A versatile source for vitamins and minerals.
Often called the magical fruit, beans are actually a vegetable. Although not typically top-of-mind for baby diets, beans offer a variety of benefits, including high doses of protein, potassium, and calcium, plus vitamins A and C for your little one’s healthy growth and development. Most pediatricians recommend introducing dried beans into your baby’s meals when she is eight to ten months old. It is important to start with small amounts of beans, as developing tummies may need time to adapt to this common source of high-fiber gassiness.
Easy to prepare and serve.
Popular beans for baby include black beans, kidney beans, navy beans, pinto beans and butter beans – your baby may find this type of bean to be a delicious finger food. When preparing dried beans, pre-soaking them in a sealed container of water for six to eight hours will greatly reduce your cooking time. Once you have heated them in a steamer or skillet, beans are ready to be served when they can be easily mashed between your fingers or with a fork. Mashed beans can be a tasty side dish on their own or are a healthy complement to rice, sweet potatoes, pureed meats and tofu.
Interesting bean facts.
In many Eastern cultures, beans are a dietary staple that can be traced back more than 20,000 years. Lima and pinto beans were popular in the very earliest Aztec and Inca societies more than 5,000 years ago. Today, the U.S. is the world’s largest producer of beans, with 40% of these beans shipped to international markets in more than 100 countries. And yes, it’s true – the navy bean received its name for being a popular food for U.S. sailors in the early 20th Century!
Delicious, easy and nutritious bean recipes.
Try one of our favorite bean recipes!
- Black Bean and Portabella Sliders
- Slow Cooker Huevos Rancheros Casserole
- Sweet Red Pepper Hummus or Honey of a Hummus
- Black Bean Brownies