Useful properties of tomato
- firstly, it is high in potassium and magnesium, which are involved in the functioning of cardiac structures. Thanks to them, electrical excitability of the heart cells occurs. Thanks to magnesium, tomatoes can be classified as sedative vegetables. After all, magnesium has a calming effect on the nervous system;
- tomatoes also contain iron, calcium, and iodine. Iron is an essential micronutrient that helps red blood cells perform their essential functions. Calcium is a building material for the baby’s skeleton. Iodine improves thyroid function;
- vitamin A is the main participant in metabolic processes in the organs of vision;
- An important advantage of tomato is its antitumor effect due to the substance lycopene.
Do not forget that tomato is one of the main allergens. For this reason, tomatoes are recommended to be introduced to allergic children after three years of age.
At what age can babies eat tomatoes?
It is better not to give tomatoes to children until they are one year old. The exception is tomato juice, prepared by you or industrially produced, but intended for children - it is pure, there are no spices or salt in it. Is your daughter or son prone to allergies? This means that they don’t even need to be given tomato juice until they are one year old. The product should be introduced gradually: first a few drops, then, when the baby gets used to it a little, increase the portion to 30-40 g.
Whole tomatoes can be introduced into a child’s diet after one year. Of course, the skin should be cleaned - this is easier to do if you first cut the fruit and scald it with boiling water. The tomato skin is dangerous because it can stick to the wall of the stomach, causing the child to spontaneously vomit. After three years, children can eat tomatoes in any form, including heat-treated ones. They are usually given in combination with other foods, added to sauces, omelettes and other dishes.
When to add tomato to the menu?
Tomatoes are quite difficult for a baby's delicate digestive tract, so it is better not to experiment with tomato treats before the age of 1 year.
REVIEW OF LOVING MOMS. Anastasia, 30 years old: “I started introducing tomatoes to my son at 8 months. I grew tomatoes myself in the garden, so I started in the summer. I gave it for lunch after the main course. I peeled the skin and gave half a tomato. I also tried making juice and purees. My baby really likes them. “I didn’t notice any red cheeks or other allergic reactions.”
Dishes for children using tomato
- Potato and tomato puree. Boil a couple of medium potatoes, mash thoroughly so that there are no lumps, add half a teaspoon of butter, dilute with boiled milk. Pour boiling water over a fresh tomato, peel it, chop finely and simmer in a frying pan, adding a teaspoon of olive oil. Mix the resulting mass with mashed potatoes.
- Cauliflower with tomatoes. Cut the cabbage into cubes or thin slices. Simmer in boiling water with olive oil until transparent. Grind in a blender, adding a slice of fresh tomato.
- Cucumber and tomato salad. This dish can be given to a child who is 2 years old. Grate cucumbers and tomatoes. Add chopped dill. The salad should be seasoned with any vegetable oil that the child easily accepts.
To ensure that the new product does not have a negative effect on the baby’s body, before introducing tomatoes into complementary foods, the pediatrician should ask: is it possible to give tomatoes to a child? The specialist is able to assess the baby’s condition for a given period of time and suggest how best to introduce him to new food.
As for the baby’s reaction to a new product, it should be remembered that an allergy to tomatoes in young children can manifest itself in the form of redness of the skin of the cheeks, arms and legs. If such a process is not observed after the child first tried a tomato, you can safely increase the portion, but not by much.
How to cook tomatoes for children?
Be sure to wash the selected tomato with a brush and pour boiling water over it.
Be sure to remove the skins, as your baby may choke on them. Next, if you decide to make puree, then you should:
- remove the skin;
- Boil the tomato a little, 5 - 10 minutes. This way the tomato becomes healthier due to the increased activity of lycopene;
- grind using a blender or other device.
Juice can be made from fresh tomatoes using a juicer. Tomatoes can also be mixed with other vegetables or added to soups.
Tomatoes should not be given with milk, as this may cause fermentation in the intestines.
Composition of tomato
Tomatoes vary in their physical characteristics. Depending on the plant variety, the fruits have different shape, color, weight, aroma, density and other qualities.
As part of the article, we will consider the composition of fresh tomatoes. After heat or other treatment, the indicators may be completely different.
So, the composition of a tomato per 100 g of a product suitable for human consumption includes:
- proteins - 0.6 g;
- fats - 0.2 g;
- carbohydrates - 4.2 g;
- organic acids - 0.5 g;
- dietary fiber - 0.8 g;
- water - 94 g;
- ash - 0.7 g.
Tomatoes are rich in vitamins, as well as macro- and microelements:
- vitamin A, C, E, H, K, PP;
- beta carotene;
- B vitamins - B1, B2, B3, B4, B5, B6, B9;
- macroelements - potassium, calcium, magnesium, sodium, sulfur, phosphorus, chlorine;
- trace elements - boron, iron, iodine, cobalt, manganese, copper, molybdenum, nickel, rubidium, selenium, fluorine, chromium, zinc.
In addition, tomatoes contain digestible carbohydrates. These are starch, dextrins, mono- and disaccharides.
Do tomatoes have any disadvantages?
If this vegetable is so tasty and healthy, then the question arises: is it possible to give it to small children? What factors can become an obstacle to introducing tomatoes into a baby’s diet?
Tomato is considered a highly allergenic product. If you have problems with digestion and kidneys, this vegetable is contraindicated. Tomatoes grown artificially can be hazardous to health - they contain a lot of pesticides that cause severe poisoning. It is not recommended to consume tomatoes in large quantities - this will have a detrimental effect on the gastrointestinal tract.
How to keep tomatoes fresh
Vegetable complementary foods are one of the most important for a child in the first years of life, as it provides the baby with valuable vitamins, fiber, microelements and other useful substances. One of the favorite vegetables for both adults and children is tomatoes. But their bright color raises concerns, so before introducing such a tasty and healthy vegetable into the children's menu, parents should learn more about its effect on the children's body and the optimal time for children to get acquainted with tomatoes in different forms.
Benefits Tomatoes are rich in vitamins B1, PP, K, A, B2, beta-carotene, potassium, iodine, copper, iron, calcium, zinc and many other valuable compounds. Tomatoes contain the substance lycopene, which has a beneficial effect on the cardiovascular system. It can also prevent cancer
It is important to know that its absorption is improved by heat treatment of tomatoes. Ripe tomatoes contain organic acids, phytoncides and pectin
They are useful for the functioning of the digestive tract and excretory system. Tomato is considered a good antioxidant. It also has antibacterial and anti-inflammatory properties. Eating tomatoes thins the blood, speeds up metabolic processes, and calms the nervous system. Tomatoes are good as a snack because they can stimulate your appetite. Tomatoes are not only tasty, but also very healthy
You can learn more about the beneficial properties of tomatoes by watching the program “Live Healthy.”
Cons: Tomatoes often cause an allergic reaction. Tomatoes are contraindicated for diseases of the digestive system, as well as kidney diseases. Greenhouse tomatoes may contain too many chemicals that can cause poisoning in a child. Excessive consumption of tomatoes can cause problems with the gastrointestinal tract. From what month can complementary foods be introduced?
Heat-treated tomato can be introduced into children's diets from 10 months of age.
Fresh tomatoes should not be given to children under one year of age.
In what form should it be given?
The best choice would be a ready-made product from a trusted baby food manufacturer. The first portion should be no more than 1/2 teaspoon of the product, and if tolerated normally, it can be gradually increased.
Babies over a year old are offered raw tomatoes, peeled (to peel the vegetables, you need to scald them with boiling water).
Tomatoes should be introduced into the diet no earlier than 10 months.
For one-year-old children, tomatoes are crushed into puree, and for children over 1.5-2 years old who have already learned to chew, they can be added to salads and snacks. At the same time, it is recommended to season dishes with vegetable oil, since it improves the absorption of lycopene. If a child has digestive problems, it is not recommended to combine tomatoes and cucumbers in salads.
Dishes with tomatoes for children over 3 years old are becoming more varied - they are baked with other vegetables, cheese or meat, added to soups, a variety of salads and pies. Do not combine tomatoes with dairy products.
Should I give salted or pickled tomatoes?
Canned and pickled tomatoes contain ingredients that are harmful to children's bodies (vinegar, salt, hot seasonings), so they are not recommended for baby food under 3 years of age, and for children aged 4 to 7 years, the daily portion of such products should be limited .
Tips for choosing
For baby food, it is best to use soil-grown tomatoes, since greenhouse vegetables contain more chemicals. Buy undamaged, ripe vegetables that are evenly colored and free of dark spots or rotten areas.
When choosing, evaluate the appearance of the tomatoes, their color and softness. What should you do if you have an allergy?
If a child who has tried tomato for the first time or within several days has an allergic reaction in the form of a rash, digestive disorders, runny nose, dry cough, areas of redness on the skin or other signs, the product must be discontinued.
If symptoms are severe, you should consult a doctor so that he can prescribe the appropriate treatment, and a repeated trial of introducing tomatoes into the diet is recommended at a later age.
Tomatoes are a must on the dinner table, especially in the summer. And many parents are wondering: at what age can you let your baby try this wonderful vegetable? Let's try to find the answer further. But first, let's look at the benefits of tomatoes for the human body.
Benefits for children
Tomatoes contain almost half of the periodic table. They contain important vitamins for children, micro- and macroelements, beta-carotene, phytoncides, fiber, pectin and organic acids.
Nature has endowed tomatoes with lycopene, a powerful antioxidant that can resist free radicals. By protecting the body from their oxidative effects, lycopene prevents the occurrence of serious diseases, including cancer.
The presence of almost 94% water and low calorie content do not limit the beneficial properties of this tasty vegetable crop. Tomatoes are superior to apples in the content of phosphorus, magnesium, potassium, selenium, vitamins K, A, E, C, folic and pantothenic acids.
The introduction of fresh tomatoes into the menu contributes to:
Tomatoes have a pronounced diuretic and choleretic effect, antioxidant and anti-stress effect, anti-inflammatory and antimicrobial properties.
Simple recipes for every day
Vegetable puree with tomatoes
To prepare homemade puree you will need: 2 potatoes, a small zucchini, carrots, young broccoli, tomato.
Vegetable tomato soup
To prepare the soup, you need to take: half a carrot, zucchini (about 60 g), 4-5 cauliflower florets, 80-100 g pumpkin, 2 tomatoes and greens.
The good thing about homemade recipes involving tomatoes is that you can safely give them to your one-year-old baby, especially if you grew the vegetables yourself.
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