Cherries for Baby Food - Age for Introduction: 8 months+
The Goodness of Cherries:
Cherries, tiny, sweet & yummy and oh so nutritious! These little fruits are packing a lot of important nutrients.
Cherries: (one cup - raw)
VITAMINS:
Vitamin A - 74 IU
Vitamin C - 8.2 mg
Vitamin K - 2.5 mcg
Folate (important during pregnancy) - 4.7 mcg
Niacin - 1.01 mg
MINERALS:
Potassium - 260 mg
Phosphorus - 24 mg
Magnesium - 12.9 mg
Calcium - 15.2 mg
Sodium - 0 mg
Iron - 0.04 mg
Also contains trace amounts of zinc, manganese and copper.
When can my Baby eat Cherries
Babies may begin to eat Cherries from about 8 months of age. Cherries are not highly allergenic. Cherries do contain pits and a rather thick skin. Young babies may not be able to properly digest cherries earlier than 8 months of age. Please be sure to check with your pediatrician about introducing cherries (and other foods) as generalities may not apply to your baby!
Choosing and Storing Cherries for Homemade Baby Food
Cherries are very delicate! Always inspect cherries prior to purchasing them; little indents and dull skins may be be signs of the beginning stages of rotting. Cherries should be bright, smooth, unblemished and shiny. The rule of thumb is the darker the cherry, the sweeter the taste!
Cherries need to be stored in the refrigerator! They are very sensitive to temperature changes.
You may freeze cherries but they must be pitted first! Unpitted cherries take on a flavor like almond when frozen. You may freeze them cut in half, diced or stewed. As with any other fruit, the fruit may remain in the freezer longer if it is frozen in it's near original state. Freezing changes the cellular structure of fruits as does cutting peeling etc. Frozen whole or halved cherries will last longer than stewed or diced cherries.
How do I prepare Cherries for Baby Food?
Pit cherries by inserting the tip of a vegetable peeler in the stem-end of the fruit; rotate around the pit and scoop it out. You may then cut the cherries into small dices or blend them up in a food processor or blender. Be sure to carefully watch your older baby when offering cherries as finger food. You may want to squish the cherry dices to help baby mash and chew the cherries.
Cherries may be stewed by adding them to a saucepan and then simmering them in a bit of water!
Basic Cherry Baby Food Recipes:
Cherry Puree
1/2 pound fresh cherries
1 cup water
Wash, clean and pit the cherries. Be sure to remove the stems!
Drop the cherries into a saucepan with 1 cup of water.
Bring to a boil and simmer for 20 minutes until the juices run freely and the cherries become soft.
Allow to cool and then puree in a blender or food processor.
Cherry Apple Puree
1 cup pitted cherries
3 medium apples, peeled & cored and diced
dash of vanilla essence
1 cup of water
1. Add the fruits to a small saucepan
2. Add the water to the saucepan and the vanilla if using
3. Bring water to a boil and then steam gently until soft and cooked. Be sure to check on the water level
Puree or mash as needed for your baby.
Oatmeal & Cherry Surprise
1 1/2 cup cooked oatmeal cereal
1/4 cup cherry puree
Mix oatmeal and cherry puree together.
Stir thoroughly or blend if needed
Cherries Banana
1/4 cup cherry puree
2 small bananas
Mash 2 small bananas
Add cherry puree
Mix thoroughly, blend if needed for your baby's texture preferences. Makes a yumy addition to baby's cereal or yogurt!
Cherries Cling to the Spoon (8months+)
1/2 cup plain, yogurt
1/4 cup cherries (pureed or finely diced)
1/4 cup unsweetened applesauce
1 banana
2 tablespoons Wheat Germ
Combine all ingredients in a blender or food processor. Blend or process only until a thick consistency is created. Add extra wheat germ for even more cling!
Foods Good to Mix With Cherries:
Apples
Bananas
Blueberries
Peaches
Sweet Potato
Brown Rice
Couscous
Lentils
Chicken
Yogurt
Visit our Combinations page to see more Homemade Baby Food Combination Ideas
