Can Babies Eat jam?

Jam is a type of fruit preserve, usually got from processed fruit, sugar and in some cases pectin, by cooking together these ingredients and storing the mixture in an airtight jar. The preparation and the content of jam vary from continent to continent. In Europe it is a larger scale of products seen as fruits fit for jam, like tomatoes, rhubarb, carrots, pumpkins. In Canada, jam must have a concentration of at least 45% of the named fruit. Marmalade is another form of jam made from oranges, having pulp and peels. Jam can also come in the form of gel, but once this neither solid nor liquid form taken out of the fridge, it becomes more liquid, and is more exposed to the danger of decay.

The first jam product was officially created in 1918 and it was the Grapelade, made from grape juice. The most popular jams from today are made from: apricots, grapes, blackberries, strawberries, raspberries and figs.

Is Jam Healthy to Eat?

Jam has a small amount of nutrients, so it is healthier to eat raw fruits, because they still contain vitamins. Jam is also a source for sugar, which makes it unhealthy again. It does not have fibers and proteins, making jam not the best choice. Eating too much jam can lead to weight gain.

Can Babies Eat Jam?

Sugar and sweet food shouldn’t be introduced into babies’ diet until they are 12 months old. Attention must be paid to the amount of jam you offer your baby, and you shouldn’t give jam on a daily basis. The advantage of jam is, that it can be served with other foods like wheat bread, idli or dosa.

Raspberry Chia Seed Jam

Ingredients: 2 cups of fresh raspberries, juice of half a lemon, 2 tbsp chia seeds.

Put the raspberries and lemon juice into a saucepan and bring to boil. Then turn down the heat to medium level and stir until the raspberries are completely broken apart. Put the chia seeds into the pan and allow to bubble away for another 5 minutes, but keep on stirring, to prevent sticking. Put the jam into an airtight jar and store in fridge.