Broccoli as a first food for babies
Broccoli is a great first food for babies. It’s an intriguing shape for babies to explore - it is literal mini green trees - and when cut into palm-sized florets it makes a great finger food! Its also such a great bit of texture to add to loads of dishes like curries, dhals and stir-fries
Nutritionally it’s got a whole host of vitamins including A, C and K, and minerals like iron and calcium, as well as bio-active flavonoids
HOW TO PREP
Grab a chopping board and cut the broccoli into large florets (the larger size makes them easier to grab for little ones learning to eat). Then boil or steam for as long as you prefer. To get the most out of broccoli nutritionally when boiling you want to do so for just a few mins, no more than around 4-5 mins, to keep it nice and crunchy! But for babies having their first few tastes you want to cook it a little longer for a softer texture, say 8-10 mins. If you decide to offer a firmer floret you can try cutting the stems in half to make them less round which is safer
YOU NEED
1-2 broccoli florets (depending on size)
TO MAKE
Boil or steam a few florets of broccoli for 8-10 mins, or until they are soft and can be easily squished between two fingers, then drain
If you would prefer to mash, use a fork to mash the broccoli up, adding a little of your baby’s usual milk to loosen the consistency
TO SERVE
Offer the florets whole and allow your baby to hold the stalks and have a go at munching, or load some mashed or blended broccoli onto a weaning spoon
Baby-led weaning tip
Load some of the mashed broccoli onto a spoon, place it in front of your baby and allow them to grab it themselves!
TIP
To preserve nutrients try steaming or microwaving instead of boiling. When your little one is more experienced with texture you can try roasted broccoli which has a delicious flavour
