Swiss Chard is safe for babies from 6 months old. How you prepare it changes as your baby grows. Here is exactly what to do at each stage.
Choking risk: low
Low choking risk with appropriate preparation. Always supervise mealtimes.
Flavor guide
Raw swiss chard leaves are mildly bitter and slightly earthy with a tender, delicate texture, while the stalks are firmer, crunchy, and more assertively bitter with a flavor reminiscent of beets. Cooking the leaves briefly transforms them to a soft, silky texture with a mild savory flavor similar to spinach, making them far more appropriate for young babies than the stalks, which require significantly longer cooking to become tender. The leaves pair naturally with lemon, garlic, olive oil, white beans, parmesan, eggs, and nutmeg.
Strip leaves from tough stems (stems need longer cooking). Wilt leaves in a pan with olive oil until very soft. Finely chop and mix into eggs or soft grains.
Serving ideas
Soft wilted leaves, finely chopped. Mix into other foods.
Serving ideas
Sautéed, in pasta, frittata, soups. Stems can be cooked and eaten too.
Serving ideas
Strip leaves from stems. Blanch for 2 minutes, transfer to an ice bath, squeeze out excess water, then freeze in portions.
Blanch for 2 minutes before freezing. Keeps for up to 12 months.
Batch prep tip
Strip chard leaves from stems, blanch leaves for 90 seconds, squeeze dry, and freeze in ice-cube-sized balls. Stems can be diced, sauteed until soft, and frozen separately. Drop a cube into pasta, eggs, soups, or purees. Keeps 3 months.
Ingredients
Steps
Use only the leaves for babies under 9 months. The stalks can be diced finely and sauteed for 10 to 12 minutes until tender for older babies and toddlers.
Can babies eat swiss chard?
Yes. Swiss chard leaves are safe for babies from 6 months old. Cook the leaves until wilted and very soft, about 90 seconds in boiling water or a few minutes sauteed. For babies under 9 months, strip the leaves from the stems and serve only the cooked leaves. The stems are too fibrous for young babies.
Are oxalates in swiss chard a concern for babies?
Not at the serving sizes babies eat. Swiss chard does contain oxalates, but the amounts in a typical baby portion are too small to cause any issues. Cooking reduces oxalate levels further. Serve chard as part of a varied diet and there is nothing to worry about.
Can babies eat swiss chard stems?
Only for babies 9 months and older, and only if diced very finely and cooked for at least 10 minutes until completely tender. The stems are fibrous and tough when raw or lightly cooked. For babies under 9 months, stick to the leaves only.
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