Our Guide to the Best Fruits and Vegetables for Babies

shutterstock_169683683 It’s never too early to introduce healthy, nutritious foods to your baby’s diet, and vegetables and fruit are some of the best sources of vitamins and minerals available. With that in mind, here’s our guide to what we consider to be the best vegetables and fruit for your baby.

Best vegetables

Carrots – These are a great source of beta-carotene (vitamin A), which is very good for baby’s eyes.
Sweet potato – Sweet potato is a good source of vitamin C, beta-carotene, fibre and potassium.
Squash – This is a great source of vitamins A and C that is easily digested and tastes great with a creamy texture.
Parsnip – Parsnip has plenty of starch and fibre as well as antioxidant vitamins C and E.
Broccoli – An excellent source of vitamin C, beta-carotene, fibre, calcium, folic acid, iron and potassium, broccoli is an excellent choice of vegetable for your bundle of joy.
Spinach – Like all dark green leafy vegetables, spinach contains large amounts of iron and folate.
Pumpkin – Pumpkin is loaded with nutritional compounds that every baby needs, including plenty of beta-carotene.
Beans – All varieties of beans are packed with fibre and protein, and are excellent for growing babies.

It’s important to remember to introduce your baby to these healthy new foods one at a time. If you wait a few days, this also gives you time to see if they have any sort of allergic reaction to them. If they’re just starting out on solids, it’s also a good idea to puree the foods mentioned here.

Best fruit

Apples – These are really easy for your baby to digest, and the pectin or soluble fibre they contain helps with constipation.
Pears – Pears are gentle on your baby’s tummy, easy to swallow and make excellent weaning food, as they’re among the least allergenic fruits. They also help with gastric reflux.
Bananas – As they contain slow-release sugars, bananas are great for sustained energy and are also known for treating diarrhoea and constipation.
Papaya – Papaya is rich in vitamins C and E, soluble fibre and beta-carotene and contains enzymes that help with digestion.
Apricots – Not only do apricots contain iron, potassium and beta-carotene, they are also a good source of fibre.
Avocados – Avocados are an excellent source of unsaturated fats, which babies need for brain development.
Rockmelon – A highly nutritious fruit, rockmelons (also known as cantaloupes) are a good source of vitamin C, calcium and beta-carotene for healthy eye development.
Blueberries – Blueberries are rich in vitamin C and beta-carotene, which are good for your baby’s eyes, brain and urinary tract, and have one of the highest antioxidant capacities of any fruit.
Peaches – These are easy for your baby to digest, and are an excellent source of vitamin C.
Mandarins – A rich source of vitamin C and antioxidants, and babies love the taste of fresh, juicy mandarins.
Plums – Plums are a good source of vitamins A and C, and are high in fibre and low in cholesterol.
Kiwi fruit – Also known as Chinese Gooseberries, these are rich in vitamin C, fibre, potassium and folate.