Why Give Babies Soup?

Adding soup to your baby's menu is important for several reasons:

Nutritional benefits: Soups can provide babies with essential vitamins, minerals, and nutrients they need for growth and development. They can also be a good source of protein and carbohydrates.

Hydration: Soup is a great way to increase your baby's fluid intake, especially if they're not drinking enough water.

Easy to digest: Soups are easy to digest and gentle on your baby's developing digestive system. They can also help settle an upset stomach.

Introducing new tastes and textures: Introducing babies to different soups can help them develop a taste for new flavours and textures, which can be useful for encouraging healthy eating habits later in life.

Convenience: Soups can be made in larger batches and stored in the fridge or freezer, making them an easy, convenient option for busy parents.

Spinach, for example, is a nutritious food that can offer plenty of benefits when added to your baby's menu. Some of these benefits include:

Nutritional value: Spinach is a good source of vitamins and minerals, including iron, calcium, vitamin K, vitamin A, and folic acid. These nutrients are important for your baby's growth and development.

Supports eye health: Spinach is rich in vitamin A, which is important for maintaining good vision and overall eye health.

Supports brain development: Spinach contains high levels of folic acid, which is linked to better brain development and cognitive function.

Promotes a healthy digestive system: Spinach is high in fibre, which helps support regular bowel movements and a healthy digestive system.

Anti-inflammatory properties: Spinach has anti-inflammatory properties that can help reduce inflammation in the body and support overall health.

Versatility: Spinach can be prepared in many different ways, making it a versatile addition to your baby's menu. It can be steamed, pureed, or added to soups, stews, and casseroles.

Introduces new tastes and textures: Adding spinach to your baby's menu can help introduce them to new tastes and textures, which can be useful for encouraging healthy eating habits later in life.

Here's a quick and tasty recipe I'd suggest: Spinach Soup:

*contains allergens

3 tablespoons fat (olive oil or similar)

700 ml vegetable stock

1. Wash and peel the onion, garlic, carrot, and potato. Put them in a food chopper together with the spinach and chop everything very finely.

2. Bring the stock to the boil in a medium-sized pot. Add the vegetables to cook, along with the fat and salt. Let it simmer until the vegetables are completely soft, about 20 minutes.

3. Ladle out a teacup's worth of the soup and let it cool completely. In a small bowl, beat the egg yolk and slowly mix it with the cooled soup, stirring the whole time as you temper it. Pour the tempered mixture back into the main pot of soup, adding it slowly and stirring vigorously. Let the soup simmer for a further 3-5 minutes.

*From the book "103 Recipes for Super Baby", recipe No. 23 / page 34

Find lots more useful, easy, and tasty recipes in our 103 Recipes book: https://otmamazamami.com/recepti