 10 minutes

Ingredients

  • 1-2 pounds of brussel sprouts
  • 1 cup of water

Instructions

  1. Cut off ends of brussel sprouts then cut the sprouts in half
  2. Insert a steamer basket into the sauce pan  and add water to the saucepan until it peaks through the steamer basket
  3. Place the brussel sprouts in the steamer basket.
  4. Bring water to a boil then turn to low and steam until tender; about 8-10 minutes

Notes

Once cooked, allow to cool and then transfer to a food processor or blender.  Puree as needed to get a texture that your baby will enjoy. Add plain yogurt or applesauce to the puree if desired.

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Check out the nutritional value of Brussel Sprouts below:

brusselsproutnutrition

 

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