Onion is a common vegetable used worldwide in raw, cooked, and fermented forms. While eating this veggie is generally safe, the safety of onion for babies can be determined only by knowing the right age and age-appropriate ways to feed it to them. Generally, onions come in different varieties and are classified based on skin color (white, yellow, red, or brown), shape (round, globe, or flat), and taste (pungent or sweet) (1). Specific onion varieties are chosen to add aroma, flavor, and texture to food. Besides, onions can provide certain phytochemicals that may impart lasting benefits to overall health. Read this post to know the right age to feed onions to babies, the possible benefits it can offer, ways to feed it safely, and some interesting onion recipes for your baby.
When Can Babies Eat Onions?
Babies can eat cooked onions from the age of six months (2). Introduce onions as part of the baby’s regular diet consisting of several solids. You can use cooked, mashed, or pureed onions to add flavor to different recipes, such as fruit and vegetable purees, porridges, and soups. Older babies can consume cooked onion as finger foods, such as cooked onion rings. Toddlers can consume steamed, baked, grilled, and roasted onions, along with other foods. Avoid serving raw onion to babies since it could be difficult to digest and may expose the little one to germs (3). You may avoid it if your baby has a sensitive digestive system and has bloating. You may introduce raw onions after your baby attains the age of 12 months when their digestion and immunity are better.
Nutritional Value Of Onions
The nutritional value of one raw, small onion (70 g) added to a recipe can provide the following nutrients to the baby (4) (5) (6). *AI = Adequate intake – nutrient level assumed to ensure nutritional adequacy Sources: U.S. Department of Agriculture, World Health Organization, and Oregon State University
Possible Health Benefits Of Onions For Babies
Onions are considered to have anticancer, antiplatelet, antiasthmatic, and antibiotic effects (7) (8). These possible benefits of onions are mostly attributed to its phytochemicals, such as flavonoids (9). The following are the likely benefits of onions for babies. In the long run, onions may also benefit the overall health of the gastrointestinal tract and bones (13).
How To Select And Store Onions?
Here are some simple tips to follow while selecting and storing onions.
Tips for selecting onions
Choose onions that are firm to touch with a tissue-thin or papery-thin Avoid onions with bruises, cuts, and blemishes. Also, they should be free of black or gray molds and any visible sprouting. Discard onions that feel too dry or wet or soft to touch. Choose sweeter varieties for babies as they have sensitive tongues.
Tips for storing onions
Store whole dry onion bulbs in a cool, dry, dark place with proper ventilation. Keep them away from sunlight and aim to maintain a temperature around 77°F (25°C).
Store onions packed in cardboard boxes or bags at least one foot away from walls to allow air circulation.
Do not store onions in plastic bags or airtight containers as the lack of ventilation will reduce shelf life.
Do not store onions with foods that release moisture, such as potatoes. It will cause the onion to turn wet and spongy.
Avoid storing whole onions in the refrigerator since they may absorb moisture and turn mushy.
You can store peeled and cut onions in an airtight container at a cool place, such as a refrigerator, for up to a week. However, you may avoid this as they lose their nutritional value.
Precautions To Take While Feeding Onion To Babies
Here are some necessary precautions to ensure the safe consumption of onions in babies.
Introduce onion to your baby as cooked onion puree or mash added to different foods, such as soups, stews, cereals, and porridge in small quantities.
You can begin by adding a teaspoon to the food and gradually increasing it to a tablespoon or two based on the recipe’s requirement.
Once the baby seems comfortable with the onion’s taste and digestibility, gradually include baked, grilled, and roasted onions to different baby food
Onion allergy is uncommon but possible. Its symptoms may come up immediately after touching or ingesting onion. Stay alert to its signs, like skin rash (hives) anywhere on the body, cough and wheezing, vomiting, and diarrhea (14).
If the baby has a family history of allergies, especially to foods belonging to the lily family (garlic, leeks, shallots, asparagus, and chives) and certain pollen, then consult a doctor before adding onion to your baby’s diet.
Babies with a sensitive digestive system may experience FODMAP intolerance after ingesting onion even in cooked form. Typical symptoms include gas, bloating, and abdominal cramps (15).
Be alert and check the ingredient list of packaged foods, such as soups and curries, that may contain powdered onion.
Wash peeled raw onions thoroughly under water before cooking them or when serving them raw to toddlers. Washing can help remove any germs present on the onion’s surface Take care not to wash excessively as it may cause some nutrient loss.
Cut onions in small pieces when serving them as finger food. It helps avoid the risk of choking.
Healthy Onion Recipes For Babies And Toddlers
Below are some onion recipes you can feed to your infant or toddler.
1. Squash, carrot, and onion puree
½ cup squash (peeled, chopped, and steamed) 2tbsp carrots (peeled, chopped, and steamed) 1tbsp yellow onion (peeled, chopped, and steamed)
2. Onion and green pea soup
100ml low-sodium vegetable stock 50g red onion (sliced) 30g frozen peas 1tsp dried thyme 2tbsp olive oil
3. Baked onion rings
1 white onion (sliced in rings) 1 egg (beaten) 50g whole-wheat flour 50g breadcrumbs 80ml unsalted buttermilk 2tbsp corn flour
