Onion is one of the most commonly cultivated vegetables worldwide. It is available in different varieties and is classified based on its skin color (red, white, brown, or yellow), taste (sweet or pungent), or shape (round, flat, or globe) (1).
The vegetable adds flavor and texture to food preparations, while its phytochemical profile benefits health in the long run. Parents may contemplate feeding onions to their babies once the little one begins eating solids. But, they may also get apprehensive about the safety of onions for babies.
This post talks about when to feed onion to babies, its benefits, and tasty onion recipes to try for babies and toddlers.
When Can Babies Eat Onions?
Babies can eat cooked onions from the age of six months (2). Introduce onions as part of the baby’s regular diet consisting of several solids. You can use cooked, mashed, or pureed onions to add flavor to different recipes, such as fruit and vegetable purees, porridges, and soups.
Older babies can consume cooked onion as finger foods, such as cooked onion rings. Toddlers can consume steamed, baked, grilled, and roasted onions, along with other foods. Avoid serving raw onion to babies since it could be difficult to digest and may expose the little one to germs (3). You may introduce raw onions after your baby attains the age of 12 months when their digestion and immunity are better.
Nutritional Value Of Onions
The nutritional value of one raw, small onion (70 g) added to a recipe can provide the following nutrients to the baby (4) (5) (6).
| Nutrients | Amount | RDA(7-12months) |
| Water | 62.4g | – |
| Energy | 28Kcal | – |
| Fiber, total dietary | 1.19g | – |
| Potassium, K | 102mg | 700mg* |
| Folate | 13.3µg | 80AI |
| Vitamin C, total ascorbic acid | 5.18mg | 35mg |
*AI = Adequate intake – nutrient level assumed to ensure nutritional adequacy
Sources: U.S. Department of Agriculture, World Health Organization, and Oregon State University
Possible Health Benefits Of Onions For Babies
Onions are considered to have anticancer, antiplatelet, antiasthmatic, and antibiotic effects (7) (8). These possible benefits of onions are mostly attributed to its phytochemicals, such as flavonoids (9). The following are the likely benefits of onions for babies.
- Provides micronutrients: One small onion gives you essential nutrients, such as fiber, folate, vitamin C, and potassium. These nutrients could contribute to your baby’s daily nutritional needs and contribute to long-term health benefits.
- Promotes immunity: Onions are an excellent source of several bioactive and antioxidant compounds that counteract free radical damage. These compounds could also benefit the immune system in the long run (10).
- Enhances gut health: Onions contain a type of carbohydrate called FODMAPs that work as prebiotics and benefit the bacteria of the colon (11). It can help promote gut health in the long run (12).
In the long run, onions may also benefit the overall health of the gastrointestinal tract and bones (13).
How To Select And Store Onions?
Here are some simple tips to follow while selecting and storing onions.
Tips for selecting onions
- Choose onions that are firm to touch with a tissue-thin or papery-thin
- Avoid onions with bruises, cuts, and blemishes. Also, they should be free of black or gray molds and any visible sprouting.
- Discard onions that feel too dry or wet to touch.
Tips for storing onions
- Store whole dry onion bulbs in a cool, dry, dark place with proper ventilation. Keep them away from sunlight and aim to maintain a temperature around 77°F (25°C).
- Store onions packed in cardboard boxes or bags at least one foot away from walls to allow air circulation.
- Do not store onions in plastic bags or airtight containers as the lack of ventilation will reduce shelf life.
- Do not store onions with foods that release moisture, such as potatoes. It will cause the onion to turn wet and spongy.
- Avoid storing whole onions in the refrigerator since they may absorb moisture and turn mushy.
- You can store peeled and cut onions in an airtight container at a cool place, such as a refrigerator, for up to a week.
Precautions To Take While Feeding Onion To Babies
Here are some necessary precautions to ensure the safe consumption of onions in babies.
- Introduce onion to your baby as cooked onion puree or mash added to different foods, such as soups, stews, cereals, and porridge in small quantities.
- You can begin by adding a teaspoon to the food and gradually increasing it to a tablespoon or two based on the recipe’s requirement.
- Once the baby seems comfortable with the onion’s taste and digestibility, gradually include baked, grilled, and roasted onions to different baby food
- Onion allergy is uncommon but possible. Its symptoms may come up immediately after touching or ingesting onion. Stay alert to its signs, like skin rash (hives) anywhere on the body, cough and wheezing, vomiting, and diarrhea (14).
- If the baby has a family history of allergies, especially to foods belonging to the lily family (garlic, leeks, shallots, asparagus, and chives) and certain pollen, then consult a doctor before adding onion to your baby’s diet.
- Babies with a sensitive digestive system may experience FODMAP intolerance after ingesting onion even in cooked form. Typical symptoms include gas, bloating, and abdominal cramps (15).
- Be alert and check the ingredient list of packaged foods, such as soups and curries, that may contain powdered onion.
- Wash peeled raw onions thoroughly under water before cooking them or when serving them raw to toddlers. Washing can help remove any germs present on the onion’s surface
- Cut onions in small pieces when serving them as finger food. It helps avoid the risk of choking.
Healthy Onion Recipes For Babies And Toddlers
Below are some onion recipes you can feed to your infant or toddler.
1. Squash, carrot, and onion puree
https://image.shutterstock.com/image-photo/pumpkin-baby-soup-puree-concept-600w-1652686882.jpg
You will need:
- ½ cup squash (peeled, chopped, and steamed)
- 2tbsp carrots (peeled, chopped, and steamed)
- 1tbsp yellow onion (peeled, chopped, and steamed)
How to:
- Blend all the ingredients into a lump-free, smooth paste, using a food processor or blender.
- Add water to adjust the consistency. Pour the puree into a feeding bowl and serve.
2. Onion and green pea soup
https://www.shutterstock.com/image-photo/tasty-peas-soup-cherry-tomatoes-on-318835280
You will need:
- 100ml low-sodium vegetable stock
- 50g red onion (sliced)
- 30g frozen peas
- 1tsp dried thyme
- 2tbsp olive oil
How to:
- Heat olive oil in a saucepan on medium heat and saute onions for ten to 15 minutes.
- Add thyme, peas, and vegetable stock into the saucepan and cook the mixture for 15 to 20 minutes over low heat. Switch off the heat and set the pan aside.
- Blend all the ingredients into a lump-free, smooth-flowing liquid using an immersion blender.
- Pour the soup into a soup bowl and serve immediately.
- You can add elbow pasta, cooked quinoa, or cooked oats to this recipe for toddlers.
3. Baked onion rings
You will need:
- 1 white onion (sliced in rings)
- 1 egg (beaten)
- 50g whole-wheat flour
- 50g breadcrumbs
- 80ml unsalted buttermilk
- 2tbsp corn flour
How to:
- Mix the buttermilk and onion rings in a mixing bowl, cover with cling film, and refrigerate for a minimum of six hours.
- After six hours, preheat the oven to 392°F (200°C). Line a baking tray with parchment paper and set aside.
- Mix the whole-wheat flour, and corn flour in a large zipper storage bag.
- Remove the onion rings from the buttermilk and transfer them into the zipper storage bag. Close the bag and shake until the onion rings are fully coated.
- Dip each onion ring in the egg and then coat with the breadcrumbs. Place on the baking tray with some distance between each ring.
- Once all the onion rings are placed on the baking tray, sprinkle them with some oil, and bake the onion rings for 15 minutes.
- Transfer the baked onion rings to a serving plate and serve immediately with hummus, homemade ketchup, or dip.
Onion is a flavorful vegetable that can enhance the palatability and nutritional value of a dish. You can feed onions to your babies and toddlers in different age-appropriate forms. Onion sandwich, onion soup, onion puree, and onion porridge are some other onion recipes you can feed to your baby or toddler. You can also add onion to other food items, such as egg, rice, pasta, curries, and casseroles.