In the colder months you may find yourself making a cozy pot of chili for your family and wondering - can my baby eat chili? The answer is yes! Here is everything you need to know about chili for babies, including how to serve chili for baby led weaning and tips for taming the spice.
A steamy bowl of chili is a delicious, comforting meal for many families when the weather turns cold. However, if you have a baby that has started eating family meals, you may decide not to make chili for fear that baby is not able to eat it - either due to spice or texture. Fear not! Baby can eat chili along with the rest of the family with a couple of modifications to make it more appropriate for the littlest of eaters. When made with beef or turkey, chili is actually a very nutrient-rich food for babies, with protein, iron, zinc, and B-vitamins, as well as fiber if you include beans.
Let's dive in to serving chili, sometimes called chili con carne, to babies, including when babies can eat it, how to tame the spice, and serving tips for baby led weaning!
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When Can Babies Eat Chili?
Babies can eat chili with or without beans as soon as they are developmentally ready to eat solids, usually around 6 months. If you are using a baby led weaning approach, you'll need very little modification, if any, to your favorite recipe since BLW babes can eat mixed dishes right off the bat. If you're spoon-feeding, you'll have to blend it up to the appropriate consistency according to your baby's stage.
If you're cooking chili from scratch, be mindful of the spice level and the sodium, as some recipes and mixes can have a lot of salt! Try to keep the salt to a reasonable level. If you're using canned beans, opt for no added salt or low sodium, and rinse before adding to the pot. You'll also want a thicker chili with BLW as it will be easier for little ones to handle with hands or pre-loaded utensils.
Can Babies Eat Spicy Food?
Yes! Babies can eat spicy food from the very beginning. In fact, it is better to expose babies to a wide variety of flavor early on so that they develop a more adventurous palate and are less likely to become picky eaters. That said, keep it reasonable. Your baby likely will not be able to handle four alarm chili, but mild to moderate spice levels are typically just fine, even for the youngest eaters. Every little one will be different, so watch your baby's cues and if they can't handle the spice level, don't force them to eat it.
Tips for Taming Spicy Chili
The best way to ensure acceptable spiciness is to remove a small amount to set aside for baby before adding the spicy elements. However, that may not always be possible. Here are some ways you can tame the spice in chili (as well as other dishes):
- Stir in plain Greek yogurt or sour cream
- Stir in plain canned pumpkin or mashed sweet potatoes (great as a thickener, too!)
- Add some plain cooked peas, corn or beans after cooking
- Serve with cooked rice or quinoa
- Serve a small bit in a smashed baked potato
How To Serve Chili For Baby Led Weaning
For baby led weaning, you'll want to make sure you avoid any large chunks of meat, or cut them up before putting them on baby's plate. Adjust the spice level or thickness if needed using the tips above. Then for serving, you have a couple of options.
You can place the chili in a shallow bowl or plate with a rim (a suctioned one helps!) and let baby scoop it up with his hands. OR you can pre-load chili onto a spoon and give the spoon to baby or place it on his tray. Either way will be messy, but baby will have a blast exploring this new food! Since chili is high in iron, consider serving it with a food with vitamin C to further maximize iron absorption.
Read more: Tips for Handling Mess with Baby Led Weaning
Baby Led Weaning Friendly Chili Recipes
If you don't have a favorite chili recipe, here are a few that are great for baby's first chili:
- Veggie-Rich Mild Chili Con Carne by Healthy Little Foodies
- Baby's First Chilli Con Carne by Mealtime with Mummy
- Slow Cooker Vegetarian Chili by Baby Led Feeding
- Kid Friendly Chili with Hidden Veggies by Easy + Wholesome
- Vegan Pumpkin Lentil Chili
Track your baby's journey through starting solids! Get my 100 First Foods Checklist and Allergen Checklist Bundle today!
FAQ
Babies can have spicy food as soon as they start solids! It's great for them to try a variety of flavors to reduce the likelihood of picky eating later on. Just keep it reasonable and don't force little ones to eat something spicy if it is too much.
There is no evidence that spicy food makes babies gassy, though if they eat enough in large amounts, it could trigger gastroesophageal reflux if your little one is already prone to it. Observe your baby for signs of GI distress if you're worried about spicy foods.
There is evidence that flavors, including spicy flavors, can change the flavor of breastmilk. There is also evidence that capsaicin (the compound that makes spicy food hot) can pass into breastmilk in very small amounts. This is no reason to shy away! In fact, it can help baby become accepting of a wide range of flavors as he grows.
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