When the time comes for your baby to transition from breast milk to semi-solid foods, there are several key foods that you should incorporate into your baby’s diet. Among them are peanuts, milk, and egg. 

Introducing your baby to egg can decrease the likelihood that your baby develops an egg related allergy.  According to the PETIT study, egg allergy in high-risk infants can be reduced with consistent exposure. The crucial period for allergen introduction comes as your baby transitions to solid and semi-solid foods--as early as 4 to 6 months of age. 

Along with the findings of recent studies, the USDA has adjusted its guidelines for children ages 0 to 2. In the latest guidelines (2020), they recommend introducing egg to babies because it can reduce allergies by up to 80 percent.

This article offers easy to make recipes with just a handful of ingredients. These recipes are intended to help your baby gain exposure to egg while making it enjoyable for them to eat. Following these recipes will help them increase tolerance to egg while decreasing the likelihood of developing a food allergy.

Scrambled Eggs

6+ Months

Eating scrambled eggs is timeless. 

Whether you’re 6 months old or 40, scrambled eggs is a very popular breakfast. Not only is it super simple to make (just 3 ingredients), eggs are filled with protein and nutrients. Scrambled eggs is a great way to transition your baby to semi-solid foods. 

Ingredients:

1 Organic Egg

At your local grocery store, there will most likely be a wide variety of eggs to choose from. Although your baby wouldn’t be able to distinguish the taste between organic and non-organic eggs, there are more health benefits. A recent finding from Penn State University showed that eggs from pastured chickens may be more nutritious.

1/4 Cup of Whole Milk (or Water)

Has your baby already been exposed to cow’s milk?

Since milk is another potential allergen, it’s important that you only introduce one new food at a time. This will allow you to pinpoint the cause of an allergic reaction in the chance that this occurs. That means you should use water in this recipe if your baby has not yet been exposed to milk. 

Either way, the liquid ingredient that you add mixes with the egg to make it fluffier and create a larger serving for your baby. You can also eliminate this ingredient altogether in the event that you ran out.

1 Tablespoon of Olive Oil

The olive oil in this recipe is going to be used to help heat the pan and prevent your eggs from sticking. More importantly, there are numerous health benefits to adding some olive oil to your baby’s scrambled eggs. It’s full of healthy fats as well as antioxidants. 

Instructions:

1. Crack an egg into a small plastic bowl.

2. Add a quarter cup of milk (or water) to the bowl.

3. Beat the egg and milk (or water) mixture until it has a yellowish color and smooth liquid consistency.

4. Preheat a medium sized pan and add 1 tablespoon of olive oil over medium heat. 

5. Pour in the beaten egg and let it sit until bubbles begin to appear.

6. Stir gently using a spatula or similar utensil. As you continue to mix, you’ll see the egg begin to solidify. They should be firm, yet moist rather than overcooked.

7. Transfer the scrambled eggs to a plate when the egg is set but soft.

8. Let the eggs sit for 2-3 minutes before serving.

Egg and Veggie Puree

8+ Months

Another great way to incorporate eggs into your baby’s diet is to puree some egg and add veggies. This is a delicious versatile dish (you can use all sorts of veggies) that takes very little time to prepare. All you have to do is add a little elbow grease to mix everything together!

Ingredients:

1 Hard Boiled Egg

Eggs have a plethora of health benefits that have been mentioned. They’re also an affordable source of protein. For as little as $2.00 you can buy a dozen eggs which you could spread out over several meals for your baby.

1 Cup of Vegetables 

What are your babies favorite vegetables?

Anything goes when it comes to veggies in this recipe. You can use whatever you have in your refrigerator ranging from peas to carrots and beyond. If you want to get wild, you can even mix multiple types in.

In this recipe, veggies serve multiple purposes. For one thing, they make the dish colorful which may be enticing for your baby. They also come with obvious health benefits and can be integrated seamlessly into eggs.

Instructions:

Please note that there are separate instructions for egg and vegetable preparation, but both can occur at the same time. These ingredients will be combined later.

Making the Hard Boiled Egg 

1. Put egg(s) into a medium sized pot. Fill the pot with water until the egg(s) are covered by about 1 inch or more of water.

2. Add a sprinkle of salt to the water. This will make the eggs easier to peel later.

3. Heat the pot on high heat and bring the water to a boil.

4. Turn off the heat, but keep the pan on the burner with the lid on. 

5. Let the pan sit on the same burner (off) for 10 minutes. 

6. Strain the water from the pan. Be sure to have cold water running to cool the eggs.

Preparing the Vegetables

1. Fill a medium sized pot about 3/4 of the way and cover it with a lid. Put this on high heat until the water begins to boil.

2. While the water is coming to a boil, wash your vegetables and cut them in bite-sized pieces.

3. When the water is at a full boil, add salt, then add veggies.

4. Reduce the heat to a simmer and let the vegetables cook. Carrots typically take about 5-10 minutes, but each vegetable varies.

5. Strain veggies and transfer to a medium sized bowl.

Putting it All Together

1. Peel the hard boiled egg until the shell is completely removed.

2. Place the egg and vegetables into a medium sized bowl.

3. Mash the egg and vegetables together until in a puree form.

Egg Sandwich

8+ Months

At around 8 or 9 months of age your baby will be ready to start eating finger foods. One of the most iconic finger foods is, of course, the sandwich. A great way to allow your baby to practice eating with their hands and gain exposure to egg is the classic egg sandwich.

Ingredients:

2 Slices of Bread

To create a proper sandwich, you need to have a few slices of bread. The most health-conscious choice of bread for babies is whole wheat. It has a high fiber content and is easier for babies to chew.

Just a word of caution, seeds or nuts are potential choking hazards. Cutting off the crust to the bread of your choosing will also reduce the risk of choking.

1 Egg

Egg is the star ingredient in this dish. There are a variety of ways to serve it such as fried, scrambled, or in an omelette type form. In this recipe, we’re going to use scrambled eggs.

1/2 Avocado 

Avocados are packed with nutritious value, they even contain more potassium than bananas. In addition, they have healthy fats and contain tremendous amounts of fiber. All great for babies.

In this particular recipe, avocados are great because of their texture. It’s a great food to spread on sandwiches to create texture.

Instructions:

1. Make the scrambled egg in a medium sized pan (see instructions on making scrambled eggs above in the first recipe).

2. Put slices of bread into the toaster until they are lightly toasted. This ensures that the bread has a different texture, but is not overly burnt which could lead to choking.

3. While the bread is toasting, cut an avocado in half, removing its shell and pit.

4. Spread avocado onto the toast. A thin layer is a good starting point, but you can increase the amount as you see fit for your baby.

5. Place the scrambled egg on top of the avocado toast. 

6. Cut pieces of the sandwich into quarters. This will help your baby learn to hold the toast, practicing motor skills. It also reduces the choking hazard.

Key Takeaways for Parents 

You can prevent up to 80 percent of food allergies by introducing your baby to allergens like egg. Following these simple recipes will make the transition easy and enjoyable for babies as young as 4 months old.

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All health-related content on this website is for informational purposes only and does not create a doctor-patient relationship. Always seek the advice of your own pediatrician in connection with any questions regarding your baby’s health.

These statements have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration. Products are not intended to diagnose, treat, cure or prevent any disease.