Fruit Puree for eczema babies – the mighty papaya

I have an eczema baby with food allergies who is also a picky eater.  A lot of commercially sold foods are not safe for consumption because he is allergic to milk, eggs and peanuts. In the beginning, I resorted to buying organic rice snacks but being expensive (and containing less nutritional value), I knew this could not be a long term solution given he devours them daily.

The importance of Vitamin C in an eczema baby’s diet

Vitamin C is crucial for skin healing due to it’s important role in the biosynthesis of collagen. Collagen is the protein found in skin (and other connective tissues) that is vital in replacing and restoring dead skin cells.

Because Vitamin C is water soluble, the body needs a regular replenishment of it on a daily basis. The best way to do so is to feed your eczema baby fresh fruits and vegetables rich in Vitamin C.

Today’s Fruit Puree Snack – Featuring The Mighty Papaya

After he turned 1 year old, Corey takes 2 servings of fruit a day, at breakfast and at teatime. He started with single ingredient purees and as his diet of fruits grew I’ve found certain combinations of fruits worked best for taste and skin nutrition.

Today’s recipe features 3 fruits, papaya, pear and fresh cherries (for garnishing). Papaya and pears are generally safe as first fruits to start solids on.

If your babies are trying these fruits for the first time, it is best to feed them as single ingredients for a few days each to ensure no allergic reaction.

Follow this comprehensive guide to weaning ‘Introducing Solids For Babies’ from Baby Journey if unsure.

 

 

I did not realise how important the papaya is in building an eczema friendly diet till I read The Eczema Diet. Now, it is a staple fruit in my home. Rich in vitamin C, papaya is anti inflammatory and a powerful antioxidant. It contains protein-digesting enzyme papain which is a good source for maintaining gut health.

Just take a look at the nutritional table and you will understand why the papaya is a mighty vitamin C fruit. Just eating 100grams of papaya a day gives you 101% of your daily requirement (based on a 2000 calorie diet). Moreover, its buttery sweetness is easier on a baby’s palate compared to citrus fruits like oranges.

Do take note that papaya is also considered a laxative food. Thus it is best to cut down papaya intake during bouts of diarrhoea.

On the flipside, papaya is great for constipation, so my boys eat more papaya when they have a hard time getting down to business!

Multiple uses for the green (unripe) papaya

Ask anyone what they know about the green (unripe) papaya and the first reaction is usually Thai green papaya salad. This salad tastes great but a little known fact is that papaya tastes great in savoury recipes too.

The green (unripe) version has a bland cucumber-like taste and is a great addition to stir frys and soups. We use it in green papaya fish soup and swear by its benefits in helping milk producing for lactating mothers.

Thus I decided to use green (unripe) papaya in a modified version of Corey’s nutritious skin healing broth recipe. It tasted great and you can find the recipe following this link.

Meanwhile, heres the simple fruit puree snack recipe that you can whip up in minutes. It is yummy and nutritious for eczema skin and sensitive babies.

 

DISCLAIMER
This post is for information purposes and does not replace professional diagnostic advice. Therefore always consult your healthcare provider if ever in doubt.