WHY IS CARROT GOOD?
Its colour is due to its richness in carotenoids; however, it is not always a strong orange colour. It can also be white, yellow and sometimes purple. In these cases, the carotenoid content varies.
It is one of the sweetest tasting vegetables; in fact, its carbohydrate content varies from 6 to 7%, whereas the average carbohydrate content of most vegetables is 1 to 2%. It contains little starch and mostly simple sugars, which makes it very digestible and causes little fermentation. Its sweet taste is very appealing to children.
You need to count about 30 to 35 Kcal/100 g, i.e. a nice carrot, which are almost entirely provided by carbohydrates (as for all vegetables).
It is also rich in fibre: a 100 g carrot provides between 2 and 3 g of fibre, which helps to regulate transit.
The richness of carotenoids in carrots makes them a useful food to eat. These compounds are in fact derivatives of vitamin A and as such have anti-oxidant properties. They are also pigments, hence the famous carrot babies, who are great consumers of carrot purée.
Carrots also provide vitamin B9 (useful for cell division) and potassium.
AND FOR BABIES?
Carrots can be introduced into the baby's diet at the end of the 4th month.
In purees, alone or with a little potato (it will be more digestible without potatoes, at the beginning). A small purée of 100g of carrots provides approximately 3000 to 4000 ug of beta carotene, i.e. 1 to 2 times the daily requirement of the baby; but don't worry, there is no risk of overdosing. However, you should not give it every day. Two to three times a week will suffice.
Carrot purée is a classic in the fight against diarrhoea in children; alternating with cooked rice.
Homemade and jarred carrot purées have the same nutritional value. The ones from the jars have potentially less nitrates than the others.
Carrots can also be given as raw vegetables from the age of 7 to 8 months, provided that they are mixed, as the baby does not have many teeth to chew them!