Pumpkin For Babies: Health Benefits, Puree And Other Recipes

Image: Shutterstock

If your baby has started eating solids, you can consider trying pumpkin for them. Pumpkin for babies is a nutritious vegetable rich in essential nutrients, such as vitamin A (beta carotene) and minerals that help develop the baby. You can add it to different seasonal vegetables and fruits to make healthy homemade baby foods.

However, knowing the right time and age-appropriate ways to feed pumpkin to babies is important to ensure your baby digests and assimilates it properly. Keep reading to learn the right age to feed pumpkins to babies, their health benefits, and easy pumpkin baby food recipes you can try.

When To Introduce Pumpkin To Babies?

Pumpkin, a symbol of the autumn season and harvest, can be a nutritious addition to your baby’s diet. Once your baby crosses the six-month milestone and starts eating solid food, you can safely introduce pumpkin to them as a part of their weaning diet. It can be prepared in almost any form (steaming, roasting, boiled, grilled, etc.) you desire to feed your baby.

But if you want to introduce pumpkin seeds are not recommended for a baby or toddler as they might be allergic to them. If you want to introduce the seeds too, you may do so after consulting your baby‘s pediatrician because allergic reactions to nuts and seeds are case-specific. Be cautious and note for signs and symptoms of allergy if you suspect it.

Nutritional Value Of Pumpkin

Pumpkin is low in fat and calories, but high in fiber and its mineral composition well-balanced. Here is a quick look at the nutritional value of pumpkin, fresh, cooked, and fat not added. 

Source: USDA (1)

Health Benefits Of Pumpkin For Babies

1. Supplies essential nutrients: Vitamins and minerals found in pumpkin are essential for the development of babies. For example, calcium and magnesium help in building stronger bones, phosphorus aids in brain functioning, digestion, hormone balance, etc.

2. Aids digestion: Pumpkins are an excellent source of fiber, which makes them easy to digest. It can help regulate your baby’s bowel movements.

3. Rich in antioxidants: Beta-carotene is a pigment that gives yellow to deep orange color to fruits and vegetables. The naturally occurring retinol (pro-vitamin A) possesses antioxidantⁱMan-made or natural chemicals that prevent cell damage caused by free radicals properties and enhances the immune system (2). Also, your baby’s body converts a part of beta-carotene into vitamin A, which is of importance for the baby’s growth.

4. Balances metabolism: A cup of pumpkin contains approximately 560mg of potassium which helps meet the daily intake recommended for babies up to 12 months (3). Potassium helps in metabolism and improves the functioning of the muscles.

5. Good for the immune system: Pumpkins contain a decent amount of vitamin C that helps boost immunity and protect your baby against cold and flu.

6. Helps your baby sleep better: Pumpkins contain tryptophan that helps the body produce serotoninⁱA chemical messenger that helps regulate mood, sleep, and appetite . The amino acid helps induce calmness and drowsiness and thus makes your baby relax and sleep better.

7. Anthelmintic properties: Babies are prone to not just infections but also worms and other macroscopic organisms. Pumpkin, which is rich in anthelminticⁱMedications used to protect the human body from flat and round parasitic worms, also called helminths properties, can come to your rescue in such cases.

Note: Check with the doctor before introducing any new food. Generalities may not apply to your little one.

If you want to try giving pumpkin to your baby, then do go for it as it is safe as well as healthful. However, you need to select the right kind of pumpkin for them.

How To Select Pumpkin For Babies?

As per the Environmental Research Organisation (EWG), pumpkins do not belong to the ‘dirty dozen’ foods that are severely contaminated with pesticides. So, purchasing an organic one is a personal choice.

If you are buying an uncut pumpkin, select the one that is orange in color and without any cuts or soft spots. Go for one that is heavy for its size. Also, it should not be too ripe.

Pick smaller, tender cooking pumpkins, which are also called sugar pumpkins or pie pumpkins. The smaller pumpkins are tender and less stringy than the larger ones. Sugar pumpkins are sweet and add flavor to baked foods and soups. If you are buying a packet of peeled and cut pumpkin, select the ones with deep orange color.

How To Store Pumpkins?

Pumpkins deteriorate fast if stored below 50°F (10°C). Here are simple tips you can use to follow to keep pumpkins fresh:

• Do not store pumpkins on concrete, garden soil, or bare ground.
• Maintain an appropriate temperature range of 10-16°C for storage. Higher temperatures may make the pumpkins stringy.
• Store pumpkins in a cold, dark, and dry place to avoid moisture.
• Maintain proper air circulation to keep the surface of pumpkins dry, as it can help prevent or retard fungi and bacteria growth.
• Do not store pumpkins near other ripening fruits, as they release ethylene gas, which can shorten pumpkins’ storage life.
• Inspect weekly for soft spots, especially underneath the pumpkin.
• Discard pumpkins that show signs of decay or potential infestation.

Can You Use Canned Pumpkin For The Baby?

Canned food is not ideal for babies. Always choose fresh fruits and vegetables for babies. Pumpkin pie mix should not be used for babies as it contains starch, sugars, and other additives.

How To Cook Pumpkin For Babies?

Rinse pumpkins in cold water, use a vegetable brush to scrub the skin to remove any dirt. Rinse again. Cut the pumpkin in half. Use a spoon to scoop out the seeds. If you have picked a pre-cut pumpkin, place it in a colander and rinse well with cold water.

Cook immediately after cutting. Avoid prolonged cooking to preserve the nutritive value. Pumpkins may now be boiled, poached, steamed or baked

Baking Method

• Brush each half with olive oil. Place them with the skin-side down in a baking dish.
• Bake for nearly 45 minutes at 375^oF, until it turns tender.
• Remove it from the oven and scoop the flesh into a bowl.

Boiling Method

• Boil water in a medium saucepan. Cook diced pumpkin until tender.
• Drain and rinse the boiled pumpkin under cool water for about three minutes.
• Use cooked pumpkin immediately or store it in a freezer as cooked chunks or in the form of a puree. Cooked pumpkin may turn brownish orange.
• You may feed plain pumpkin to your baby in the form of a puree or mixed with homemade cereals or yogurt. A pumpkin weighing two pounds can be made into 28 ounces of puree.
• Offer baked pumpkin as finger foods to an older baby. Rub a bit of cinnamon and butter inside the pumpkin before baking, to make it tasty.

Healthy And Delicious Pumpkin Recipes For Babies

Here are a few healthy, delicious, and easy to make pumpkin baby food recipes you need to try:

1. Simple Pumpkin Puree

Image: IStock

You can make 28 ounces of puree from a pumpkin of two-pound weight.

You will need:

• 1 sugar pumpkin
• Water
• A pinch of cinnamon and nutmeg powder (optional)
• Butter (optional)

How to:

1. Puree the cooked pumpkin in a blender or food processor until smooth. Serve it to your baby after sprinkling some nutmeg and cinnamon powder.
2. You can also add a dollop of butter for extra creaminess.
3. Add water, formula or breastmilk for desired consistency.

2. Apple And Pumpkin Puree

Image: IStock

You will need:

• 1 sugar pumpkin
• 3 peeled and cored apples
• Water
• A pinch of cinnamon and nutmeg powder (optional)

How to:

1. Cut the pumpkin in half, peel and deseed it. Cut it into cubes.
2. Slice the apples.
3. Pour water in a pan, add a steamer basket and place the pumpkin cubes and apples inside. Bring the water to a boil.
4. Cover the pan and cook until the apple and pumpkin turn tender.
5. Remove the pan from heat and keep it aside to cool.
6. You can add a pinch of cinnamon and nutmeg powder before serving the mashed apple and pumpkin puree to the baby.

Quick tip

Add a tablespoon of unsweetened, plain Greek yogurt to add probiotics to the dish and enhance its consistency and taste.

3. Apple, Pumpkin And Oatmeal Breakfast Recipe

Image: IStock

You will need:

• ½ cup of applesauce
• ½ cup of pumpkin puree
• 1½ cups of cooked oatmeal
• A pinch of cinnamon and nutmeg powder (optional)

How to:

1. Mix the applesauce and pumpkin puree. Add the oatmeal and stir well.
2. Make sure there are no lumps. You can blend the mix in a food processor to get a smooth consistency.
3. Sprinkle the nutmeg and cinnamon powder before serving.

4. Pumpkin Pancake

Image: IStock

You will need:

• 1 cup of all-purpose flour
• 2tbsp brown sugar
• 2tbsp baking powder
• ½tbsp ginger paste
• ½tbsp cinnamon powder
• 1/8tbsp nutmeg powder
• A pinch of crushed cloves
• 1/8tbsp salt
• 1 cup of milk
• ½ cup of canned pumpkin
• ½tbsp vanilla extract
• 1 egg
• 2tbsp unsweetened applesauce
• Cooking spray

How to:

1. Mix the sugar, flour, baking powder, spices and salt in a bowl.
2. Mix the milk, vanilla, pumpkin, applesauce and egg in a separate bowl and then combine the contents of the two bowls and stir well.
3. Place a pan over medium heat and grease it with cooking spray. Pour a ladle of the mix in the pan. Spread it evenly to make a pancake.
4. Cook until it turns golden brown on both sides.
5. You can add some crushed nuts or a dollop of yogurt on top before serving.

Quick tip

Instead of one cup of all-purpose flour, use half a cup of oatmeal and all-purpose flour to make the dish healthier.

5. Creamy Pumpkin Soup

Image: IStock

You will need:

• 3 cups of cubed red pumpkins
• ¼ cup of chopped onions
• ¼ cup of fresh cream
• 2tbsp butter
• Salt and pepper as per taste
• Water

For garnish:

• 2tbsp chopped spring onions (optional)

How to:

1. Melt the butter in a pan and sauté the onions.
2. Add the pumpkin pieces and sauté.
3. Now add three cups of water and seasoning. Let the mix simmer until the pumpkins turn tender.
4. Turn off the heat and let the mix cool down for 15 minutes. Now transfer it to a food processor to blend.
5. Transfer it back to the pan. Add the cream and let the soup come to a boil.
6. Garnish with chopped green onions and serve.

6. Pumpkin Custard

Image: Shutterstock

You will need:

• 750g peeled and cubed pumpkin
• 1½ cups of milk
• 2 eggs
• 1tbsp vanilla
• ½tbsp allspice powder
• 1tbsp cinnamon powder
• Water

For topping:

• 2tbsp brown sugar
• ½tbsp cinnamon powder
• ½tbsp allspice

How to:

1. Cook the pumpkin in a saucepan with water until it turns tender.
2. Preheat the oven to 360^o
3. Blend the pumpkin in a food processor to a puree.
4. Mix the milk, eggs, vanilla, and allspice and cinnamon powder in a bowl. Stir well.
5. Now add the mix to the pumpkin puree and blend again.
6. Pour the mix into ramekins.
7. Add the ingredients of the topping in a bowl and mix well. Sprinkle it over the mix.
8. Place the ramekins in a baking dish that contains water.
9. Bake for 30 minutes and serve.

7. Easy Pumpkin Dip

Image: IStock

You will need:

• 250g boiled and mashed red pumpkin
• 1tbsp roasted and powdered peanuts or mixed nuts
• 1tbsp finely chopped coriander
• ½ cup of fresh yogurt
• 1tbsp sugar
• Salt to taste

How to:

1. Mix all the ingredients in a bowl. Refrigerate it for 30 minutes.
2. Offer it as a dip to your baby with fresh fruits and vegetables.

8. Brown Rice Pumpkin Risotto

Image: IStock

You will need:

• 4tbsp olive oil
• 4 cloves of minced garlic
• 2 minced shallots
• 1½ cup brown rice
• 2½ cup chicken broth
• ¼tbsp nutmeg powder
• ¼tbsp salt
• Fresh pepper powder for taste
• 1 cup of cooked pumpkin puree
• 2tbsp freshly chopped sage leaves
• ¼tbsp cinnamon powder
• 1 cup of grated cheese

How to:

1. Heat the oil in a pan over medium heat. Add garlic and shallots. Cook until they turn brown and soften.
2. Now add the brown rice and cook for about two minutes.
3. Add the chicken broth, nutmeg powder, salt, and pepper. Turn up the heat and let it all come to a boil. Keep stirring.
4. Cover the pan and reduce the heat to low. Let it simmer for about 30 to 35 minutes.
5. Add the pumpkin puree, sage, and cinnamon powder. Let it simmer for 10 to 15 minutes.
6. Remove the pan from the heat and add the cheese. Cover the pan with the lid and let it sit for about five minutes before serving.

Quick tip

Rinse brown rice thoroughly under running tap water before cooking to remove chemical residues if any.

9. Baked Pumpkin Mac N Cheese

Image: Shutterstock

You will need:

• 8oz uncooked pasta
• 1 cup of canned pumpkin
• 1 cup of cream
• 4tbsp cream cheese
• 1 cup of grated Cheddar Cheese
• ½ cup of grated cheese
• 1½tbsp pumpkin pie spice
• Sea salt as per taste
• Black pepper powder as per taste
• 1/3 cup of breadcrumbs
• ¼ cup of shredded Parmesan cheese
• Cooking spray
• Water

How to:

1. Boil the pasta for ten minutes. Drain the water and rinse the pasta under cool water. Keep them aside.
2. Preheat the oven to 400^oF and grease a casserole dish.
3. In a pan, heat the cream and the pumpkin over medium heat. Keep cooking until the mix starts to thicken.
4. Reduce the heat and add the cheese. Keep stirring until the cheese melts completely.
5. Add a dash of pumpkin pie spice, salt, and pepper. Now add the pasta and stir well.
6. Pour this mix into the casserole dish. Sprinkle the breadcrumbs, some parmesan cheese on top and the remaining pumpkin pie spice.
7. Bake the pasta for ten minutes and serve.

10. Pumpkin And Spinach Roti

Image: Shutterstock

You will need:

• 1 cup of grated red pumpkin
• 1 cup of chopped spinach
• 1 cup of whole wheat flour
• ½tbsp turmeric powder
• 1tbsp oil
• Salt to taste
• Butter

How to:

1. Heat the oil in a pan. Add the spinach and sauté. Remove it from heat and let it cool down.
2. In the meanwhile, mix all the other ingredients, except butter, to knead a soft dough. Roll out the dough balls to make rotis.
3. Heat a flat pan and place the rolled out roti on the top of it. Add a little butter and cook the roti until it turns golden brown on both sides.

11. Pumpkin & Pear Puree

Image: IStock

You will need:

• ½ cup pumpkin puree
• 1 pear, peeled & cored & diced

How to:

1. Mash the peer and mix pumpkin puree.

12. Pumpkin, Banana & Peaches

Image: Shutterstock

You will need:

• ½ cup pumpkin puree (fresh or canned)
• 1 pear – peeled, cored, diced
• 1 peach –peeled, pitted, diced

How to:

1. Steam peach and pear together.
2. Mash them and blend in a mixture.
3. Add pumpkin puree to the mixture.

13. Brown Rice And Pumpkin Porridge

Image: IStock

You will need:

• ½tbsp brown rice
• 1 cup water
• 120g seeded, skinned pumpkin

How to:

1. Wash, rinse, and soak brown rice in water for half an hour.
2. Steam peeled pumpkin and cook for 25 minutes.
3. Blend brown rice and pumpkin along with water.
4. Put the mixture into a pan and boil for two minutes on high flame and simmer for more than five minutes. Keep stirring.
5. Sieve the boiled porridge and cool it down.

You can replace brown rice with organic millet to enhance the dish’s nutritional value. An anonymous mother from Malaysia shares her porridge recipe, “I fill a saucepan with water and bring it to a boil. Then, I added the pumpkin seeds and hulled millet. After boiling, I leave it on a simmer and, if needed, top it with water. After 40 minutes, the porridge will be ready, and I feed it after cooling it down. My girl, at 10 months plus, is still not ready to consume the normal savory porridge, which is not pureed. She prefers smooth puree that is not too thick. This pumpkin millet porridge is pureed before feeding (i).”

Tips

When you start introducing new foods to your baby, follow a few tips to keep your baby safe while they discover new flavors and textures:

• Seek approval from a pediatrician before adding any new food to your darling’s meal.
• Introduce one new food at a time to check for any adverse reactions associated with that food.
• Do not introduce any new food if your baby is unwell or if they are on medication.

Infographic: Health Benefits Of Pumpkin For Babies

Pumpkin is a nutrient-dense food that offers various health benefits to babies. The infographic below provides more information on the benefits of incorporating it into your baby’s diet. If you are unsure how to introduce pumpkin to your child, consult your pediatrician. You can also experiment with different recipes and serving sizes to determine what works best for your baby. Enjoy feeding your little one!

Illustration: Momjunction Design Team

Try out the recipes for your baby. If you have some good pumpkin recipe for babies, do share them with us.

Illustration: Pumpkin For Babies: Health Benefits Puree And Other Recipes

Image: Stable Diffusion/MomJunction Design Team

Delight your baby with this delicious pumpkin rice puree! Perfect for lunch and dinner, this easy-to-make recipe is sure to be a hit with your little one.

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Jyoti BenjaminMS, RD, CSO, FAND, CD

Jyoti Benjamin has 25 years of experience as a clinical dietitian and currently works in Seattle. She focuses on teaching people the value of good nutrition and helping them lead healthy lives by natural means.Benjamin has a masters in Foods and Nutrition, and has been a longtime member and Fellow of AND (Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics) and the International Confederation of Dietetic Association.

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Swati PatwalM.Sc. (Food & Nutrition), MBA

Swati Patwal is a clinical nutritionist, a Certified Diabetes Educator (CDE) and a toddler mom with more than a decade of experience in diverse fields of nutrition. She started her career as a CSR project coordinator for a healthy eating and active lifestyle project catering to school children.

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