Your baby's little jars are not doomed to be bland! Many spices allow you to spice up your purees and compotes. Dr. Anna Boctor, pediatrician, explains the procedure to follow.
Cumin, paprika, curry… Many of us use – or even overuse – spices in our everyday dishes. However, in our children's meals, it less often occurs to us to “spice” them. For fear of a dosage error, for fear of refusal or potential (false) consequences on the taste buds of our little ones. A mistake, according to our pediatrician, which reminds us how good it is to have fun with spices.
Beneficial spices
We know: spices are full of health benefits. They stimulate the body, give a boost in case of fatigue and protect against certain conditions thanks to their anti-inflammatory and antioxidant properties.
Cumin, ginger, paprika and other spices from your cupboards therefore combine qualities… and are readily included in the diet of little ones.
From a very young age, in fact, it is possible to gently accustom the child to spices. To do this, use small quantities and only add one spice (or aromatic) to your dishes at a time. Cinnamon in applesauce, curry in mashed cauliflower. Then, later, you can mix the spices to create more elaborate dishes.
Then observe your child's reaction: usually, toddlers are rather won over by these new flavors (because they are curious, by nature). If he makes a face – or can't stand this or that spice – don't force him. Spices can sometimes cause stomach aches.
Another important detail: if spices awaken the taste buds of little ones, pay attention to the health quality of the herbs and spices used. They must not contain pesticide residues.
Introduce the spices, instructions for use
Surprisingly, spices can be introduced very early into your child's dishes.
“From the age of 4 months, it is possible to introduce him to spices. In reality, there is no order to respect, nor timing. It all depends on family and cultural habits. In Thailand or India for example, babies eat spicy foods very quickly. They eat the same dishes as other members of the family“, explains Dr. Anna Boctor.
His main recommendation?
“What is served on the family table must also be served to the child. Offering him spices from the start therefore makes sense. Nuts (mixed) should also be presented to the child. Talking to him, explaining foods to him, playing with colors and textures is recommended. Also make him taste the food on his own“, adds the expert, who invites parents not to “get stuck” if the child makes a face.
Indeed, this form of “disgust” is linked to novelty (new taste, new texture) but does not mean that the child does not like this or that spice. The right reflex? Offer him the food again a few weeks later.
Don't have time to cook (spicy)? Certain brands stand out today for their excellent composition, which is close to home-made (French organic ingredients, low temperature steam cooking, etc.) such as Yooji, which offers small, fragrant and inspired dishes (Tajine with prunes and cumin , lentil dahl…) or even Good Goût (zucchini compote, coconut milk and curry…).
