Spinach For Babies: Right Age, Benefits And Recipes To Try

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Spinach is a nutrient-dense food source rich in multiple minerals, including calcium and potassium. It is also a good source of vitamin C, enabling iron absorption in the body. Thus, since the health benefits of spinach for babies are numerous, it should be an essential part of their diet.

Read this post to learn when babies can begin eating spinach, its health benefits, nutritional value, and precautions to consider when feeding it to your baby.

When Can Babies Eat Spinach?

You must wait till your baby is six months old to introduce spinach to his/her diet as part of the introduction to solids (1). The leaves are rich in compounds called nitrates, which cannot be digested by the developing digestive system of infants.

Health Benefits Of Spinach For Babies

Spinach is a treasure trove of minerals and incorporating it into your baby’s diet can promote healthy eating habits early on. Here is why it is one the perfect solid foods for your baby:

1. Makes bones stronger: Spinach is rich in minerals such as calcium, magnesium, and phosphorus, all of which play a significant role in strengthening bones and aiding in a baby’s development.

2. Good for muscles: Around 100g spinach contains 2.14g of protein, which makes it a good vegetarian source of amino acids and combines well with other high-protein foods such as meats, cottage cheese and legumes.

3. Healthy circulatory system: Iron along with protein, helps in proper circulation in the body as this combination of iron and protein helps in building hemoglobin profile . It is perhaps the most well-known benefit of spinach.

4. Good for immunity: This Multivitamin food has all the major vitamins required for a healthy immune system. In fact, spinach is a rich source of vitamin K (2)
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5. Aids in hydration: Spinach is over 90% water that means it is naturally rich in fluids to keep your baby hydrated.

6. Benefits the eyesight: Since spinach is a rich source of beta caroteneⁱIt is a plant pigment that works as an antioxidant and helps boost immunity. The body converts beta carotene into vitamin A. (vitamin A), it aids in maintaining and improving the eyesight.

7. Acts as a natural laxativeⁱIt is a class of drugs used to treat constipation by loosening the stool and increasing bowel movement. : Babies who often get constipated may be given spinach as it absorbs water and adds bulk to the stool.

8. Can kill intestinal worms: Weekly consumption of spinach ensures the removal of pest and worms that feed off the intestine and often make babies weak and sick.

Nutritional Value

Here is the nutritional breakdown of the various nutrients found in 100g spinach.

Source: United States Department of Agriculture (3)

How To Select And Store Spinach?

Select:

• Spinach is available throughout the year, either in frozen or fresh form. Buy the fresh ones since the frozen or commercially processed variants tend to have more nitrates (4). Also, buy the vegetable during the season of its availability when the nutrient value is high. Avoid spinach during summer.

• Fresh spinach has ample of green leaves, intact leaf midrib, and feels like a freshly plucked leaf of a plant. Do not buy if the leaf has blemishes, is yellowish, or has holes which were probably made by pests.

• Fold the leaf, and if it wrinkles severely or does not unfold, then it has low water content, indicating it is not fresh.

• The stem of the leaf should be supple and feel pulpy. Such stems break with a snap when bent or twisted.

• Spinach is prone to pesticides contamination (5). Therefore, prefer organic varieties.

Storage:

• Chop the roots, if the vegetable has any since they are extremely fibrous and difficult to cook.

• Wash the spinach thoroughly with water since they are grown close to the ground and may have attached particles of soil.

• Spread and dry the leaves on the kitchen towel or tissue papers. They absorb the moisture, thus reducing the chances of rotting.

• Transfer the vegetable into a plastic container or a vegetable bag. Put some tissue papers along since they will help absorb extra moisture and prevent the leaves from getting soggy. Store it in the refrigerator and use within two days.

Baby spinach is a variety of spinach , which is harvested at a younger plant age. It has tender leaves, and there is no significant nutritional difference between baby spinach and the fully-grown versions. However, baby spinach is predominantly used in salads (6). For your baby’s food, you can choose the conventional fully-grown varieties of spinach.

How To Cook Spinach For Baby?

There are various ways to cook spinach, but blanching (boiling the water and putting the leaves in the hot water for 15-20 seconds) is the best since it frees the naturally-present oxalic acidⁱIt is an organic compound commonly used in laundries to remove stubborn stains such as ink and get rid of rust. from the leaves. The acid may be slightly toxic and may strain the baby’s kidneys (7). For the same reason, you need to strain the water after boiling the spinach.

Quick fact

Spinach can cause a baby to pass dark green poop. Under poor lighting, dark green stool may look black and trigger undue worry (12).

Amazing Spinach Recipes For Babies

Here are some wonderful homemade baby food recipes that contain spinach to feed in combination with other food items:

1. Spinach puree

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The classic spinach baby food recipe works as a health tonic with all the goodness of multiple vitamins and minerals from the leafy green vegetable.

You will need:

• 2 cups of chopped fresh spinach
• Finely grated paneer
• 4-5 cups of water

How to:

1. Pour the water into a cooking pot or a pressure cooker and transfer the spinach into it. Boil the spinach for five to seven minutes or for the desired time until the leaves turn soft.
2. Run the cooked spinach under cold water and transfer to a blender. Add some drinking water and blend the vegetable till the required consistency. Blend it further if you want to prepare spinach soup for your baby.

2. Spinach and carrot puree

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Carrots and spinach, both, are rich in vitamin A, which makes this puree an amazing vitamin A booster for the little one. You may also make a thin suji porridge with these vegetables.

You will need:

• 2 cups cubed carrot pieces
• 2 cups chopped fresh spinach
• 4-5 cups of water

How to:

1. Boil the spinach separately to prevent oxalic acid from settling on the carrots. If you are using a pressure cooker, you can turn off the flame after two whistles.
2. Transfer the vegetables to a sieve and rinse them under running cold or room temperature water.
3. Put the vegetables in a blender, add some water, and blend them to the desired consistency.

Quick tip

Add unsweetened yogurt and dried herbs mix to enhance the taste, consistency, and nutritional value of this recipe for babies.

3. Spinach and banana mash

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Banana is highly nutritious and goes great with spinach since it dulls the slightly bitter flavor of the leaves, making it more palatable to the baby.

You will need:

• 2 cups chopped banana
• 2 cups chopped fresh spinach
• 3-4 cups of water

How to:

1. Process the spinach the usual way to make puree. Mash some bananas till there are no solid lumps.
2. Mix the mashed banana and the spinach puree with a fork or by lightly blending it with a dull blender blade.

4. Spinach meat puree

Meat is iron-rich and mineral-rich, complementing it well with spinach.

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Meat is rich in iron and minerals, complimenting it well with spinach.

You will need:

• 1-2 cups boneless chicken
• 2 cups chopped fresh spinach
• 4-5 cups of water

How to:

1. Cook the meat and spinach separately till they are tender. Run the spinach under cold water and transfer it to a blender with the boiled meat pieces.
2. Add some water to the blender and blend the meat and spinach until there are no hard lumps and they have mixed well. Pour some additional water during the blending to thin the consistency.

5. Spinach chicken soup

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If your baby likes soups, then he will surely love this delicious soup made from chicken stock and spinach puree.

You will need:

• 2 cups chopped chicken with bone
• 2 cups chopped fresh spinach
• 6-7 cups of water
• Butter

How to:

1. Making chicken stock in a traditional cooking pot can take hours so you can use a pressure cooker to fasten the process. Put the pieces of chicken in the cooker and pour water over them till they are completely submerged. Cook the chicken for five to six whistles.
2. Strain the chicken stock using a sieve and put it in a blender.
3. Prepare the spinach puree.
4. Pour the thin spinach puree into the blender with the chicken stock and blend them till they mix well. Avoid adding plain water to thin the consistency since it may not taste well. Add melted butter to it.

6. Spinach and peas mash

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A green delight full of the goodness of proteins and vitamins that are abundant in green peas and spinach.

You will need:

• 2 cups fresh green peas
• 2 cups chopped fresh spinach
• 4-5 cups of water

How to:

1. Boil the peas while also cooking the spinach separately. Once cooked, move them into a vegetable sieve and run some cold water on them.
2. Put the cooked green vegetables in a blender, and blend them coarsely. You can also use a manual pounder.

7. Spinach and potato puree

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You can use sweet potato or white potato since both add carbohydrates providing energy to the little one.

You will need:

• 2 cups chopped sweet or white potato
• 2 cups chopped fresh spinach
• 4-5 cups of water

How to:

1. Boil the spinach and potatoes separately till they are soft and transfer them to a blender.
2. Add some water and blend till the potatoes and spinach have mixed well to form a puree.

8. Spinach with lentil

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Spinach tastes great with lentils, and you can use any lentil that you feed your baby. For this recipe, we have chosen pigeon pea, which is also known as arhar or toor dal in India.

You will need:

• 1 cup cleaned pigeon peas
• 2 cups chopped fresh spinach
• 4-5 cups of water

How to:

1. Wash the lentils with plenty of water before transferring them into a cooking pot or pressure cooker. Do not drain away any excess water since you can use it during the pureeing process.
2. Boil the spinach separately and transfer the cooked spinach into a blender with the cooked lentil. Blend them together till they have mixed well. The cooked lentil already has ample water, but you can pour some more to thin the consistency of the preparation.

9. Spinach puree with mashed boiled rice

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Rice goes well with spinach puree. Just like bananas, rice can mellow down the somewhat bitter taste of spinach, thanks to its rich carbohydrate content.

You will need:

• 2 cups of rice
• 2 cups chopped fresh spinach
• 4-5 cups of water

How to:

1. Cook the rice the usual way by boiling it. Add some extra water during the cooking process to make the rice extra soft.
2. Process the spinach the usual way for spinach puree. Make the puree separately.
3. Transfer the rice, along with excess water and the spinach puree, into a blender. Blend them coarsely for one to two minutes with a dull blade. Mix them well and ensure that the rice is in small bits so the baby can eat without the risk of a choking hazard.

Quick tip

Add a teaspoon of clarified butter (ghee) to accentuate the taste and nutritional benefits of this recipe.

10. Spinach puree with finger millet flour (ragi)

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Finger millet or ragi is rich in minerals such as calcium and iron, which are found in plenty even in spinach, making this puree a superfood as it is a great option for iron supplementation.

You will need:

• 2 cups finger millet flour
• 2 cups fresh, chopped spinach
• 4-5 cups of water

How to:

1. Boil the millet flour in a cooking pot. Add some more water so that it is easy to blend later. Stir the mixture and simmer the flame once it comes to boil. Cook for three to five minutes while stirring to prevent any lumps.
2. Process the spinach to make a puree and transfer it to a blender. Add the millet porridge that you had made separately, to the blender and blend them until they mix well. Add some water if the mix gets too thick.

11. Spinach puree with sago (sabudana)

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Sago pearls or sabudana is easy to digest, and when combined with spinach puree, it makes a fantastic spinach baby food.

You will need:

• 2 cups sago pearls
  2 cups chopped fresh spinach
  4-5 cups of water

How to:

1. Boil the sago pearls till they are soft while simultaneously cooking the spinach and then pureeing it.
2. Transfer the cooked sago and the excess water into a blender. Add the spinach puree to it and blend it coarsely to break the sago pearls into smaller pieces, which can make eating them easier for the baby.

Quick tip

You can add jaggery powder or honey to make this recipe more palatable for babies above 12 months.

When it comes to finger foods, spinach may not be the most popular choice, especially in the context of the baby-led weaning (BLW) method. However, spinach can be cooked in various ways, such as steaming, boiling, or sauteing. To prepare spinach for BLW, cook it until it is tender and then cut it into small pieces.

Note: Add fat i.e., oil, butter, clarified butter, etc., to the foods to make them calorie dense. You may also some mild spices in order to introduce various flavors.

Spinach Baby Food Combinations

Spinach can be combined with food items such as:

• Vegetables: You can combine nearly any vegetable from carrots to beans with spinach depending on the baby’s age and what suits them.

• Grains and lentils: Spinach is an excellent addition to a baby’s nutrition, as its compounds can enhance the nutritional value of grains and lentils, making them more beneficial to the little one’s health.

• Meat: Even adults love the combination of meat and leafy greens such as spinach, so why not let your baby enjoy that flavor too?

• Fruits: When it comes to baby feeding, it’s important to know that spinach pairs well with a limited number of fruits such as bananas, apples, and blueberries. Avoid mixing it with juicy and pulpy fruits such as mangoes or strawberries since the leafy vegetable can distort their taste.

Kryz, a mother of two, shares on her YouTube channel a spinach pesto recipe she made for 8-month-old baby boy Scottie. She says, “We’re making some pesto with some fresh spinach for his (Scottie’s) dinner. We have organic baby noodles. We are going to add fresh, blanched spinach with three cloves of garlic, salt, lemon juice, and some olive oil. My baby does not like anything that’s pureed, anything without flavor, and he always wants to eat new things. So, I am trying to create more yummy and visually appetizing food for him, like pesto pasta (i).”

Can My Baby Be Allergic To Spinach?

Spinach is one of the most common allergens (8). The oxalic acid in the leaves can be eliminated when you boil them, but the nitrates remain. Intolerance to nitrates can lead to a blood disorder called methemoglobinemia, where the blood is unable to adequately transfuse oxygen to the tissues (9). Start by giving smaller portions of spinach and if you notice that your baby has any reaction, then discontinue it and consult a doctor immediately.

Did you know?

Red blood cells contain enzymes that can convert methemoglobin back to hemoglobin. Babies can begin making these enzymes in sufficient amounts between three and six months of age (13).

1. Skin hives: Tiny red rashes that form in clusters and are quite itchy

2. Pain in the abdomen: Sharp to dull perpetual painⁱIt refers to persistent pain that does not go away with usual analgesics and typically lasts for three or more months. in the abdomen. The baby may also have diarrhea and frequent episodes of vomiting.

3. Swollen face: Swelling is concentrated around the nose and eyes. The eyelids swell up so badly that the baby is unable to open his/her eyes properly. Even the neck muscles could inflame making it difficult to swallow.

4. Shortness of breath: The baby breathes in gasps and feels asphyxiatedⁱA near-death-like feeling due to suffocation or deprivation of air. due to the swollen neck muscles around the trachea/windpipe.

5. Blue coloration of fingers (specifically for methemoglobinemia): Fingers will have blue patches especially around the tips. The body may have an overall bluish tinge.

6. General weakness: The baby will mostly be drowsy and seem abnormally disinterested in any activity.

Infographic: More About Oxalate In Spinach

Oxalate is considered an antinutrient present in food. Various spinach varieties may contain 700 to 1200 mg oxalate per 100g of wet greens. The infographic below walks you through the effects of this antinutrient on a baby’s health and ways to minimize its concentration in food.

Illustration: Momjunction Design Team

Delicious and nutritious baby puree recipe for 7 months+babies! Learn how to make spinach and fruits puree for your little one through this video.

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Dr. Shikha SharmaMBBS

Celebrity nutrition advisor Dr. Shikha Sharma has founded Dr. Shikha’s Nutrihealth in 1998. Dr. Shikha has done her MBBS from Maulana Azad Medical College and holds 21 years of experience in the field of health and nutrition.

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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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Ghazia is a scientist-turned-writer with three years of research experience in Cancer Biology. She did her masters degree in Biotechnology at the University of Kashmir and bachelors in Education at the same university. Ghazia then delved deeper into the science of language with a masters in English.

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