Get the recipe: Beets for Baby (puree or baby-led weaning)
In this guide, learn how to serve beets to your baby - for baby-led weaning or as a smooth puree. Beets are a great source of fiber, folate and other essential nutrients, making them a great first food for babies 6 months and up. Serve them as a baby food puree, as a solid for the finger food stage, or for baby-led weaning.
Ingredients
Baby Food Puree
- 3 medium beets
- 1/3 cup liquid, (reserved water, fresh water, fresh breast milk, or formula)
- pinch cinnamon (optional)
Baby-Led Weaning
- 1 medium beet
- pinch cinnamon (optional)
Instructions
- Prep: scrub off any dirt on the beets, leaving the skin and stem attached.
- Steam: In a medium saucepan, bring 2″ of water to a boil over medium heat. Place the whole beets into a steamer basket, cover and cook for 30-40 minutes or until tender when pricked with a fork. Reserve steamer water. Let cool slightly and then peel the skin and stem.
Baby Food Puree
- Transfer: Place the cooked beets into a blender or food processor and add a pinch of cinnamon as well as 1/3 cup of reserved steamer water, fresh breast milk, formula or water.
- Puree: turn on the blender or food processor and puree for 1-2 minutes on medium. If the puree is too thick, add in 1/4 cup of liquid at a time, until you achieve the desired consistency.
- Eat: Serve and enjoy, or freeze some for later.
Baby-Led Weaning
- Slice or chop the beets to be age-appropriate for your baby. Add on a sprinkle of cinnamon. Serve and enjoy.
Notes
Age: 6+ months
Storage: you can store baby puree for up to 4 days in the fridge or 4 months in the freezer. You can store any cooked beets in the fridge for up to 3 days.
Baby-Led Weaning Serving Sizes
Halves or quarters (cooked) – 6+ months: great for babies 6+ months or just starting on solid foods. Make sure to cook beets until easily pierced with a fork or mashable with your fingers. It’s best to start your baby with a bigger piece of cooked beets so your baby can chew, gnaw, and take bites without them being a choking hazard. Remove the skin before serving to your baby.
Bite-sized pieces (cooked) – 9+ months: Bite-sized beets will allow your baby to practice using their pincer grasp, which is developing at this age. Continue to cook beets until they are soft and remove the skin before serving to baby.
Spices: you can add in the cinnamon or try adding in nutmeg, cloves, fresh mint, chives or a splash of vanilla.
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