1. Tomatoes shouldn't be eaten before a meal
Tomatoes should be eaten after a meal. This way, the acidity can be significantly reduced when stomach acid mixes with the food, avoiding increased intra-gastric pressure that can lead to gastric distension, causing symptoms in babies such as abdominal pain and stomach discomfort.
2. Mixing carrots and radishes to make a puree
Do not grind carrots and radishes together into a puree. This is because carrots contain an enzyme that destroys vitamin C, which will completely break down the vitamin C in the radishes.
3. Excessive consumption of carotene
Although carotene is very nutritious for babies, it's important to consume it in moderation. If a baby drinks too much vegetable juice made from carrots or tomatoes, it can lead to carotenemia, causing the skin on the face and hands to turn orange-yellow. This may be accompanied by loss of appetite, unstable mental state, irritability, and even poor sleep, along with symptoms like night terrors, crying, and talking in one's sleep.
4. Washing mushrooms too thoroughly or soaking them in water
The nutrients in mushrooms will be washed away. Mushrooms contain ergosterol, which turns into vitamin D when exposed to sunlight. However, excessive washing or soaking before eating will cause a significant loss of nutrients. Mushrooms should also not be cooked in iron or copper pots to avoid nutritional loss.
5. Eating undercooked bean sprouts
Bean sprouts are tender, delicious, and nutritious, but they must be thoroughly cooked. Otherwise, eating them can lead to adverse reactions such as nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, and dizziness.
6. Giving babies too much spinach
Spinach contains a large amount of oxalic acid and is not suitable for babies to eat in excess. Oxalic acid combines with calcium and zinc in the body to form calcium oxalate and zinc oxalate, which are not easily absorbed and excreted. This affects the absorption of calcium and zinc in the intestines, easily leading to calcium and zinc deficiency in babies, which can result in poor development of bones and teeth and affect intellectual development.
7. Giving babies bitter gourd that hasn't been blanched in boiling water
The oxalic acid in bitter gourd can hinder the absorption of calcium from food. Therefore, bitter gourd should be blanched in boiling water first to remove the oxalic acid before eating. Babies who need to supplement a large amount of calcium should not eat too much bitter gourd.
8. Cooked chives stored for too long
Chives are best cooked and eaten immediately; they should not be stored for long periods. If stored for too long, the large amount of nitrate in them will convert into nitrite, causing a toxic reaction. Additionally, babies with indigestion should not eat chives.
9. Stewing green leafy vegetables for too long
Green leafy vegetables should not be stewed for too long during cooking. Otherwise, the nitrates in them will convert into nitrites, which can easily cause food poisoning in babies.
10. Cooking frozen vegetables for too long
Most frozen vegetables have already been blanched, so they don't need to be cooked for too long, or they will become mushy and lose many nutrients.