Following our recent posts about including zucchini (courgettes) in your baby food recipes, we received an interesting question from Linda in Texas yesterday. She wanted to know if she can give her baby raw zucchini as a finger food.
Not many people have considered eating zucchini raw, but it’s actually quite delicious grated or served in thin slices in a salad. The texture is relatively crisp, so we wouldn’t recommend offering raw zucchini to younger babies. However, for older babies and toddlers who are chewing well, little sticks of raw zucchini can be a very healthy snack served with a dip.
Something to consider when thinking about serving a raw vegetable to your baby is the fact that the risk of that vegetable causing an allergic reaction is slightly higher – cooking fruits and veggies usually reduces their potential to cause a reaction and that’s why most baby food recipes for very young babies recommend doing so. Also, some individuals may find raw veggies harder to digest than cooked. We have lots more information about including raw produce in your baby’s diet here – Fruits and Vegetables for Baby – Do They Have to be Cooked?
If you do decide to offer your little one raw zucchini, then you may also like to read our page – Should I Peel Fruits and Vegetables for my Baby? It looks at the pros and cons of peeling fresh produce and helps you decide just when it’s appropriate to do so!
UPDATE: May 2009.
We now have a new page on our site devoted to this versatile veggie.