Introducing Dark Green Leafy Vegetables to Babies Safely

#61: Can babies safely eat dark green leafy vegetables? Absolutely! It’s not safe for babies to eat raw greens or foods like lettuce or uncooked spinach or kale...but there are a number of ways you can safely prepare greens for baby-led weaning.

In this episode I’m sharing 5 easy ways to feed your baby dark green leafy vegetables. Greens contain unique flavors for your baby to try plus some valuable nutrients. And while plant based foods with iron (like the type in spinach and other greens) aren’t as easily absorbed by the body as animal foods, they’re still important foods for babies to eat (safely!)

Dive into this episode for 5 easy ways your baby can safely learn to eat greens!

Listen to this episode to learn:

• Spinach, kale, collard greens, mustard greens, swiss chard and beet greens
• 5 recipe ideas shared in this episode:
• Beet green pesto - you can make this with any green, chop & cook or saute, combine in a blender with lots of olive oil & a little parmesan cheese, add salt for adults later
• Swiss chard fritters - again works with any green, use ½ cup of chopped cooked green, 1 cup dry cooked grain and 1 egg. Stir to combine and fry in patties in a high smoke point oil like avocado oil. I like the Primal Kitchen avocado oil & use code FERRARO10 for 10% off at checkout here.
• Collard green egg cups - works with greens, especially spinach but combine lightly fork-scrambled raw eggs, a smidge of cheese, seasoning like sage or rosemary or basil and some cooked chopped green. Spray muffin tins with nonstick spray and cook at 350 degrees F for 15-20 min or until egg is set & cooked through
• Spinach manicotti - ricotta cheese is a surprisingly low sodium cheese that works well for baby-led weaning. Combine ricotta with eggs and cooked greens or spinach; spoon into pre-cooked manicotti pasta tubes or cooked pasta shells and bake at 350 degrees F for 30 min or until warmed through. Cool before serving to baby.
• Kale chips - these are for older babies because crunchy foods can be a choking hazard for earlier eaters. Commercial kale chips are too high in sodium for babies but you can make your own kale chips by spraying with olive oil and baking in a 325 degree oven for 15-20 minutes or until slightly crispy
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Shownotes for this episode can be found here:

https://www.babyledweaning.co/podcast/61

Links from this episode:

• Baby-Led Weaning with Katie Ferraro program with the 100 First Foods™ Daily Meal Plan, join here: https://babyledweaning.co/program 
• Baby-Led Weaning for Beginners free online workshop with 100 First Foods™ list to all attendees, register here: https://babyledweaning.co/baby-led-weaning-for-beginners

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Not sure about which foods to offer your baby next? Get your copy of my original 100 FIRST FOODS list on my free online video workshop called BABY-LED WEANING FOR BEGINNERS.

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Want guided help on how to make all of the 100 FIRST FOODS™ safely for your baby? My program BABY-LED WEANING WITH KATIE FERRARO has a 100 FIRST FOODS daily meal plan and everything else you need to start solid foods safely with baby-led weaning. CLICK HERE TO JOIN.

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Be sure to follow @babyledweanteam on Instagram and our Baby-Led Weaning YouTube channel for more information about helping your baby transition to solid foods safely.

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