Feeding your little one can come across as an insurmountable challenge. Continue reading this article till the end to find out how to make potato mash for babies.
If we talk about the nutrition content of potatoes, they are the energy powerhouse for babies. They have all the essential nutrients like iron, folate, zinc, vitamin B6, and choline, which is a crucial nutrient that facilitates brain functions. Adding to this information, potatoes also contain a special type of fiber called resistant starch. Potato mash facilitates the growth of beneficial gut bacteria in babies, thereby supporting and nourishing the baby’s body.
Confused about peeling the potato or not? Here’s the guide for you.
The skin of potatoes is rich in antioxidants and essential plant nutrients. At the same time, you need to pay heed to the fact that organic and conventionally grown potatoes might contain some pesticides due to continuously increasing soil pollution and soil quality degradation. That is why, to rather be safe than sorry, the best deal is to peel it off before cooking.
When Is Potato Mash For Babies Alright?
Whether or not you can feed your baby potatoes is mostly dependent on his/her age.
At the very least, you should wait 4-6 months before serving. Mashed potatoes are a smooth, easy-to-digest dish that you can quickly prepare for babies. Potato Mash for babies can certainly be considered the best, most nourishing, and easiest to make food.
Before you whip up a batch of potatoes for your baby at the age of four months, pay attention to the following indicators of preparedness:
- The tongue-thrust reflex is no longer active in the baby.
- Your little one is able to sit up without help.
- A child grabs for something to eat and tries to swallow it.
When your child is 8 months or older, you can introduce other vegetables along with mashed potatoes for babies to enjoy.
How To Make Potato Mash For Babies
We all love potatoes, and there’s a high chance that our babies will love them as well. Here is a complete step-by-step guide to making potato mash for babies.
Ingredients
- One medium-sized potato
- 1 Tsp Butter
- 1 Tbsp Breastmilk or formula milk
- Salt as per taste
- ⅛ Tbsp Pepper powder
- 1 Tbsp Parsley/Coriander leaves
Procedure
- The potatoes that are firm and do not have any cracks, soft spots, and blemishes are the best choices to make potato mash for babies. You can extract five ounces of puree from one medium potato.
- Rinse the potato with cold water and peel its skin.
- Cut the potato into small cubes and put them in a pressure cooker with some water and wait until it gives out 2-3 whistles.
- Once the cooking part is done, let the pressure release from the cooker naturally. Next, strain out the water and put the potato in a bowl.
- Use the back of a fork or a spoon to mash the small cubes of potatoes thoroughly. You can use a potato masher to do it to ease the task.
- Now, put some butter in a pan and allow it to heat. Once it starts to melt, add asafoetida and the cooked potato to the pan.
- Add a pinch of pepper and salt (only if your baby is old enough). After a pause, add breastmilk or formula milk to the pan to make it puree.
- Garnish the potatoes with chopped coriander leaves and serve the potato mash in a bowl.
Other Things To Be Kept In Mind About The Recipe
- You can avoid adding salt and pepper to the potato mash for babies as it may be harmful to kids below 1 year of age.
- Always consult your pediatrician before introducing any solid food to your weaning baby.
- Lastly, if you add homemade butter to this recipe, it will give potatoes a rich flavor and make them even better.
Health Benefits of Mashed Potatoes
Following is the list of all the benefits of Potato mash for babies. Let us take a tour through them together.
- Potatoes facilitate healthy weight gain in babies as they are rich in carbohydrates and dietary fiber.
- Potatoes consist of phosphorus that helps in the bone development of babies.
- The adequate amount of choline in potatoes helps in memory development, learning enhancement, and sleeping habits.
- At last, feeding mashed potatoes to babies provides them Vitamin C. It helps in the development of healthy glowing skin.
Precautions While Feeding Potato Mash To Babies
Now, the most important section of the article, the precautions! When it comes to your baby, it is your foremost responsibility to keep a note of all the safety measures. Here is a list of a few things that you must keep in mind while giving mashed potato to your baby:
- A drastic increase in potato consumption makes the baby gain more and more weight. According to a survey, babies gain approximately 1.3 pounds.
- Moreover, if you feed your babies with huge and excessive amounts of potatoes, the risk of developing diabetes increases over time. To avoid this situation, you can replace potatoes with multigrain as they grow.
Final Takeaway
Potatoes can be safely included in your baby’s diet once they reach the age of six months. It’s one of the most popular veggies for gaining weight in a steady, balanced and healthy way. Mashed potatoes are one of the healthiest foods for weaning babies, who will enjoy the soft, creamy texture and delectable flavor.
Besides, mashed potatoes are a less allergic food that can be served every day at any mealtime since they are easy to digest and a major source of essential vitamins and minerals. Finally, this dish will help all mothers achieve their objective of incorporating vegetables into their children’s diets.
