Spinach season begins in spring and this is a great opportunity to diversify your baby's diet. After all, spinach is very useful for children, because. it contains a large amount of vitamins and protein. In addition to vitamins C, B1 and B2, it even contains vitamins that are rarely found in other vegetables: B6, B3, P, PP, E, K, H, folic acid, and anti-rachitic vitamin D2!
Spinach contains many minerals, including large amounts of iodine and iron, as well as potassium and copper.
Frozen or fresh?
Spinach can be used fresh or frozen. Frozen spinach is better to take leaf rather than chopped, because. sheet is usually frozen in the form of portioned balls, which is very convenient when cooking. However, the taste of chopped frozen spinach is much inferior to leafy, so I do not recommend buying it.
When choosing fresh spinach, you should pay attention to the fact that its leaves are bright green and crispy. If the leaves are sluggish and lifeless, then you should not buy such spinach.
Fresh spinach is best cooked as soon as possible, because. with prolonged storage, it loses its nutritional qualities. If you didn't use the spinach right away, you can store it in the refrigerator, wrapped in a damp towel to slow down the wilting process. But still it is advisable not to store greens for more than 2 days.
When can you feed baby spinach?
Spinach can be introduced in small portions from 7-8 months, adding it to vegetable purees or, for example, to rice porridge. With age, you can diversify spinach dishes by making soups, omelettes, main courses and pies from it.
Important: spinach dishes should be given to children only freshly prepared!
Ravioli with spinach
Ingredients:
flour - 450 g
egg - 1 pc.
olive oil - 1 tbsp.
salt - 0.5 tsp
saffron - pinch
water - 210 ml
filling
:
spinach - 200 g
Ricotta cheese or soft cottage cheese - 100 g
garlic - 2 cloves
onion - ½ heads
zest of half a lemon
salt, pepper - to taste
olive oil
Cooking method:
1.
Add egg and salt to water. Knead the flour and egg mixture into a soft, elastic dough. It is necessary to knead the dough for 15-20 minutes. Wrap the dough in cling film and leave in the refrigerator for an hour.
2. Cut the garlic cloves into slices, but be sure to remove the green sprout. Saute garlic in olive oil until golden brown. Remove the garlic from the pan, it will no longer be needed, because. he gave his fragrance to the oil. Fry the finely chopped half of the onion in this oil until transparent.
3. Add spinach, grated zest of half a lemon to the onion (it is not necessary to use it) and evaporate the liquid for 5-7 minutes.
4. Add salt and pepper to taste.
5. Allow spinach to cool, then combine with cheese or cottage cheese.
6. Let's return to the test. Divide the dough into 2 parts. Roll out one part into a layer 2 mm thick and spread out small portions of the filling on it at even intervals (estimating the desired size of the ravioli and leaving room for the sides).
7. After all the filling is laid out, cover everything with a second rolled out layer of dough (the same thickness as the first layer) and, lightly pressing the dough around the filling with your fingers, remove unnecessary air bubbles.
8. Cut out square ravioli with a curly or regular knife. Check if the edges are well glued.
9. Boil the ravioli in plenty of salted water, putting a sprig of thyme, no more than 3-4 minutes until they rise to the surface. The ravioli should be slightly firm.
Serve with sour cream or butter.
Spinach- a storehouse of vitamins for the body. Unfortunately, the bright green guest from warm countries has not yet become widespread with us. The main advantage of spinach is that it does not lose its qualities either during freezing or heat treatment.
Is spinach okay for kids?
Good to give spinach for children under 1 year old starting from 6 months age. The unique composition of this plant makes it not only extremely useful for adults, but also indispensable as a complementary food for babies.
It should be remembered that spinach must be consumed correctly, otherwise it can cause harm. Before cooking baby spinach puree, you must first give the baby spinach juice for about a week, gradually increasing its amount, and carefully monitoring the condition of the crumbs.
Also, be aware that spinach contains oxalic acid, which may not work well for your baby. Milk is its natural neutralizer, therefore spinach dishes for babies should always be prepared with its addition.
Buy only fresh or freshly frozen spinach. Before cooking, carefully sort it out, removing old, grayed leaves: spinach is able to accumulate not only useful, but also harmful substances, and their concentration in old leaves is several times higher than in young ones.
Never store spinach at room temperature - the amount of nutrients in it decreases dramatically during storage. Keep fresh stems wrapped in parchment in the refrigerator for up to two days. For long-term storage, up to 3 months, spinach should be frozen. Re-freezing is not allowed.
Remember that spinach is contraindicated for babies with diseases of the kidneys or urinary system. If there are any chronic diseases, be sure to consult a pediatrician.
Spinach Recipes for Kids
How to cook spinach for a child - a recipe for delicious and healthy spinach puree:
Rinse 100 grams of fresh spinach thoroughly, remove the coarse stems and simmer in a saucepan over low heat. Water does not need to be added: it will be replaced by the juice that stands out from the leaves. 15 minutes is enough, and the stewpan can be removed from the heat.
Grind the stewed mass in any possible way.
Add half a glass of milk and a little butter.
Slightly heat the puree, add salt to it to taste. If the dish turned out to be too liquid, put a little wheat flour in it, and heat until it thickens, not allowing it to boil.
If the baby can eat sweets, then add a little sugar.
- from 6 months
- from 1 year
Pour 250 ml of water into a saucepan, bring to a boil. Lay the prepared potatoes, salt if desired. Cook for about 7 minutes. Then add onion and spinach. Frozen spinach does not need to be thawed. When using fresh - it must be washed, damaged leaves removed and finely chopped. Cook the vegetables for about 4 more minutes.
While the vegetables are cooking, boil the egg in a separate bowl. Separate the protein (it will not be useful). Rub the yolk with a fork
Remove the saucepan from the heat, drain half of the resulting broth. Add egg yolk, butter and cream (milk) to vegetables. Puree with a blender or carefully crush with a mortar
Bring the soup to a boil over medium heat, but do not boil. If the cream soup turned out to be too thick, add a little vegetable broth drained earlier to the desired consistency.
Pour the soup into a bowl, set aside. Spinach cream soup is ready! You can offer it to your child with a piece of bread, dried toast, adding greens to a plate or a little hard cheese grated on a fine grater
Bon appetit!Young mothers know that a small child needs to be fed properly. It is no coincidence that there are separate recipes for baby food. Meals for children under 3 years old should be as light and healthy as possible. A fragile child's body will not benefit from the use of fatty, fried and spicy foods. The digestive system at this age is not fully formed, some enzymes for digesting such heavy food are still absent or present, but not in sufficient quantities. Therefore, if you want to avoid problems in the future and instill in your child the right eating habits, then it is better to cook food for him separately with a complete absence or a minimum amount of seasonings and spices (salt, sugar, pepper).
Particular attention should be paid to allergenic products. It is better not to include them in the diet or give them in moderation and carefully monitor the reaction. But it is better to exclude recipes that use several products that can provoke allergies.
The consistency of the cooked dishes is also very important. Babies still do not have chewing teeth, therefore, it is advisable to cook everything for them in the form of mashed potatoes. In this case, milk or creamy spinach puree soup is suitable. It can be given to children from 1 year old. It contains onions and dairy products, which are not recommended for children under one year old.
The main component of the dish is spinach. This is a very useful plant that is great for baby food. It contains a large amount of protein, so necessary for a growing organism. An almost complete complex of B vitamins contributes to the proper development of all internal organs and actively affects the central nervous system. Vitamin B9, known as folic acid, is a preventive measure against anemia by helping the proper synthesis of blood cells. Few people know that spinach has a lot of carotene (slightly less than carrots), which is why it is so useful for the formation of good vision. Mild laxative effect, avoids constipation.
When preparing dishes for children from 1 year old, special attention must be paid to its correct composition. Too much salt is unacceptable. It is advisable not to salt them at all. Also, don't use too much fat. It is better to replace butter with low-fat sour cream, cream or milk. All ingredients must be thoroughly mixed. To do this, it is better to cook them longer and grind through a sieve or chop in a blender.
Spinach occupies an honorable place in the list of the most useful foods for children's health. Due to the large number of vitamins and minerals it contains, it helps children cope with many ailments - gastrointestinal diseases, anemia, constipation, diabetes. Weekly consumption of green spinach in food perfectly compensates for the lack of calcium and serves as a good prevention of rickets.
Spinach is also unique in that it does not lose its taste and vitamin reserves either during heat treatment or in frozen form. Therefore, it is possible to prepare such a healthy cream - soup for a child starting from 1 year old, both in summer and in winter. Be sure to try this wonderful recipe.
Ingredients:
Potato - 1 pc. (large)
Spinach (frozen or fresh) - 40-50 g
Cream (milk) - 70 ml
Egg - 1 pc
Onion - 10 g
Water - 250 ml
Salt - optional
Butter - 5 g
Rate the recipe
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Spinach is one of the healthiest foods. It is rich in vitamins, helps fight excess weight and toxicosis in pregnant women, and dishes using spinach are interesting and healthy.
Spinach varieties - which spinach is best for planting, is healthier, and which is just tastier?
There are quite a lot of varieties of spinach - about 20 species. However, only 12 types of garden spinach grow in the middle lane. For planting, gardeners prefer to choose the most unpretentious varieties - Virofle, Gaudri, Victoria, Matador and Virtuoso. All varieties of spinach are equally useful and similar in taste, and distinguish them by precocity and type of leaves.
You can start growing spinach almost anywhere - from a winter greenhouse to the windowsill of your own apartment. All that is required of you is to provide bright lighting in the room and make sure that the temperature fluctuates between 15 o-18 o C.
Well, if you don’t have time to garden, you can always buy spinach in large stores, where it is sold in two types - fresh (vacuum-packed) and frozen (portioned balls).
On a note: the younger the spinach, the less oxalic acid it contains, and therefore the bitterness. Therefore, choose leaves of a juicy green hue, without visible spots. Such spinach will taste tender and soft, and bitterness will not be felt.
By the way, many people confuse spinach with sorrel, which is very popular in our country. But if you look closely, it will become noticeable that these vegetables differ in shape and color, and when tasting, the difference is obvious - sorrel tastes sour, and spinach has a slightly bitter taste.
Composition and nutritional value
Spinach has many health benefits and is low in calories. 100 g of spinach contains only 23 calories.
Nutritional value of 100 g of spinach:
- 91.6 g - Water.
- 2.9 g - Proteins.
- 0.3 g - Fats.
- 2 g - Carbohydrates.
- 1.3 g - Dietary fiber.
- 0.1 g - Organic acids.
- 1.8 g - Ash.
Vitamins contained in spinach (per 100 g):
- 55 mg - Vitamin C.
- 18 mg - Choline.
- 4.5 mg - Beta-carotene.
- 1.2 mg - Vitamin PP.
- 750 mcg - Vitamin A.
- 80 mcg - Vitamin B9.
- 482.9 mcg - Vitamin K.
Macro- and microelements contained in spinach (per 100 g):
- 20 mcg - Iodine.
- 106 mg - Calcium.
- 774 mg - Potassium.
- 82 mg - Magnesium.
- 24 mg - Sodium.
- 83 mg - Phosphorus.
- 13.51 mg - Iron.
- 13 mcg - Copper.
- 1 mcg - Selenium.
- 0.897 mg - Manganese.
The benefits and healing properties of spinach
Remember the cartoon about the sailor Popeye? Spinach gave him tremendous strength, and rightly so - this vegetable stores many useful substances.
Spinach Benefits:
- Regular use of spinach helps to increase the capacity for work and perfectly rejuvenates the body, and if you are prone to stress, spinach will help relieve tension and calm the nerves.
- Doctors recommend using spinach for gastritis and anemia - its diuretic, tonic, anti-inflammatory and laxative effect will become an indispensable tool in the treatment.
- Spinach contains iodine, so it is very useful for thyroid diseases.
- It is worth paying attention to spinach and, if you follow a diet, low calorie content and compatibility with other products will help you lose weight.
- And one of the most important features of spinach is the presence in its composition of lutein - a substance indispensable for the eyes. Lutein has a beneficial effect on the retina and relieves eye fatigue.
The harm of spinach for health and contraindications for use
Spinach contains oxalic acid, and in large quantities it is harmful to health. Therefore, it is better to buy only young spinach leaves, and do not store them for more than 48 hours. As a last resort, spinach can be frozen, thereby extending its shelf life by a couple of months.
- People with diseases of the duodenum, liver and kidneys.
- Patients with stomach ulcers.
- Patients with rheumatism and gout.
At what age can a child be given spinach?
Spinach is a very healthy product, it can be included in the baby's diet from 8 months. At an early age, you should limit the amount of spinach - twice a week is enough.
On a note: Pay attention to the freshness of spinach - excess oxalic acid can cause allergies, so use only young leaves. Milk perfectly neutralizes oxalic acid - you can add it to children's dishes, especially the first time spinach is introduced into the baby's diet.
Spinach has practically no smell and taste, so it can be used not only in mashed potatoes, but also added to various soups and salads.
Spinach puree for toddlers
This is the easiest dish to prepare for babies from 8 months. Milk and a little butter can be added to spinach.
Fish with spinach in an omelet for children from 2 years
In this dish, it is better to use cod or hake fillets, and for taste, you can add celery, cherry tomatoes and a little olives. The dish turns out to be useful and very tasty.
Spinach for pregnant women, diabetics and allergy sufferers
- In the absence of the contraindications described above, spinach is recommended to be included in the diet of expectant mothers, because the iodine contained in the product is necessary for the thyroid gland and the stabilization of the hormonal background. And daily consumption of spinach will help pregnant women cope with the unpleasant symptoms of toxicosis.
- During pregnancy, many women experience such unpleasant problems as hair loss and brittleness, brittle bones. Vitamin K contained in spinach helps to retain calcium in the body and promotes its absorption. In addition, this vitamin is necessary for normal blood clotting - it prevents bleeding and helps in the treatment of hemorrhagic diathesis (a condition when the capillaries lose blood and the skin becomes covered with dark spots, in other words, this is the so-called subcutaneous bleeding). It is thanks to getting enough vitamin K that our liver is able to produce prothrombin, a substance directly related to normal blood clotting. In short, vitamin K is simply necessary for our body!
- Patients with diabetes are also advised to include spinach in their diet. Its use has a beneficial effect on peristalsis, improves the functioning of the stomach. Many diabetic patients experience digestive problems, and spinach will help stabilize the bowels.
- Spinach allergy sufferers should be careful. Food allergies are quite individual, so it is recommended to consult a doctor and consume spinach in small portions.
spinach on a diet
Dishes with the addition of spinach are not only delicious, but also very healthy. From this product you can cook a lot of salads, casseroles, soups, pancakes. This vegetable is optimally combined with almost all products, and the lack of taste can be replaced with various spices.
As we have already said, spinach is a product with a very low calorie content, so for those who want to lose extra pounds, it can become an indispensable assistant!
On a note: By eating spinach at least 2-3 times a week, you can lose weight and improve your body. The main rule of such a diet- introduce boiled and baked foods into your diet, excluding fried and sweet, and Spinach should be consumed at least 150 grams per day.
What dishes can be cooked using spinach: 
- Potato with cheese and spinach.
- Soup with spinach.
- Meat pie with spinach.
- Fried spinach with onions.
- Spinach with tomatoes.
- Chicken rolls with spinach.
- Spinach rice with cheese.
- Fritters with spinach.
Peculiarity: contains a lot of carotene. In the children's diet can be introduced from 8-9 months.
Spinach - an annual herbaceous plant from the Amaranth family. It has a neutral odor and a slightly pronounced taste.
Read also:
In 100 grams spinach contains 23 kcal
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vitamins |
Macronutrients |
trace elements |
|
Vitamin PP - 0.6 mg Beta-carotene - 4.5 mg Vitamin A (RE) - 750 mcg Vitamin B1 (thiamine) - 0.1 mg Vitamin B2 (riboflavin) - 0.25 mg Vitamin B5 - 0.3 mg vitamin B6 - 0.1 mg Vitamin B9 (folic) - 80 mcg Vitamin C - 55 mg Vitamin E - 2.5 mg Vitamin H - 0.1 mcg Viatmin K - 482.9 mcg Niacin - 1.2 mg Choline - 18 mg |
Calcium - 106 mg Magnesium - 82 mg Sodium - 24 mg Potassium - 774 mg Phosphorus - 83 mg |
Iron - 13.51 mg Zinc - 0.53 mg Copper - 13 mcg Manganese - 0.897 mg Selenium - 1 mcg |
Spinach appeared in the 16th century and is now used everywhere, in almost all cuisines of the world. Spinach is native to Persia. And in the 16th century, several varieties were grown. Spinach came to Russia only in the 18th century. Historical chronicles testify that during one of the court dinners, two sacks of spinach were delivered to the table of Empress Anna Ioannovna. After this incident, spinach was quickly accepted as a medicinal plant.
Composition and nutritional properties of spinach
AT 100 g spinach contains:
- Proteins - 2.9 g
- Fats - 0.3 g
- Carbohydrates - 2 g
- Dietary fiber - 1.3 g
- Organic acids - 0.1 g
- Water - 91.6 g
- Mono- and disaccharides - 1.9 g
- Starch - 0.1 g
- Ash - 1.8 g
Useful properties of spinach
Spinach saturates, supplies the body with nutrients, removes toxins and toxins. Only carrots contain more carotene than spinach, and due to the rather high content of iron, spinach helps hemoglobin become more active and better supply cells with oxygen; It improves metabolism and promotes energy production in the body.
Eating spinach strengthens teeth and gums, prevents anemia, strengthens blood vessels, stimulates the pancreas and normalizes bowel activity.
Celery has anti-allergic, antiseptic, anti-inflammatory, wound healing properties. Light laxative properties of celery and its ability to improve the overall tone of the body and enhance physical and mental performance are known.
Spinach is very useful for pregnant women and young children, as it contains almost all the necessary vitamins and many minerals. This vegetable is perfectly digested, because it contains substances that stimulate the activity of the salivary and pancreas glands.
Contraindications for use
In spinach, a high content of oxalic acid is contraindicated in diseases of the kidneys, gallbladder, liver and duodenum. Do not give spinach in large quantities to children.
To neutralize the effect of acid, you should add a little cream or milk during cooking. You need to choose only young spinach leaves.
spinach in children's diet
At 8 months, you can begin to introduce your baby to this healthy vegetable. At this age, you can offer your child 50-100 g of boiled spinach with a drop of butter. Do not give spinach more than 2 times a week, it can cause allergies. Ready spinach is better to eat immediately, because during long-term storage, nitrogenous salts are formed in it, which are very harmful to the body.
The stool of a child given spinach may temporarily change color.
Preparation and consistency
You need to choose only young spinach leaves. It can be stored frozen for about three months.
Spinach is eaten fresh or boiled, baked, used as a filling for pies, added to salads, appetizers and sauces.
Spinach Recipes for Kids
Muffins with cheese and spinach (from 3 years old)
Ingredients:
- Spinach - 150-200 g
- Cheese - 150 g
- Chicken egg - 2 pcs.
- Sour cream - 4 tablespoons
- Olive oil - 1 tbsp
- Butter - 1 tbsp.
- Flour - 200-250 g
- Baking powder - 1 tsp
- Salt - to taste
Cooking:
- Cut the spinach, stew for 2-3 minutes in a pan with the addition of butter.
- Beat eggs with salt, add sour cream, olive oil, flour with baking powder.
- Add spinach and grated cheese to the dough.
- Arrange the mass in molds, bake in a preheated oven at 200 degrees until cooked.
