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Zucchini for Baby: From Purees to Baby-Led Weaning
October 2022
Last reviewed: October 2022
Author:
Hyemyung Kim, RD, CDN, CNSC, CLC
Coauthors:
Stefanie Kain, B.S. M.Ed
Johane Filemon, MS, RDN, CLT
About Kids Eat in Color
Created by experts, Kids Eat in Color is the leading resource for families seeking evidence-based information and strategies on child nutrition and feeding.
Author:
Hyemyung Kim, RD, CDN, CNSC, CLC
Coauthors:
Stefanie Kain, B.S. M.Ed
Johane Filemon, MS, RDN, CLT
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Inside: Ready to learn how to cook zucchini for baby? Our pediatric RD dives into the vegetable and explains why zucchinis are good for babies, how to make zucchini puree and how to prepare zucchini for baby-led weaning.
Zucchini is a summer squash that is part of the same plant family as cucumber and pumpkin. Interestingly enough, zucchini is considered a fruit botanically, but in cooking, it is referred to as a vegetable. Other common names for zucchini include courgette and baby marrow.
Zucchini is a nutritious vegetable to offer babies starting to eat solid foods. Learn from our pediatric dietitian all about serving zucchini to babies. Find out when you can introduce zucchini to your baby, why it’s good for them, how to serve it to prevent choking and much more.
Zucchini can be introduced to babies as early as six months when they are ready for solids.
It’s a great starter food for babies considering it comes in various colors, from deep yellow to dark green, which can make it visually appealing for babies.
Why is zucchini good for babies?
Nutrition-wise, zucchini is good for babies because it offers nutrients that are beneficial for growth. Here are some of the health benefits of zucchini.
Vitamin C: antioxidant that can help to fight off the common cold
Vitamin A (in the form of beta-carotene): good for eyes, cognitive and immune health
Lutein and zeaxanthin: carotenoids that act as potent antioxidants and are heavily concentrated in the eyes and brain for vision and brain health
Folate: helps body make DNA, involved with cell division/growth
Vitamin B6: promotes brain development
Potassium: proper muscle and nerve function
Magnesium: involved with bone health and muscle and nerve function
Phosphorus: needed for bone health and part of body’s main energy source ATP
Manganese: needed for energy production
Interesting zucchini fact: The vitamin A content in raw zucchini is 82% less than cooked zucchini.
Pay close attention to what the baby puts in their mouth.
While these tips can help prevent choking, it’s important to note the difference between choking and gagging when feeding babies and toddlers.
What’s the difference between gagging and choking on zucchini?
Learning the motor skills to eat takes time. While learning to eat zucchini, gagging can happen. Gagging is the body’s natural protective response to prevent choking.
The symptoms of gagging include:
Gurgling
Coughing
Spitting
Audible gagging noises
If gagging does occur, you can remain neutral as your child works through their protective gag reflex to continue eating and engaging with the new foods.
Choking is different. Choking is when an object has either partially or completely blocked their windpipe. Choking can be life-threatening and requires immediate intervention.
The symptoms of choking include:
Silent/quiet struggling
Inability to cough
Inability to or difficulty breathing
If available to you, we recommend taking an infant CPR class.
Where to buy zucchini for babies
In grocery stores, zucchini can be found in the fresh produce section. You can also find it at farmers markets.
Zucchinis looks like cucumbers, so be sure to watch out for the differences! Zucchinis typically have woody stems at one end and tend to have a smoother, yielding exterior, while cucumbers are generally hard and waxy with a rougher texture.
Zucchini can be prepared in various ways for babies. It can be offered as a puree or as a finger food.
Note: There is no need to peel the skin when preparing zucchini for your baby. The skin contains many nutrients. In fact, the darker the skin, the more nutrient-dense it is!
How to puree zucchini for baby
For parents who are doing puree to table foods, here are the steps for making zucchini puree for your baby.
Wash the zucchini thoroughly by running it under cold water and using fingers to gently rub away any visible dirt.
Once washed, trim off any stems from the zucchini and then cut it into cubes. (No need to peel!)
Steam the zucchini for 8-10 minutes or until soft.
Once soft, transfer to a food processor, blender or food mill to puree into a thin consistency.
Baby feeding tip: Zucchini puree is mild in flavor, so feel free to add spices or herbs for additional flavor.
Next step: Once your baby is tolerating zucchini puree, consider adding more texture by mixing it with another food or mashing it instead of blending it.
No, zucchini is not one of the major allergens and is a low-risk allergenic food. There have been reports of allergy to zucchini, but it is rare.
Zucchinis do contain proteins that are very similar to those found in ragweed pollen and can trigger symptoms like itchiness, swelling of the mouth, face, lip, tongue or throat.
This cross-reactivity is called oral allergy syndrome (OAS). Symptoms usually appear immediately and tend to be mild overall.
If symptoms of OAS are experienced, avoid eating raw zucchini, especially during allergy season as OAS tends to worsen during its associated pollen season.
Cooking zucchini will reduce cross-reactions because the heat will break down the proteins responsible for OAS. Peeling the skin can also help minimize reactions as the proteins responsible are usually concentrated in the skin.
How to tell if a baby is having an allergic reaction to zucchini?
Common allergen symptoms can be hives, itching, swelling of the lip or tongue, rashes. If signs of wheezing, throat tightness, difficulty swallowing or trouble breathing are observed, call 911 immediately.
While picky eating is common in toddlers, you can also see picky eating tendencies in babies.
As the parent, there are things you can do to help your child learn to like zucchini while also supporting the infant’s development. Here are two things you can do to help support your young eater.
Floor play
Help your child develop the motor skills they need to eat by allowing them to lay on the floor, roll around and push up on their bellies.
The more they practice these skills, the easier it will be to hold themselves up at the table, reach for food, and bring food to their mouths.
As your baby explores safe open spaces on the floor, offer toys to reach for, grasp and bring to their mouth. Speak to them using simple clear language that describes action:
Cichero, J. A. (2016). Introducing solid foods using baby-led weaning vs. Spoon-feeding: A focus on oral development, nutrient intake and quality of research to bring balance to the debate. Nutrition Bulletin, 41(1), 72–77. https://doi.org/10.1111/nbu.12191
Reindl J, Anliker MD, Karamloo F, Vieths S, Wüthrich B. Allergy caused by ingestion of zucchini (Cucurbita pepo): characterization of allergens and cross-reactivity to pollen and other foods. J Allergy Clin Immunol. 2000 Aug;106(2):379-85. doi: 10.1067/mai.2000.107602. PMID: 10932084.
Created by experts, Kids Eat in Color is the leading resource for families seeking evidence-based information and strategies on child nutrition and feeding.
Hyemyung Kim has been a registered and certified dietitian and nutrition support clinician for 10 years. She initially started her career as an inpatient dietitian with the adult population but fell into the role as a neonatal and pediatric dietitian after a co-worker needed to go on maternity leave. This led to her falling in love with this population and working with parents. She continued to progress her career working in the neonatal and pediatric intensive care units as the nutrition support dietitian and in the nutrition clinic as the outpatient dietitian. During this time, she also obtained her certification as a certified lactation counselor to promote breastfeeding and provide education and support for mothers.
It was while working as a clinical dietitian that Hyemyung got to meet and talk to parents about their struggles with picky eating, finding her passion for teaching and educating parents on tips to help their children to eat. She is passionate about working with parents on this common but tough issue and finds it rewarding when she hears about progress. Now as a new mom to a 1 year old boy, she is also dealing with selective eating and can empathize how parents feel when they are experiencing this. In her role as the dietitian and weaning specialist, Hyemyung strives to approach each parent with empathy, understanding and compassion as she educates and provides support.
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Inside: Ready to learn how to cook zucchini for baby? Our pediatric RD dives into the vegetable and explains why zucchinis are good for babies, how to make zucchini puree and how to prepare zucchini for baby-led weaning.
Zucchini is a summer squash that is part of the same plant family as cucumber and pumpkin. Interestingly enough, zucchini is considered a fruit botanically, but in cooking, it is referred to as a vegetable. Other common names for zucchini include courgette and baby marrow.
Zucchini is a nutritious vegetable to offer babies starting to eat solid foods. Learn from our pediatric dietitian all about serving zucchini to babies. Find out when you can introduce zucchini to your baby, why it’s good for them, how to serve it to prevent choking and much more.
In this article, we will cover:
When zucchini can be introduce to babies
Why zucchini is good for babies
How to prevent choking on zucchini
Where to buy zucchini for babies
How to safely serve zucchini to babies
How to make zucchini puree
How to prepare zucchini for baby-led weaning
What to know about zucchini’s allergy status
How to get your baby to eat zucchini
When can zucchini be introduced to babies?
Zucchini can be introduced to babies as early as six months when they are ready for solids.
It’s a great starter food for babies considering it comes in various colors, from deep yellow to dark green, which can make it visually appealing for babies.
Why is zucchini good for babies?
Nutrition-wise, zucchini is good for babies because it offers nutrients that are beneficial for growth. Here are some of the health benefits of zucchini.
Interesting zucchini fact: The vitamin A content in raw zucchini is 82% less than cooked zucchini.
Is zucchini a choking hazard?
No. Zucchini is not considered a common choking hazard for babies, and the risk of choking is lower compared to other foods.
However, there is always a risk for choking with any food, so it is important to make sure to follow choking prevention guidelines as per the CDC:
While these tips can help prevent choking, it’s important to note the difference between choking and gagging when feeding babies and toddlers.
What’s the difference between gagging and choking on zucchini?
Learning the motor skills to eat takes time. While learning to eat zucchini, gagging can happen. Gagging is the body’s natural protective response to prevent choking.
The symptoms of gagging include:
If gagging does occur, you can remain neutral as your child works through their protective gag reflex to continue eating and engaging with the new foods.
Choking is different. Choking is when an object has either partially or completely blocked their windpipe. Choking can be life-threatening and requires immediate intervention.
The symptoms of choking include:
If available to you, we recommend taking an infant CPR class.
Where to buy zucchini for babies
In grocery stores, zucchini can be found in the fresh produce section. You can also find it at farmers markets.
Zucchinis looks like cucumbers, so be sure to watch out for the differences! Zucchinis typically have woody stems at one end and tend to have a smoother, yielding exterior, while cucumbers are generally hard and waxy with a rougher texture.
Related: Free Veggie Exposure Shopping List & Meal Planner
How to safely serve zucchini to babies
Zucchini can be prepared in various ways for babies. It can be offered as a puree or as a finger food.
Note: There is no need to peel the skin when preparing zucchini for your baby. The skin contains many nutrients. In fact, the darker the skin, the more nutrient-dense it is!
How to puree zucchini for baby
For parents who are doing puree to table foods, here are the steps for making zucchini puree for your baby.
Baby feeding tip: Zucchini puree is mild in flavor, so feel free to add spices or herbs for additional flavor.
Next step: Once your baby is tolerating zucchini puree, consider adding more texture by mixing it with another food or mashing it instead of blending it.
Related: 10 Things to Know About Toxic Heavy Metals in Baby Food
How to prepare zucchini for baby-led weaning
For parents who are doing baby-led weaning or are ready for finger foods, here’s how to cook the zucchini for your baby.
Once your baby develops their pincer grasp, you can cut the cooked zucchini into bite-sized cubes for them to practice picking up the pieces.
Feel free to add spices and herbs when cooking to introduce new flavor variations to your child.
Related: Best Plates for Babies, Toddlers & Kids
Is zucchini considered an allergen?
No, zucchini is not one of the major allergens and is a low-risk allergenic food. There have been reports of allergy to zucchini, but it is rare.
Zucchinis do contain proteins that are very similar to those found in ragweed pollen and can trigger symptoms like itchiness, swelling of the mouth, face, lip, tongue or throat.
This cross-reactivity is called oral allergy syndrome (OAS). Symptoms usually appear immediately and tend to be mild overall.
If symptoms of OAS are experienced, avoid eating raw zucchini, especially during allergy season as OAS tends to worsen during its associated pollen season.
Cooking zucchini will reduce cross-reactions because the heat will break down the proteins responsible for OAS. Peeling the skin can also help minimize reactions as the proteins responsible are usually concentrated in the skin.
How to tell if a baby is having an allergic reaction to zucchini?
Common allergen symptoms can be hives, itching, swelling of the lip or tongue, rashes. If signs of wheezing, throat tightness, difficulty swallowing or trouble breathing are observed, call 911 immediately.
Related: How to Introduce Peanuts & Other Food Allergens
How to help babies learn to like zucchini
While picky eating is common in toddlers, you can also see picky eating tendencies in babies.
As the parent, there are things you can do to help your child learn to like zucchini while also supporting the infant’s development. Here are two things you can do to help support your young eater.
Floor play
Help your child develop the motor skills they need to eat by allowing them to lay on the floor, roll around and push up on their bellies.
The more they practice these skills, the easier it will be to hold themselves up at the table, reach for food, and bring food to their mouths.
As your baby explores safe open spaces on the floor, offer toys to reach for, grasp and bring to their mouth. Speak to them using simple clear language that describes action:
Related: Learn how to talk to kids about food with our “How to Talk” Printables.
Modeling at the table
Another way to lay the foundation for eating is letting your baby sit at the table with you during mealtimes.
This is a good time to expose them to foods common in your home and build positive associations with eating.
If your baby shows interest in what you are eating, offer them a small sample. Use simple clear language:
Get more ideas for getting kids to eat zucchini on our blog.
Expert information on feeding babies & young toddlers
References
Lally, J. R., & Mangione, P. L. (2017). Caring Relationships: The Heart of Early Brain Development. Young Children, 72(2). https://www.naeyc.org/resources/pubs/yc/may2017/caring-relationships-heart-early-brain-development
Cichero, J. A. (2016). Introducing solid foods using baby-led weaning vs. Spoon-feeding: A focus on oral development, nutrient intake and quality of research to bring balance to the debate. Nutrition Bulletin, 41(1), 72–77. https://doi.org/10.1111/nbu.12191
Reindl J, Anliker MD, Karamloo F, Vieths S, Wüthrich B. Allergy caused by ingestion of zucchini (Cucurbita pepo): characterization of allergens and cross-reactivity to pollen and other foods. J Allergy Clin Immunol. 2000 Aug;106(2):379-85. doi: 10.1067/mai.2000.107602. PMID: 10932084.
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Choking Hazards. Retrieved October 1, 2022.https://www.cdc.gov/nutrition/InfantandToddlerNutrition/foods-and-drinks/choking-hazards.html.
American Academy of Allergy, Asthma & Immunology. Oral Allergy Syndrome. Retrieved October 3, 2022. https://www.aaaai.org/tools-for-the-public/conditions-library/allergies/oral-allergy-syndrome-(oas)