Eggs are an important product in children's menus. The baby begins to be given eggs at this age: hard-boiled yolk from 7-9 months, depending on the type of feeding, and the baby is introduced to the protein only after a year. When can you make an omelet for a baby, what recipe should you choose for baby food, and what eggs are best to use for an omelet intended for a child?
Benefit
- The omelet contains many valuable nutrients, such as vitamin A for healthy skin and better vision, B vitamins to improve metabolic processes and nervous system function, and vitamin D to support bone health. In addition, omelet is rich in potassium, iron, copper and phosphorus.
- The omelet contains the substance lutein, known for its antioxidant properties and ability to lower blood cholesterol levels.
- Omelette is considered a light and gentle dish, so it can be included in the diet of children with diseases of the digestive tract.
- Proteins from omelettes are well absorbed and provide children's body the whole range of amino acids.
Harm and contraindications
- Eggs are considered an allergenic product, which often causes reactions in childhood.
- Excessive consumption of protein foods, which include eggs, can negatively affect kidney function.
- Frying an omelet in a frying pan makes the product unhealthy due to the formation of carcinogenic compounds when the oil is heated.
- If the heat treatment of the omelet is insufficient, there is a risk of salmonellosis being transmitted through this dish.
From what month can it be introduced into the diet?
Omelettes can be included in the menu of a child who is one year old, since both cow's milk and egg white, on the advice of pediatricians, are introduced into the child's diet after 12 months.
Like any new dish, it should be given to the baby in small quantities. For the omelet, you need to use fresh eggs and milk intended for baby food. If you take village milk for a dish, you should definitely boil it first. Omelettes for babies are baked or steamed - the fried version can be introduced to the baby after 3 years.
How often can a 1 year old child eat an omelet?
The frequency of consumption of egg dishes, which includes omelettes, depends on the norms of egg consumption for a one-year-old child. Since children of this age are recommended to eat up to half an egg per day, if boiled eggs and other egg dishes are not on the menu, you can prepare an omelet from 1 egg three times a week.
Are quail or chicken eggs better for complementary feeding?
A chicken egg is considered a very allergenic product, so for children who are predisposed to allergies, it is better to take a quail egg for an omelet. They cause a reaction much less frequently than chicken ones.
Quail eggs contain more microelements and vitamins. At the same time, the nutritional value of these two types of eggs is similar, but quail eggs are better digestible. It is only important to remember that for any omelet recipe you need to replace chicken eggs by at least twice big amount quail eggs.
How to cook?
Traditionally, two main ingredients are used for an omelet – eggs and milk. If you replace milk with sour cream, you will get a less fluffy dish, but its taste will be very delicate. Prepare a dish from several eggs at once, and give the child the middle part, as it turns out to be the fluffiest.
From yolks
An omelet, for which you do not take whole eggs, but only the yolks, is suitable for feeding babies under one year old. This dish can be prepared for babies aged 10-11 months. In addition, this version of the omelet is suitable for children with an allergy to egg whites. To prepare it, beat one yolk, gradually adding about 60 ml breast milk(or baby formula) and adding a tablespoon of semolina. The whipped mixture is poured into a mold and baked in the oven.
Steamed recipe
Beat one egg with a fork or blender for about 20 seconds, then add about 50 ml of milk to it, add a little salt and continue beating. After pouring the resulting mixture into a glass bowl (it is important to fill it at most halfway), place it in a pan filled with water (the water in the pan should also reach half of the omelette pan). Keep the omelette on low heat with the lid closed until fully cooked.
In a slow cooker
This device allows you to prepare an omelette for the whole family at once. You will need approximately 250 ml of milk and 7 eggs. Beat eggs with milk in a mixer at low speed or with a whisk. Pour the resulting mixture into the oiled multicooker bowl. Set the “baking” mode and cook the dish for 15 minutes.
In the microwave
This omelet turns out fluffy and airy, even if you do not add milk or flour to the eggs. Take 2 eggs and 75 ml of milk, beat these ingredients with a blender and pour into a greased ovenproof dish. You can add vegetables, apples, cheese and other additives to eggs.
The duration of cooking will be determined by the power of the stove, and on average will be from 3 to 5 minutes. If you are preparing an omelette for the first time, monitor its readiness. If you decide to make an omelet in the microwave without milk, beat the yolks separately, then the whites, and then combine them.
In a steamer
Take two eggs and two tablespoons of milk. Whisk these ingredients, adding a little salt. Grease a mold with butter, pour the egg-milk mixture into it and place in a double boiler. After 10-15 minutes, you can treat your baby to a delicious steamed omelette.
In the oven
This omelette will turn out very fluffy if you do not open the oven while baking it for at least the first twenty minutes (then the dish will not settle). The omelette mold should only be filled halfway with the mixture of eggs and milk, as the original volume will double during cooking.
Recipes with additives
If you want to prepare an omelet with some kind of filling for your child, the ingredients for it should be prepared separately and added to the omelet in finished form. For example, these can be frozen or fresh vegetables, which are first stewed over low heat in a cauldron or in a slow cooker, and then poured with eggs beaten with milk.
For a sweet omelet with fruit, take one egg, 50 ml of milk and 100 g of fruit. Apples are great as fruit for omelettes. Take one large apple, peel and cut into slices, then simmer in a small amount of butter. Pour beaten eggs and milk over the apples, and you can sprinkle the finished omelet with a little grape sugar.
One more interesting option omelet for a child over a year old can be called a dish with meat. It requires boiled chicken fillet, which is placed in a heat-resistant form, two beaten eggs with a small amount of milk are poured on top, and then steamed or cooked in the oven. Also, children over one year old will enjoy an omelet with pasta, cottage cheese, and low-fat cheese.
- A fresh chicken egg should not be light, and when shaken, nothing should gurgle inside the egg.
- The color of the shell does not affect the quality of the egg, but in a fresh product the shell will have a slight shine.
- Do not purchase eggs for children's omelettes from dubious places. It is better to buy them from a trusted seller or store, making sure that the product has the appropriate signs.
- Do not buy eggs that are cracked or chipped, or eggs that are very dirty or have been washed. Remember that washed eggs have a shorter shelf life, since washing removes the protective film from the shell and the egg begins to deteriorate.
- Don't assume that the biggest eggs are best choice. Larger eggs contain more water and fewer nutrients because these eggs are laid by older hens. It is best to take eggs of the second category for your baby (they are laid by young hens and such eggs have a very pleasant taste) or first category (they have the most balanced composition).
At home, you can easily check whether an egg is fresh by placing it in cool water. A good egg will sink, but if the product is not fresh, the egg will float.
For a video on whether a baby can have eggs and when, see below.
Find out if your baby's weight is normal by using the following calculator.
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