Now is the best time to start carving your pumpkins for Halloween according to experts, but many are often left wondering what they should do with their leftovers of the seasonal fruit.
Leading UK baby brand Nuby has now provided the perfect solution for parents as they urged them to not throw away their carved pumpkins and instead feed the leftovers to their young children which will provide them with some excellent immune-boosting benefits.
Whether it be pumpkin purée for babies or delicious pumpkin muffins for toddlers, the experts at Nuby have revealed five benefits of using leftover pumpkin in their meals and snacks, along with four tips to ensure you feed it to your kids safely.
Benefits of feeding tots pumpkin
Immune-boosting vitamins A, C, and E
Pumpkin is a source of vitamins A, C and E which help to boost the immune system.
According to the NHS vitamin A and C are important vitamins for babies and young children. While vitamin A and E help your body’s natural defence against illness and infection work properly, vitamin C helps to protect cells and keep them healthy.
Contains calcium to support growing bones and teeth
Another benefit of pumpkin is that it includes calcium which helps to maintain strong bones for all ages according to the BDA (The Association of UK Dieticians), which is very important for growing babies and toddlers. Its also essential for healthy teeth which could be good for teething babies.
Rich in fibre
If your baby Is feeling constipated, pumpkin may help as it is a source of fibre. The NHS advises that fibre is an important part of a healthy, balanced diet but avoid wholegrain or high-fibre foods until your child is five as they can make little tummies too full before getting the calories and nutrients they need. However, don’t worry, pumpkin is okay to give your baby once you start to wean them onto solid foods as it’s not a high-fibre food.
Contains vitamin K which helps heal skin
Babies and toddlers will inevitably get scrapes and scratches as they begin to explore the world, whether from learning to walk or playing at nursery, no matter how hard we try to prevent them. Pumpkin is a source of vitamin K which the NHS describes as a group of vitamins that the body needs for blood clotting, helping wounds to heal.
Contains vitamins which support eye development
In addition to vitamins A and E having immune-boosting qualities they also could help support eye development in young children. The NHS website says vitamin A can help vision in dim light and vitamin E contributes to healthy skin and eyes.
Dangers
While all these benefits sound great for your youngsters, it’s important to make sure you are safely feeding pumpkin to your babies. The experts at Nuby have warned there are some essential steps you must take before serving up the seasonal fruit to your kids.
Remove all seeds
While pumpkin has nutritious benefits for young children, pumpkin seeds are a choking hazard. Before turning a pumpkin into a baby or toddler-friendly snack parents should ensure all pumpkin seeds have been remov
Pumpkin should always be cooked and soft so it’s easy to eat
It’s best to avoid giving young children raw pumpkins as it will be too difficult for them to eat. Not only this but Healthline states that ‘raw pumpkin and its seeds may contain harmful bacteria that cause foodborne illness’ so it’s recommended to cook pumpkin thoroughly to prevent this.
Serve pumpkin in a texture that is appropriate for your baby’s weaning stage
Depending on your baby or toddler’s age, pumpkin can be served in different ways. The NHS recommends that for children around six to nine months, fruits should be cooked to soften them and mashed with a fork or blended to a suitable texture for your baby. At nine months plus they should be able to manage lumpy, chopped and finger foods. Just don’t forget to cook the pumpkin first.
You can also incorporate pumpkin into their diets with weaning recipes
Pumpkin isn’t just for fruit snacks; it can also be pureed and included in age-appropriate weaning recipes for babies. Nuby has collaborated with baby weaning expert Shikha Gill, founder of My Little Food Critic, to create a pumpkin spice muffin weaning recipe.
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