Volgograd explained how useful cabbage for children

A rich vitamin cocktail, a natural absorbent and a reliable assistant in the formation of immunity - cabbage deserves an honorable place in the children's menu. The main thing is to know at what age and in what form to offer it to the baby.

A Vitamin Bomb for a Growing Body

Cabbage contains a real treasure: vitamins C, B groups, PP, A, E and K, as well as magnesium, potassium, calcium, phosphorus, iron and zinc. This vegetable acts as a natural absorbent, gently cleaning the body of toxins. Due to its low calorie content and high fiber content, it is suitable even for children prone to excess weight, improves digestion and has a beneficial effect on the heart and nervous system.

Different types of cabbage play a unique role in the development of the child. Cauliflower and broccoli are favorites for the first complementary foods. Cauliflower is rich in pectin and soft organic acids, and its delicate texture carefully envelops the immature gastrointestinal tract of the baby. Broccoli holds the record for iron, phosphorus and magnesium content, critical for bone formation and healthy growth.

Peking cabbage stimulates hematopoiesis and contains lysine, an essential amino acid that helps repair tissues and has an antiviral effect, which is especially important during cold season.

Caution with cabbage and medical restrictions

With white cabbage, the situation is different. Because of coarse fiber, pediatricians do not recommend introducing it into the diet of a child earlier than one year. Even after this age, the vegetable should be offered only in a thermally processed form - boiled or stewed. Raw product can cause increased gas formation, colic and discomfort in the abdomen.

In chronic diseases of the gastrointestinal tract - gastritis, colitis or a tendency to bloating - the use of cabbage in any form should be strictly limited or excluded, having previously consulted a doctor.

Culinary tricks: how to cook cabbage so that the child eats everything

For baby food, frying in a large amount of oil is not suitable. The best ways are stewing, cooking, baking and steaming. They retain most of the vitamins and make the vegetable soft, juicy and easily digestible.

From cabbage you can prepare a lot of dishes that will be loved even by fastidious children. On the first - light vegetable herbs, children's borscht, mashed cauliflower soup or brewed soup with croutons. The second - vegetable stew, steamed cabbage patties, stewed cabbage with carrots or a casserole of broccoli and cauliflower under a cheese crust.

Even a salad can be tasty and useful: mix finely minted cabbage with grated carrots and a drop of vegetable oil, and add boiled broccoli or cauliflower with pieces of meat, an egg or a small amount of cheese and nuts (in the absence of allergies).

Including different types of cabbage in the diet, parents provide the growing body with reliable protection and building material for healthy development.