Tomatoes For Babies: Benefits, Precautions And Recipes

Image: Shutterstock

Tomato, botanically considered a fruit, is a versatile food rich in bioactive compounds and vital nutrients, such as vitamin C and lycopene. Hence, the health benefits of tomatoes for babies are numerous, and they could be introduced to their diet during the weaning stage(1)(2).

However, since tomatoes are acidic, they may cause acid reflux, mouth rashes, or a diaper rash.Hence, a clear understanding is required of how and at what age babies should be introduced to a diet containing tomatoes.

Read this article to learn about the health benefits and precautions to take while feeding tomatoes to your little one, the age-appropriate manner to feed them, and some delicious ways to prepare them for your baby.

When To Introduce Tomatoes To Baby?

大多数婴儿可以吃煮熟的西红柿age of six months.

You can feed your baby steamed or boiled tomatoes (without skin) in mash or puree form.Removing peel is essential for younger babies as it’s tougher to digest.Besides, it can stick to the baby’s mouth and cause gagging. Therefore, feeding de-skinned tomatoes to a baby who has just started eating solid food is advisable.

Once they develop the taste and digestibility for tomatoes, you can feed them roasted, grilled, sautéed, braised, and oven-dried tomatoes. You can use tomatoes to prepare several tomato-based dishes, such as tomato and vegetable sauce, tomato soup, and tomato curry. The first 1,000 days of life are an important window to introduce new foods, flavors, and textures. Try adding different herbs and spices when serving tomatoes, try different texture – if you baby doesn’t like pureed tomatoes, try steamed or another method. It may take 10-15 exposures before a baby accepts a new food. Also, you can add tomatoes to other soups, savory porridges, stews, and curries, to feed tomatoes to your baby in different ways.

Related: Tomatoes For Babies: Benefits, Precautions And Recipes