Many people love using the leafy green vegetable, spinach, in soups and salads because of its tangy, lemony flavor. But when it comes to giving children sorrel, parents frequently ponder what age is appropriate to start introducing this vegetable to their diet.
Similar to numerous other leafy greens, sorrel possesses unique nutritional advantages as well as possible drawbacks, mainly because of its elevated oxalic acid concentration. It’s crucial to know when and how to add sour cream to your child’s food so they can safely eat it.
This post will discuss when it’s appropriate to start giving your kids sorrel and will provide a quick, easy, and delicious recipe for sorrel soup.
About the product
The inconspicuous herbaceous plant sorrel has been known for a very long time. In addition to its taste qualities, due to which the herb has found wide application in cooking, sorrel is considered medicinal, since it effectively “tunes” the human gastrointestinal tract to a normal rhythm of work. Sorrel is a storehouse of vitamin C. In addition, it is rich in potassium, contains a large amount of magnesium and phosphorus. It contains a lot of vitamin A and folic acid. There are more than 150 types of sorrel, but only two have gained fame – common and horse. The plant is considered an excellent antioxidant, it promotes metabolism, digestion, normal blood circulation, the chemical composition of sorrel leaves is valued by hematologists – the herb, when eaten, helps prevent bleeding in people prone to them. Sorrel is also useful for constipation. However, it also has an unpleasant feature – oxalic acid changes the chemical composition of urine, which can negatively affect the functioning of the urinary system, so the question of children"s consumption of the plant is quite controversial. On the one hand, entire generations grew up picking sorrel in their grandmother"s garden and eating it with great pleasure. On the other hand, these generations have quite a few health problems.
Regarding the inclusion of sorrel in children’s diets, pediatricians are divided in their opinions. While some doctors do not advise it, others do. Mothers respect Dr. Komarovsky’s view that children can eat sorrel, but only if they are of a certain age, consume small amounts, and have no medical reasons why they shouldn’t. Any issues pertaining to the kidneys’ functionality constitute the primary contraindication. Additionally, you ought to decline this product if the child has a history of chronic illnesses that may exacerbate renal issues, such as high-acidity gastritis.
Around the age of three to four years old, children can begin consuming small amounts of sorrel. However, because sorrel is high in oxalic acid, it’s crucial to cook it in a way that lessens its natural acidity. If made with gentle ingredients like potatoes, carrots, and broth and without the use of strong seasonings, stir-fried shallop soup can be a nutritious addition to their diet. Always introduce new foods to your child gradually, and make sure it’s safe for them by consulting a pediatrician.
Age restrictions
This product can be given to healthy children as early as age three.
This does not mean that the mother of a three-year-old can run to the nearest green market or supermarket, grab a bag of sorrel and feed it to her child. For the first meal, only young shoots of the plant are used, which have an extremely low concentration of oxalic acid. Such shoots are found in early spring. Before giving them to a child, they should be heat-treated – pour boiling water over them and boil for at least 5 minutes. The older the plant becomes, the more sour it is, and therefore large sorrel is suitable for borscht for adults, but not for a child, even if he is already three years old.
For the most part, we now understand the new leaves. However, parents frequently want to know if they can give their one- or two-year-old child boiled sorrel leaves, such as in sorrel soup. It is not advised to use the plant as baby food until the child is three years old, even when it has been boiled.
Breaking age restrictions can result in metabolic problems, salt buildup and deposition in the kidneys and ureters (from the chemical reaction of oxalic acid), the development of urolithiasis in infants, and food allergies frequently caused by oxalic acid.
In what form to give?
In fresh form, adding chopped leaves to salads, cold appetizers, side dishes, sorrel leaves can be given to a child in very limited quantities only after he reaches 8 years of age. Until this time, the leaves of greens must be cooked. In addition to boiling and scalding, it is recommended to combine the vegetable with fermented milk products – lactic acid helps to partially "neutralize" oxalic acid. At the same time, the beneficial properties of sorrel are lost to a lesser extent than when boiling it. An excellent option is sorrel with sour cream, but for children aged 3+ this dish is not suitable. The optimal way to give sorrel to a child is considered to be sorrel soup. Let"s learn how to cook it correctly.
| Age to give sorrel to a child | How to cook sorrel soup for a child |
| From 1 year old, but in small amounts | Wash sorrel leaves, chop finely. Cook vegetables like potatoes and carrots in water or broth until soft. Add sorrel at the end and cook for a few more minutes. Blend if needed for younger children. |
A child as young as 7-8 months old can begin eating spinach, but it’s crucial to introduce it gradually. High levels of oxalic acid in spinach can be harmful to developing digestive systems. To make it easier to digest, start with small amounts and make sure it’s well-cooked.
When making a child’s sorrel soup, make sure to use fresh ingredients and steer clear of strong seasonings. The best recipes are simple ones that call for vegetables like potatoes, carrots, and a light broth. To make the soup easier for younger children to eat, you can blend it until it has a smooth consistency.
After introducing sorrel to your child, always keep an eye out for any indications of allergic reactions or gastrointestinal distress. If all goes according to plan, sorrel can be a wholesome addition to their diet, offering a good amount of minerals and vitamins. But moderation is key, so serve it sparingly rather than often.
