Homemade Baby Food Recipes: Cooking with Pumpkin

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"Pumpkin can be a good early food for babies and toddlers," says Peggy O'Shea, a Boston-based nutritionist and president of the Massachusetts Dietetic Association. "Pumpkin can be prepared in many ways that are baby- and toddler-friendly. They are a fun food to involve kids in the preparation of, and pumpkin is packed with many great nutrients—it is high in vitamin A, beta carotene, and is also good source of iron and potassium." O'Shea says pumpkin also is low in fat and high in fiber.

Preparing Pumpkin

Pumpkin can be prepared in a number of different ways. "It can be baked or steamed, poached, or boiled," O'Shea says. "Just keep in mind that the longer you cook it, and the more liquid it is cooked in, the more nutrients that are going to be lost during the cooking process."

The soft-cooked pumpkin can be diced up as finger food for older babies, or pureed for smaller babies. "You can also use canned pumpkin," O'Shea says. "You can also try adding different flavors to the pumpkin such as cinnamon, nutmeg, or a little bit of butter. Pumpkin soup or adding pumpkin to other food such as pancakes or waffles is another great option for getting kits to eat this nutritious food."

Pumpkin Precautions

Many people like to save and roast the seeds of a pumpkin, but O'Shea says to avoid this for babies and toddlers. "Seeds or nuts should not be given until at least the age of 4 due to choking hazard concerns," she says.

What about allergies? "While the possibility exists to have an allergy to pumpkin, it is not considered one of the top food allergies," O'Shea says. "In addition, there is more likely to be an allergy to pumpkin seeds, rather than pumpkin flesh."

Pumpkin Recipes

Try these fun recipes on your baby or toddler!

Sugar Pumpkin Puree

1 sugar pumpkin, cut in half and seeds removed
Water
Cinnamon, optional

Place the pumpkin cut side down in a baking dish. Add about 2 inches of water and sprinkle in some cinnamon, if using. Bake at 375 degrees F for about 40 minutes or until tender. Cool slightly, then remove the meat. Mash to desired consistency with a fork, or put in a food processor for younger babies.

Fruity Pumpkin Smoothie
(For older babies and toddlers)

1/4 cup canned pumpkin or Sugar Pumpkin Puree
1/2 cup vanilla yogurt
1/4 cup applesauce
1 banana, frozen
1/2 cup milk
1/4 to 1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon, optional

Combine all ingredients in a blender and pulse until desired consistency. Serve.

Creamy Pumpkin Soup
(For toddlers)

1 tablespoon butter
3 cups diced, fresh pumpkin
1 small onion, chopped
1 garlic clove, minced
2 cups chicken stock or water
1 cup whipping cream
1/2 cup grated cheddar, Monterey jack or mozzarella cheese
Salt and pepper, to taste

Melt the butter in a large soup pot. Add onion and garlic, and cook until onion is tender. Add pumpkin and cook until pumpkin is soft. Stir in the water or stock, bring to boil, reduce heat, and simmer about 15 to 20 minutes. Turn heat off and add the cream and cheese. Season with salt and pepper to taste. With a hand-held blender, blend until smooth.

Pumpkin Dip
(For older toddlers)

1 can (30 ounces) pumpkin pie filling
1 package cream cheese, softened
4 cups powdered sugar
2 teaspoons cinnamon
1 teaspoon ground ginger

Combine the sugar and cream cheese in a bowl. Beat well. Add remaining ingredients. Chill until ready to serve. Serve with gingersnaps, apples slices, cubes of pound cake, or sugar cookies.