When Can Babies Eat Spinach?
This nutritious green vegetable can be offered to babies as soon as they’re ready to start solids, usually around 6 months. It’s important to remember that your baby is unique and that rather than going by the calendar, you need to make sure your baby is DEVELOPMENTALLY ready to start solids. If you’re unsure, be sure to grab my FREE handout!
Health Benefits
Spinach is chock full of nutrients! It’s an excellent source of vitamin K, vitamin A, and vitamin C, which helps support strong bones and the immune system. It also delivers iron, the most essential nutrient at this age, and folate that helps form red blood cells and DNA. Spinach is a great source of two antioxidants, lutein and zeaxanthin, two carotenoids that are linked to improved eye health (also found in eggs).
Are Spinach Safe for Babies?
As long as it’s prepared and offered in an appropriate size and texture, it is safe. Let me show you how!
Choosing and Storing Spinach
Look for spinach leaves that are dark green and crisp, not yellow or limp. Keep spinach in the original bag or plastic container and wash just prior to use. I also like to put a paper towel in the container to help absorb any moisture. For unpackaged spinach, store in a dry, unsealed plastic bag. Do NOT wash before storing in the refrigerator as moisture leads to faster deterioration. You can also freeze spinach.
Cooking Methods
Saute
This is my go-to method because it’s so easy and I just need to dirty one pan.
Steam
Spinach Puree
How to Serve Spinach to Babies
Spinach is an incredibly versatile leafy green vegetable. Don’t believe me? Here are some easy baby-friendly recipes to try! Simply add finely chopped cooked or raw spinach or spinach puree to these foods to make every bite count:
Homemade baby oatmeal Quinoa Lentils Overnight oats/quinoa Toast – combine spinach with mashed avocado, sweet potatoes, yogurt, etc. to make it spreadable. Yogurt Scrambled eggs Vegetable omelette Vegetable French toast
Spinach Recipes
And here are some family-friendly recipes with spinach. If it’s not blended, be sure to finely chop the spinach before serving. I like to use my kitchen shears for this.
Spinach Pancakes Spinach muffins Spinach Cakes Green pasta sauce Pumpkin seed Spinach hummus Chicken quinoa casserole Quinoa Meatballs Savory baked oatmeal
If you want to learn how to prepare other specific food(s), check out my How To Series!
