How to Introduce Fruits to Children?

How to Introduce Fruits to children?

Fruits are abundant in nutrients, including sugars, vitamins, and minerals. They contain several times to several dozen times more vitamins than cereals, which enhance appetite and aid digestion, promoting healthy growth and development in babies.

When starting to introduce complementary foods to young babies, it is best to begin with fruit juice or puree that is easily digestible and absorbable. As babies grow their teeth, they can start eating fruit slices. The best time to offer fruits is between meals or after a nap, typically around 2 hours after a meal. Since babies have smaller stomach capacities, eating fruits during this time does not interfere with their main meal intake. At the same time, it ensures that their overall calorie and nutrient intake is not compromised, and the organic acids in fruits also aid in food digestion. For example: apple puree, small portions of bananas, oranges, and grapes. Strawberries contain protein, calcium, and vitamin C, and they are rich in dietary fiber, which helps with digestion and promotes regular bowel movements.

Some fruits should not be given to babies too early. For instance, kiwi, pineapple, and mango are all fruits that can easily cause allergies, and it is best to wait until the child is 3 years old to try them. According to reports from British newspapers, excessive consumption of kiwi by children can lead to allergic reactions, especially in children under 5 years old. Adverse reactions may include itching in the mouth, tongue swelling, and even serious symptoms such as breathing difficulties and collapse. High-sugar fruits such as watermelon, lychee, and cherries can easily cause diarrhea when given to young babies too early. Drinking too much watermelon juice can lead to gastric fluid dilution, disrupting gastrointestinal functions. Litchi flesh is rich in fructose, and babies lack the corresponding enzyme to metabolize it, which can lead to increased fructose concentration and decreased glucose concentration in the blood, potentially inducing hypoglycemia. Cherries contain the highest iron content of 11.4 milligrams per 100 grams, and excessive consumption of cherries poses the risk of iron poisoning, which can cause acid reflux, abdominal pain, and even diarrhea in babies.

Due to the widespread use of pesticides, the residual pesticide content in fruit peels is 2 to 10 times higher than that inside the fruit. To prevent potential harm to children caused by pesticide residues on fruit peels, simply rinsing fruits with water is not sufficient; it is essential to peel the fruits before consumption. For fruits that cannot be peeled, such as grapes, they should be thoroughly washed and then soaked in hot water at around 80°C for 3 to 5 minutes or soaked in a weak salt solution for 10 minutes. Afterward, rinse them with cold water before eating.

Off-season fruits undergo significant artificial intervention and are introduced into the market out of season, giving a fresh feeling and generally being more expensive than seasonal fruits. Some unscrupulous vendors use chemical agents to ripen off-season fruits for profit, which can harm a child's health. When there is an abundant selection of seasonal fruits, there is no need to choose the pricier off-season fruits. To ensure a child's well-being, it is best to minimize their consumption of off-season fruits.

Dried fruits offer four nutritional advantages: 1) Fruit peels contain the highest amount of dietary fiber in fruits, and drying preserves this dietary fiber entirely. 2) There is no risk of digestive harm from proteases and tannins. 3) All mineral components are retained and concentrated. 4) Most of the antioxidant components are preserved. Additionally, dried fruits contain no added sugars, salts, oils, or additives, presenting them in a natural state after drying. However, it is essential to remember that dried fruits are food with approximately 70% sugar content, making them calorically dense. Therefore, they should be strictly limited in consumption. Children should only eat a small amount each day. If children consume a large amount of dried fruits, they should reduce their main food intake accordingly.

Since children of different ages have varying levels of gastrointestinal development, there is no clear definition of what fruits are suitable for them, how much they should consume, or when to introduce them. When feeding fruits to babies, parents should gradually progress, starting with small amounts and observing for any signs of digestive discomfort before deciding whether to continue the feeding. It is not advisable to feed large amounts in one go.