Beet for Babies

Beet is a root vegetable that's hard to miss, both for its deep red color and its distinctly earthy sweetness once cooked completely soft. Many babies need a few tries before warming up to that flavor, since it's less immediately sweet than carrot or sweet potato. Because beet needs to be genuinely soft before it's safe to serve, most families wait until around 9 months to introduce it, a little later than many other first vegetables.

It's a strong source of folate, manganese, and potassium, and the natural plant pigments that give beet its color, called betalains, act as antioxidants. Beet also contains natural nitrates that support healthy blood flow, and its greens are edible too, with their own nutritional value if you cook them separately. Look for beets that feel firm and heavy with smooth, unblemished skin. One thing worth knowing ahead of time: beet can turn urine or stool pink or red for a day or two afterward, which looks alarming the first time but is completely harmless.