Caring for a child is a complex, time-consuming, but enjoyable process. How much effort goes into raising an adult from a small, unreasonable creature! And not the last place in the list of responsibilities for caring for a baby is nutrition. The proper functioning of the child’s body, growth and even mental development depend only on nutrition.
When to introduce meat into complementary foods?
Young parents are concerned about the question of when to introduce meat into the children's menu? Some argue that you should not get carried away with meat for infants, since it is too rough; some are afraid to feed rabbit because of the complexity of preparation and choice, while others are convinced vegetarians.
Let's reveal an important secret: meat can and should be given to a child. This is the most important source of protein, energy, vitamins, and amino acids.
Vegetables, cereals and fruits do not provide the growing body with the entire necessary set of beneficial microelements. You don’t want your child to grow up sick and frail, do you? The best meat dish is rabbit puree for babies.
It is worth starting complementary feeding for your child with this dietary product. Poultry will do, but it is advisable to choose turkey - the most delicate type of bird, which rarely causes allergies in children.
How to cook turkey for baby's first feeding
It is recommended to start complementary feeding with turkey meat with warm puree, which is given before milk feeding. At the beginning, offer the baby half a teaspoon of diluted puree. For this purpose, breast milk, vegetable broths or milk-based mixtures are used.
The introduction of meat into complementary foods begins at lunch, and not for breakfast, because in the morning the digestive system is not able to fully absorb roughage. After which they watch for two to three hours to see how the baby reacts to this. If everything is in order, introduce turkey dishes into the diet for every day.
It is permissible to prepare not only puree, but also steamed turkey and meatballs, which are consumed a month after the start of the introduction of meat:
- The turkey is washed and then steamed until 100% done.
- When the turkey is ready, it is cooled, cut into proportional small pieces and placed in a blender.
- If you don’t have a blender, you can use a meat grinder, but you will need to grind it two or three times, otherwise the dish will be too rough.
- To make the dish even more healthy, the meat is boiled together with vegetables such as carrots or Brussels sprouts.
After preparation, the presented components are crushed, and a portion of healthy puree using vegetables is obtained. How long to cook the turkey for mashing depends on its size, usually this is:
- 40-45 minutes for individual pieces;
- 30-35 minutes for sirloin;
- up to 3 o'clock the whole carcass.
Why rabbit?
Really, why? There are many other types of meat and not so expensive (rabbit is not a cheap pleasure). In fact, it is advisable to prepare the first complementary food for a child from this dietary meat.
The following are the beneficial properties of rabbit meat for babies:
- Rabbit meat contains a lot of protein, little cholesterol and fat;
- can be introduced into the menu at an early age;
- meat is digested easily and without consequences, suitable for an undeveloped child’s stomach;
- dietary product, calorie content is 156 kcal per 100 grams;
- does not contain harmful, dangerous substances;
- Rabbit meat is capable of removing harmful substances from the body, radiation, poisoning;
- improves memory, intelligence, understanding;
- helps the proper development of bones, teeth, nails;
- The recipe for cooking is simple;
- contains a sufficient amount of phosphorus;
- contains a huge amount of useful substances, vitamins, amino acids.
Why is a rabbit valuable?
Unlike poultry and pork, rabbit meat contains the entire set of amino acids, so its protein is completely absorbed. It contains almost twice as much iron, phosphorus and vitamin B12 as beef. This is very important for the development of bone tissue, preventing anemia and physical exhaustion. Tryptophan, lysine, methionine and other amino acids are involved in the construction of the muscle, nervous system, and general metabolism.
Magnesium, potassium, copper and a number of other microelements ensure normal cell division, complete absorption of nutrients, and regulate the functioning of the heart and other internal organs. This is a hypoallergenic product: it does not irritate the mucous membranes of the gastrointestinal tract and does not provoke exacerbations of inflammatory processes. Rabbit meat is allowed for children even if they are intolerant to animal protein. Its regular use helps to quickly restore strength, strengthens the immune system, and is useful for healthy and weakened children.
Contraindications to rabbit meat can only be severe disorders in the liver, kidneys or individual intolerance.
Features of eating rabbit by children
We figured out the beneficial properties and made sure that a child needs a rabbit. But when should you give the first meat food? This question worries young parents. Doctors recommend introducing meat into complementary foods at 6-8 months . This should not be done before, since the baby’s stomach is not yet accustomed to the new way of eating; the rabbit will seem too heavy for a small organism and will cause rotting inside.
One more point: a rabbit cannot be the first food. It should follow other types of food. The first complementary foods are vegetable and fruit purees and cereals. And only then does meat supplementation appear.
When and how should this product be administered?
When is it time to start feeding rabbit meat?
Meat is a heavy product, so it is better to add it to your baby’s diet one of the last.
For babies who are breastfed, start introducing meat at 8 months. As for children on artificial nutrition, meat products should be introduced into their diet starting from 6 months.
There may be cases when meat needs to be included in the diet earlier, according to doctor’s indications (for example, if the baby is very underweight or has a deficiency of vitamin B12).
For the first time, it is worth giving your baby rabbit puree before lunch, so that later you can monitor the body’s reaction to the introduction of a new product throughout the day. Rabbit meat is a product with a low risk of developing allergies, but some babies may still experience intolerance. And therefore you need to observe whether this meat is really suitable for your baby.
We give meat to the child in the form of puree, thoroughly chopped and homogeneous. For the first time, ready-made rabbit meat can be mixed with breast milk or formula to make the meat more suitable for the baby.
Start giving your baby a new product with one-fourth teaspoon. If the baby is doing well, gradually increase the portion. So, after a month, you need to give 30 grams of meat puree per day, and by the age of one - 50-60.
I introduced rabbit meat to my child at 8 months. The kid really liked the new product.
How to give your child meat supplements?
Exactly the same as they fed him with other foods the first time. Mix a quarter teaspoon of rabbit meat with breast milk, mix thoroughly and give it to the baby to try. If your child reacts positively to a new dish, feel free to add it to the menu.
Meat complementary foods can be introduced in another way; pediatricians often talk about it: a microscopic amount of meat is added to vegetable puree so that the child’s body gradually gets used to the new taste and substance. Meat complementary foods will become a familiar dish for the baby and will not cause allergies.
Possible harm and introduction to complementary foods
An allergic reaction to rabbit meat is extremely rare. Therefore, such meat can be introduced into complementary feeding for infants as early as 7-8 months. Moreover, this may be the first type of meat tasted. In some cases, pediatricians advise including chicken and turkey first, and only then beef and rabbit. When and what kind of meat to introduce, see more details here.
For the first time, a rabbit for complementary feeding is given in boiled, crushed form. You can mix meat with vegetable puree. Let the baby try half a teaspoon of complementary foods and watch the baby. If there are no negative consequences, your child can safely prepare a variety of dishes with rabbit meat. But be sure to follow the recommendations!
Gradually increase the dosage of the rabbit to 50 grams, after a year - to 100 grams. It is not recommended to give the product more than three times a week. If your baby exhibits symptoms of food allergies, stomach upset, bowel problems and other problems, temporarily eliminate the product from the diet and contact your pediatrician.
How much formula does a baby need?
Just a little, the main thing is not to overdo it. Meat products require caution when consumed by young children. Until the baby is one year old, the dose should not exceed seventy grams. Up to nine months, it is recommended to give from twenty to fifty grams.
If you overdo it, it will be difficult for your baby’s stomach to digest meat products.
Do not forget to consult with the doctor who is observing your baby. He will advise you on how to feed your child a rabbit, based on individual characteristics.
Why shouldn't you use canned food?
Supermarkets offer young parents collections of jars, canned goods with poultry, rabbit meat, broccoli and chicken... The variety is huge. There is no need to prepare jars; you can stock up for future use and treat your child with canned food with peace of mind. But the simple “recipe” for these dishes is the only plus. Otherwise, such products are not useful for the baby, and may even harm.
- It is unknown what kind of meat manufacturers put in the jars. Manufacturers can use genetically modified products due to their low cost and volume, which should not be included in children's menus.
- The composition does not inspire confidence; in addition to the fact that ordinary products are listed there, the list includes preservatives and corn starch, which adds more volume. As a result, the percentage of meat becomes insignificant.
- It is easy to get poisoned from canned meat. Manufacturers do not always accurately indicate shelf life. The baby's body is very sensitive and may react to preservatives with an allergic reaction. Play it safe and prepare it yourself.
- The price of such jars is not encouraging. For a small box of “healthiest” puree, which cannot be stored open for a long time, and therefore is bought for one or two times, you need to pay a considerable amount. It is more profitable to buy a rabbit carcass, cut it up, turn it into minced meat and use it, after freezing it, for six months or a year.
Don’t trust attractive advertisements or convenient jars; the baby’s health is a hundred times more important.
The benefits of rabbit meat for babies
Rabbit meat is considered not only one of the most delicious products in its group, it also stands out from the general background for its dietary properties and therapeutic benefits. With a minimal amount of fat and cholesterol, it contains an impressive amount of protein. This figure is so high that it surpasses even the usual beef, lamb and pork. For diseases of the liver, stomach and biliary tract, nutritionists recommend cooking and consuming rabbit meat.
Products made from rabbit have proven themselves well as means for the prevention of atherosclerosis and fat metabolism disorders. Often this meat becomes the only option for infants with increased body reactivity, because... it almost never causes allergies.
Even in terms of mineral and vitamin composition, rabbit is superior to all other types of meat. Useful components are retained in it to the maximum extent if the product is boiled, stewed or steamed. Vitamins C and group B, as well as iron, phosphorus, manganese and potassium, take part in metabolic processes, promoting the absorption of nutrients and the normalization of macrolytic metabolism.
Even fat from rabbit meat has a positive effect on the child’s condition. It promotes rapid healing of wounds, prevents allergic attacks, and relieves skin itching. Unique meat is simply necessary for children with weakened immune systems and dyspeptic disorders.
Rabbit dishes for kids
There is a whole list of delicious rabbit dishes for children of different ages, some can be cooked directly in a slow cooker, others must be cooked, but all are quite simple to prepare. Let's look at several recipes, starting from the easiest and for the little ones.
Puree
A recipe that is suitable even for a seven-month-old baby - rabbit puree. It is not difficult to make, but it will take a considerable amount of time to make a high-quality puree.
- To keep the meat juicy and the puree tender and soft, soak a piece of rabbit overnight. This step will allow you to prepare the most tender puree.
- When the meat is ready, cut it into several small pieces and cook. Bring the meat to a boil, drain the broth and pour in clean cold water.
- The second time you need to cook until fully cooked. This way the meat will become lean. How long to cook rabbit meat? It depends on the size of the pieces and on the “youth” of the rabbit itself. Old rabbits have tough and rough meat. Cooking the meat takes forty minutes or an hour.
- After cooking the meat, puree it. There are two ways: grind in a blender or in a meat grinder. If you use the first option, add two tablespoons of water to make it easier to grind. If you use a meat grinder, be sure to grind the meat twice and then add warm water. Ready! Cool the resulting mixture to room temperature (do not overdo it) and give it to your baby separately or together with vegetable puree.
Soups
There is another recipe for a delicious dish that goes “with a bang” among kids. After all, sometimes you need to include soups in the menu - liquid dishes are very useful for a child’s tummy. It is not difficult to prepare his first dish based on rabbit meat.
- Take a small piece of rabbit (about one hundred grams), vegetables (you need to choose vegetables that your baby has already tried), potatoes and a couple of glasses of water.
- Cook the rabbit meat according to the method already described (drain the first water, then cook until tender).
- When the meat boils for the second time, add peeled and chopped potatoes and a little salt. All parents have different attitudes towards salt; some are categorically against this flavor enhancer for children. A couple of salt crystals are not dangerous for a child.
- When the potatoes and rabbit are ready, add the vegetables. Cook for ten to fifteen minutes and the soup is ready.
- If the baby is not yet one year old, then carefully swirl the soup in a blender.
Cream soup
Another easy-to-prepare recipe is puree soup. It is even easier to prepare than ordinary soup.
- Cook the rabbit meat according to the method already presented, spin the finished piece of meat with a small amount of broth in a blender, and add mashed potatoes if desired.
- Mix thoroughly, add salt to taste. Done - fresh and tender puree soup is ready. The baby will give the highest score to the new dish and ask for more.
As you can see, the benefits of rabbit meat are immeasurable, so do not be afraid to feed your child tender dietary meat. It is also useful for adults - feel free to add it to the family menu. Dishes made from rabbit are easy to prepare, very tasty and healthy. Why not spice up your family dinner with a dish that everyone can try, from the biggest to the smallest?
Rabbit for a child: recipes
It is preferable to use gentle cooking methods: boil, bake in its own juice, stew. Roasting a rabbit is harmful to children and to the meat itself. During this treatment, the amount of vitamins sharply decreases, some amino acids are destroyed, and the hard crust accumulates compounds dangerous to the body.
Boiled meat
How much to cook a rabbit for a child depends on the breed, age of the animal, and size of the piece. It is recommended to use young meat, parts of the carcass weighing no more than 250 g. It is enough to cook them for 30 minutes in boiling water over low heat under a lid or in a double boiler.
Legs and fillets are useful for second courses; they are more tender and fatty. The front part of the rabbit makes richer broths. For flavor, it is recommended to add onions, bay leaves and other non-spicy spices.
Rabbit liver for a child
To prepare a tender pate, you will need to simmer the liver, cut into small pieces, for 20–30 minutes. Grind with a blender, add butter: 1 tsp. for 200 g of product. Boil small carrots, chop and mix with liver mass. Serve as a second course.
Rabbit soup for children
For 200 g of carcass, take 2 small potatoes, a piece of cauliflower and broccoli, 100 g of green beans, 1 carrot, 1 onion, fresh herbs.
Finely chop the meat, add 1.5 liters of water, bring to a boil and cook for half an hour. Then chop the vegetables, put them in the broth and boil for another 15 minutes. Add herbs and salt at the end. This soup is suitable for children aged 1 year and older.
