When can a child be given a Komarovsky orange? When can you give an orange to your child and in what quantity? Children's recipes with orange

Every mother carefully monitors her baby’s diet. If she wants to diversify her menu, she studies all the benefits and harms of each specific product. At what age can you give your child an orange? The article will discuss the benefits and harms of citrus fruits for the baby’s body, as well as the peculiarities of their use.

Beneficial features

Orange is one of the most common members of the citrus family. Its fruits attract adults and children with their bright color, pleasant taste and special aroma.

When can you give your child an orange? Before moving on to determining the age of the baby when he can consume the fruit without harm to his health, let’s consider the benefits of the fruit. Here are the main positive properties of orange:

1. The composition of the fruit includes: fructose, glucose, sucrose, phytoncides, vitamins C, B, E, B7, minerals and amino acids. Orange contains increased amounts of potassium and magnesium.
2. Regular inclusion of fruit in food strengthens the immune system, improves heart and liver function.
3. Thanks to orange, you can eliminate constipation, improve digestion and appetite.
4. Freshly squeezed juice helps strengthen the skeletal system and preserve calcium in the child’s body.

Oranges have many beneficial properties that manifest themselves if consumed correctly.

Harm

At what age can you give your child an orange? Before deciding when to include the fetus in the baby’s diet, it is necessary to consider its negative impact on the child’s body.

Despite its positive properties, orange can also cause harm. It is a strong allergen, so it is not given to infants.

Contraindications include:

• pathologies of the gastrointestinal tract (gastritis, ulcer);
• individual intolerance to citrus fruits;
• pancreatitis;
• diabetes.

Harmful substances can accumulate in the zest, so children under 6 years old should include oranges in their diet with caution.

Allergy

When to give lemon and orange to babies? Before including citrus fruits in your diet, you need to understand that they can cause an allergic reaction. Even a slice of orange can cause a rash, redness and swelling of the skin, and indigestion.

The body’s reaction can appear not only to the active compounds included in the fruit, but also to the chemicals with which they are treated for long-term storage.

Any fruit is introduced into a children's diet with caution and in small portions. This is done due to the risk of an allergic reaction. When it appears, they seek help from a pediatrician.

At what months can fruit be introduced into the diet?

At what age can you give your child an orange? Parents need to familiarize themselves with some of the nuances of introducing fruit into the diet:

1. Before starting to include orange in children's menus, mothers should consume it themselves (you can eat just a little). This is done only when the baby reaches the age of 3 months.
2. It is necessary to feed your baby orange starting from the age of 10 months.
3. Up to a year, the child is given diluted juice or a few drops are added to compote or tea.
4. If there are no allergy symptoms, then the portion can be increased with each feeding.
5. It is not recommended to give your baby packaged juices, because they may contain harmful compounds.
6. There is no need to introduce several fruits into your diet at once (orange, persimmon, lemon, kiwi). If a negative reaction occurs, it will be quite difficult to establish its cause.
7. It is recommended to monitor the interval between consumption of citrus fruits (3-4 days). This is enough to establish the causes of the allergic reaction.
8. It must be taken into account that even a healthy baby is given orange in certain quantities.
9. When feeding fruits, you need to remove the seeds and peel.

When can you give an orange to a child and at what age? Parents should understand that such fruits should not be the first complementary foods for infants. First you need to familiarize the child’s body with local fruits. Oranges can be consumed by children aged 1 year and older. If the baby is allergic, then the inclusion of fruits in the diet should be postponed until 2-3 years.

Due to the fact that oranges are rich in acids, it is not recommended to consume them daily. This will lead to disruption of the gastrointestinal tract.

Selection of oranges

At what age can a child have an orange? Before including it in the diet, parents need to choose the right fruits. The best option for kids are sweet varieties of fruits with a slight sour taste.

These oranges grow in Spain, the Mediterranean and off the coast of Sicily. To select excellent quality oranges, you must follow these guidelines:

• The color of the fruit can be of various shades: from orange-red to greenish (this color is not always a sign of immaturity). This suggests that some fruits ripened in the sun, while the rest, lighter ones, ripened in the shade.
• A sign of the ripeness of oranges is their weight. The fruit with the greatest mass is considered the most ripe. They also have a special aroma.

Sweet oranges are usually small in size. The thickness of the peel does not affect maturity and taste, but is a sign of a particular variety. Navel oranges (there is a formation in the navel area) are an ideal fruit for babies. They are very sweet, have a lot of juice and almost no seeds.

In what form should I give it to my child?

Initially, the baby is offered fresh fruit. For the first time, one slice is enough. If there are no allergy symptoms, you can continue to introduce your child to orange. At each subsequent feeding, add 1/2 slice.

Freshly squeezed fruit juice is the best choice for your baby. Can be combined with fresh juices from other fruits: carrots, apples and others. Juices should be diluted with water in a 1:1 ratio.

At what age can you give your child an orange? You can prepare a fragrant dessert for one-year-old babies. For this dish you will need the following ingredients:

• 2 oranges;
• a handful of raisins;
• a glass of sour cream;
• 2 root vegetables.

Peel the oranges and cut into small pieces. Grate the peeled carrots. Mix all ingredients. Add sour cream and raisins, mix. If desired, you can add a small amount of sugar.

You can also make candied oranges from oranges. The process is as follows:

• Wash the fruits thoroughly, place in a deep container and add hot water to remove the bitterness from their peel.
• A weight is placed on top to prevent the fruits from floating. Leave for a quarter of an hour.
• After this time, take out the oranges and wipe them with a napkin.
• The fruit is cut into circles, the thickness of which is 0.5-0.6 cm. Placed in a pan.
• Boil the syrup separately. It consists of water and juice in a ratio of 1 tbsp. liquid per 1 kg of sugar. Pour the syrup over the fruit slices and leave for 9-10 hours.
• After time, drain the liquid and bring it to a boil. Pour in. The process is repeated until the crust becomes transparent.
• After this, boil the syrup with fruit for another 5-7 minutes over low heat and cool.

The candied fruits are placed in a colander and left to drain excess liquid. The process takes 6 hours.

Then the slices are placed on parchment and placed in an oven preheated to 80 degrees. It is best to leave the door ajar.

When can children eat other citrus fruits?

At what age can you give your child tangerines? They are recommended to be given from one year of age. First, a little tangerine juice is introduced into the diet, after diluting it with water. Only then can you give the baby a slice. If the body reacts normally to the fruit, then you can give 1-2 tangerines per day.

Lemon is allowed to be tried starting from 8-10 months. At this age, kids can already perceive the quality of the product. And there is a high probability that he will like the sour taste of the fruit.

Lemon juice diluted with water can be given even earlier - from 6 months. Add 1 teaspoon of sugar per glass of water to the drink.

Conclusion

The benefits of citrus fruits are beyond doubt, because they significantly compensate for the deficiency of vitamins and minerals in the body. However, a child should consume fruits with great caution, because they are strong allergens and have a number of contraindications. It is necessary to gradually introduce the baby to the product.

The benefits of delicious citrus fruits are enormous, but they are shrouded in the darkness of horror stories about allergic reactions. But every mother really wants to pamper her beloved baby with this delicious fruit. In order for this test to bring only joy, you first need to find out at what age you can give your child tangerines.

You should know that allergies to tangerines in children are not at all uncommon, and the introduction of capricious citrus into the baby’s diet is a matter of first importance. It requires a certain seriousness and measuredness. Of course, there is a great temptation to offer your child everything at once and share the delicious fruit joys with him. But in order to avoid unwanted reactions, we advise you to familiarize yourself with all the pros and cons, and also find out the optimal age when you can give tangerine to your baby.

Tangerine benefits

In addition to the sweet taste and appetizing aroma, tangerines contain enormous benefits. These “New Year’s seeds” protect children’s and adult health, and here’s why:

• Tangerines are a real treasure of vitamins A, C, D, PP and group B. This beneficial combination is complemented by potassium, calcium and phosphorus.
• This fruit is an effective antidepressant, and it’s not just the bright color. “Thank you” can be said to special essential oils. A child who loves tangerines will be active and cheerful.
• Citrus fruits are always associated with the fight against colds. Despite the leadership of lemons, tangerines also occupy an honorable position on the pedestal of healthy fruits. Tangerine juice has a phytoncidal effect, so it is a godsend during the peak of viral diseases and during the recovery period.
• Love for these citrus fruits ensures healthy glucose levels, excellent intestinal function and metabolic processes.
• Tangerine does not irritate the mucous membranes in the mouth, which cannot be said about its brothers orange and grapefruit.
• The minimum number of calories makes the fruit a dietary and permitted treat for overweight children.
• One cannot but rejoice in the beneficial effect on digestion due to the large amount of fiber.

All of the above arguments speak in favor of a positive answer to the question of whether it is possible to give tangerines to a child. The enormous benefits indicate that it is not only possible, but also necessary. You just need to figure out at what age this is acceptable.

Everything is not so sweet

• The main “but” of citrus is its high ability to provoke allergies.
• Another danger is the rather generous sugar content, so children with diabetes will have to avoid it.
• Tangerine contains organic acids, so it should be eaten with caution by children with high stomach acidity.

About contraindications

No matter how tasty tangerine is, it is not suitable for all kids. Children with the following diagnoses will have to be given a different fruit:

• intolerance to citrus fruits;
• gastritis;
• stomach ulcer;
• nephritis;
• diabetes;
• cholecystitis;
• hepatitis.

From small to large

Every mother wonders at what age can you give tangerines to your child. When you and your baby walk past the fruit shelves in the supermarket, orange citrus fruits will certainly attract his attention. That’s when the question arises: when can you give them to him for testing?

At what age can you safely give tangerine to your baby? If you are concerned about how many months you can treat your baby to a bright fruit, then the age limit is usually 1 year. If you decide to give your child a couple of slices before he is one year old, you risk experiencing allergy symptoms or poisoning. The baby cannot boast of a developed enzyme system, so it will be difficult for him to tolerate tangerine.

At one year of age, it is already possible to gain courage and gradually give tangerines to children. A one-year-old child, if he has not had allergic reactions to other products, should tolerate citrus well. But some pediatricians (including the famous doctor Evgeny Komarovsky) believe that 1 year is too early an age to get acquainted with the controversial fruit and advise waiting until 1.5 years. If the baby was allergic to any product, then he can try tangerine only from the age of 3.

As for the size of portions, a child aged 1 year should not be offered more than 1-3 slices, and only at the age of 7 can a child eat several fruits.

Where do we start?

Feeding with citrus should occur gradually. We recommend starting with tangerine juice and half water. After such a first acquaintance, carefully monitor the reaction. If everything went well, next time offer your child 1 cut piece of fruit.

If the baby’s teeth do not yet allow him to fully chew a tangerine, then show him how the pulp can be sucked and the excess fibers can be thrown away. Children often like this method the most, because it is the most delicious.

And if a child’s teeth are just in the teething stage, then he is unlikely to like the pulp. In this case, you can pamper your baby with equally delicious tangerine juice, so as not to further cause irritation and friction to sensitive gums.

Know the enemy by sight

The biggest concern mothers have with tangerines, and indeed with any citrus fruit, is their ability to cause allergies. But this is not a reason to deprive your baby of such delicious joy. If you introduce fruit into your child's diet step by step and observe the reaction, then everything should go well. But if the first symptoms of an allergy appear, take action immediately. Remember these “beacons” and be alert:

• A common symptom of allergies is skin rashes, most often on the wrists, buttocks and behind the ears.
• After the first test, a young child may experience redness on his cheeks and itching.
• Sometimes there is redness and swelling of the skin.
• A mucosal reaction is not uncommon; it manifests itself in swelling of the eyelids, tearfulness, redness and itching of the eyes.
• Sometimes a runny nose with nasal congestion may appear.
• The previous symptom sometimes causes a dry cough, laryngeal swelling and difficulty breathing.
• The child’s digestive tract may react to tangerine with abdominal pain, nausea, diarrhea, and sometimes colitis.

If the symptoms do not begin to subside within an hour, this is a serious reason to consult a doctor. It is necessary to immediately call an ambulance if there is a rapid increase in breathing and signs of anaphylactic shock in the baby.

Knowledge of age restrictions, complementary feeding rules and allergy symptoms will guarantee that introducing your child to orange fruit will only cause positive emotions.

Fragrant, bright, sweet, everyone’s favorite tangerines are the most traditional dessert. Many mothers have a question: when can a child be given tangerines, and in what quantity?

Mandarins contain almost all groups of vitamins, useful minerals and essential oils. They improve digestion, metabolism, and reduce blood glucose levels. Tangerine juice has phytoncidal properties. It is extremely useful for children in the treatment of many viral and respiratory diseases, and is good for restoring strength after illness. Therefore, the answer to the question whether children can have tangerines is unequivocal - they can and should!

Allergy to citrus fruits: how to determine?

The digestive system of babies is different from that of adults. Until the age of six months, children should be fed only breast milk. And only in the seventh month of life can you gradually try it in small doses. The medical literature does not clearly indicate the age at which citrus fruits can be given to a child. It depends on your baby's health condition. If the child is not prone to allergic reactions, That starting from the year You can try giving a few drops of juice a day at first, then one drop a day. At the same time, mothers need to carefully monitor the condition of the child’s skin. At the slightest sign of redness or rash, stop taking citrus fruits immediately.

So, at what age can children be given whole citrus fruits? It depends on the individual characteristics of the child’s body. It should be remembered that even if your baby is absolutely healthy and does not suffer from allergies, excessive consumption of citrus fruits can lead to diseases of the digestive system.

If your child is allergic to citrus fruits, it’s not a problem. A huge number of fruits and berries grow in Russia, which will supply your baby’s body with healthy vitamins.

The exceptionally pleasant aroma of tangerines in the house indicates the approaching holidays. There is nothing more pleasant than tasting a sweet and sour slice of fruit and getting great pleasure. This fruit is especially loved by children who anticipate pleasure in advance. Today we will talk about how beneficial tangerines are for them, how their consumption will affect the health of children, and to whom they can be harmful.

Are tangerines good for children?

In terms of vitamin and mineral content, rare winter fruits can compete with tangerines. First of all, this is vitamin C, which the body especially needs during the period of widespread respiratory diseases. The phosphorus and calcium present in tangerines strengthen the baby’s bones and teeth, and B vitamins have a positive effect on the nervous system and metabolism. The list of beneficial properties of the fruit is not limited to this:

• Tangerines prevent the development of rickets - vitamin D entering the body naturally is more beneficial than consuming pharmaceutical products. Moreover, the season of these citrus fruits begins when cholecalciferol is synthesized in the skin in minimal quantities - the baby appears on the street wrapped in winter clothes, moreover, most of the days are cloudy.
• Essential oils of tangerines will provide the baby with a supply of energy, the child will be able to more actively explore the world, happily receiving a lot of new information. They are also useful for schoolchildren, as they improve memory and the ability to concentrate.
• A small tangerine is quite capable of quenching your thirst, and it is much better than popular drinks like sweet soda or forfeits.
• Due to the phytoncides present in the fruits, they make the child more resistant to viral infections. Even if the baby becomes infected from peers or parents, the disease is much milder.
• Tangerines are one of those fruits that can be safely consumed even by those who are prone to obesity. If your little one is chubby and needs weight correction, simply replace traditional cookies and sweets with tangerines.
• Due to the high fiber content, eating fruits has a positive effect on the digestive system.
• Active flavonoids activate the production of red blood cells, increase the elasticity and strength of capillaries, and improve immunity.
• Tangerine juice is useful for edema, as it helps remove excess fluid from the body.

Just one tangerine can increase a child's appetite, so if your baby doesn't show interest in food, use this advice.

Introduction of tangerines into the diet of children

A frequent question from inexperienced parents is at what age can children be given tangerines. The main danger is the occurrence of allergies. If mom and dad don’t perceive this fruit well, it should not be offered to the child for at least one year. When the baby is fed with mother's milk, until 6 months you will not offer him citrus fruits in any case, but from six months you will begin to accustom him to apples, pears and other fruits.

If the son (daughter) is healthy and not prone to allergies, the optimal period of acquaintance with tangerines is at the age of 8-9 months (for artificial ones - from six months). Useful tips:

• for the first time, 1–2 ml of freshly squeezed juice is enough - about 0.5 dessert spoon;
• if the “tasting” did not cause consequences, the portion can be doubled, gradually bringing it to 30 ml;
• when accustoming the baby to slices, they should be peeled, start with 1/4, later increase to a whole slice.

If you have the slightest suspicion of an allergy, you should avoid eating tangerines and be sure to consult a doctor so that he can prescribe antihistamines.

How does an allergy to tangerines manifest?

First of all, you will notice a characteristic rash on the skin, but even if it does not appear, this does not mean that an allergy has been avoided. Other symptoms:

• skin redness;
• the appearance of edema;
• tearing of the eyes for no reason, the whites may turn red;
• the appearance of a runny nose without a cold is one of the signs of an allergy;
• dry cough caused by a sore throat;
• diarrhea, abdominal pain, nausea or even vomiting is also possible.

Be observant, notice the slightest changes in the child’s health.

Precautionary measures

In case of stomach diseases, tangerines should be consumed with extreme caution, especially with gastritis with high acidity. This is caused by organic acids present in the fruit. Tangerines are also harmful for children suffering from diabetes. Other contraindications:

• all types of hepatitis;
• kidney diseases;
• cholecystitis;
• other diseases - if your child has them, consult your pediatrician first about consuming tangerines.

And remember the main rule - a new product cannot be introduced into the diet if the child is weakened or sick.

Recipes for children using tangerines

Sometimes, for a change, you want to offer your child something unusual. And although tangerines are delicious fresh, we offer you a selection of recipes that will help you diversify your kids’ diet.

Tangerine jam

To make jam you will need: half a lemon, 5 tangerines, 1.5-2 cups of sugar, a small piece of ginger (cut off 2-3 mm of the root). Remove the seeds from the lemon and tangerine slices, then load them into a container, add the rest of the ingredients, grind with a blender, then put on low heat and simmer for half an hour. Stir the jam constantly so that it does not burn, otherwise an unpleasant aftertaste will appear.

Fruit salad with tangerines

This is a real vitamin bomb - just look at the product list! Ingredients: 1 persimmon, it must be ripe, but not yet softened so that it can be cut, half a grapefruit - it should be peeled not only from the peel, but also from the partitions, they are the ones that give the characteristic bitter taste, 1-2 tangerines, half pomelo, 1 pear, 50 g pomegranate seeds, mint. If desired, you can add sesame seeds - 1 teaspoon is enough. For syrup: 100 g honey, teaspoon cinnamon, vanilla pod. The composition is complex, so the dish is recommended for children aged three years and older!

Preparation:

• Open the vanilla pod, place it and the seeds in a small metal saucepan, then add the remaining ingredients and add 2-3 tablespoons of water. Cook over medium heat - after boiling for two minutes, then remove and leave for 10 minutes.
• Peel the citrus fruits and cut into beautiful pieces (1/4 circles).
• Cut the pear and persimmon into beautiful thin slices.
• Add pomegranate seeds and mint leaves.
• Pour lime juice over the fruits placed in a large salad bowl, sprinkle with sesame seeds, and stir.
• Pour in the syrup, first removing the vanilla pod.

Before serving, decorate with mint. Serve with yoghurt.

On the eve of the New Year holidays, the domestic market welcomes exotic guests from warmer climes - bright orange fruits. In November-December, their mass collection begins, and throughout the long winter they will give us a special mood, enriching the diet with useful substances. Children are delighted with the citrus “sunshine”. And if you approach the first acquaintance correctly, if you take into account at what age a child can have an orange and in what quantity, then the joy will not be overshadowed by anything.

Under the golden peel lies real wealth - vitamins, minerals, fructose, essential oils, organic acids, pectins, phytoncides, fiber and dietary fiber. This composition provides the growing body with:

1. Increased defenses against colds (oranges are among the TOP 10 fruits high in vitamin C).
2. Removal of waste and toxins with the participation of pectins and fiber.
3. Normalization of the functions of the endocrine, cardiovascular and immune systems.
4. Help with hypovitaminosis (contains vitamins B, PP, E, beta-carotene, potassium, iron, phosphorus, copper, calcium).
5. Mild course and rapid recovery from respiratory diseases due to natural antibiotics - phytoncides, which have an antimicrobial effect.
6. Improvement of lipid and carbohydrate metabolism, as well as the condition of skin, nails and hair due to the presence of vitamin H (biotin).
7. Cleansing from nitrates and nitrites, in which citric acid is actively involved.
8. Effective functioning of the digestive system, good appetite, production of bile for digesting fats, inhibition of putrefaction processes in the large intestine, regular bowel movements.

When can you give?

Oranges are not recommended for children in the first year of life. There is no need to burden the baby’s fragile digestive system with exotic foods, and the high risk of an allergic reaction is not justified by the parents’ desire to please the baby with a tasty and healthy fruit. Most pediatric nutritionists are inclined to introduce the child to these citrus fruits later and believe that the likelihood of unwanted effects is significantly reduced by the age of 3. Therefore, in general, it is at the age of three that a child is allowed to try an orange.

Rules for first acquaintance

Practice does not always coincide with theoretical instructions, and here the responsibility for an independent decision - to introduce citrus fruits into the children's diet - falls on adults. To avoid unpleasant consequences, you need to be careful and start giving your child an orange according to the rules:

• dilute the fruit juice in half with water and offer no more than 2-3 drops after the main meal;
• choose the first half of the day to get acquainted with orange and carefully monitor the reaction to it (redness of the cheeks, rashes, swelling of the lips, tongue);
• Do not give foods new to the child on this day in order to easily identify the cause of a possible allergic reaction.

Age norms

There are no clear age standards for eating oranges. The main thing is not to overdo it in quantity, which can lead to a pseudo-allergic reaction. This is a condition in which the baby is not allergic to the product itself, but an overdose causes its symptoms.

Approximate norms: 1 slice for every year of life.

At what age can you give your child a whole orange? From 5-6 years old, but not daily, but 2-3 times a week.

Children under 6 years of age are not allowed to add orange zest to children's dishes. The ban is caused by the desire to protect the child from potentially dangerous chemicals that accumulate in the peel from the environment and after processing the fruit with means for ripening and transportation.

Harm and contraindications

Oranges can be harmful if the baby is not ready to meet citrus fruits due to age or has eaten an excessively large amount of them in one sitting. An unsuccessful acquaintance is often manifested by abdominal pain, vomiting, indigestion, and allergic rashes.

The presence of organic acids in the composition has an irritating effect on the mucous membranes, and the sugar content (up to 10 g per 100 g of product) can disrupt carbohydrate metabolism. In this regard, oranges are contraindicated in the diet of children suffering from:

• gastritis with high acidity;
• diabetes mellitus;
• stomach ulcer;
• allergy to citrus fruits.

Why is allergy to oranges common?

Despite all the splendor of oranges, a significant drawback - allergies - limits their use in childhood. The reason for the appearance of an inadequate reaction on the part of the body is caused by one or a combination of several factors:

• failure of the digestive system due to the age of the child (usually up to 3 years);
• hereditary predisposition, when parents have a confirmed allergy to fruit;
• a woman consuming large amounts of citrus fruits during pregnancy or breastfeeding;
• diseases of the gastrointestinal tract or autoimmune diseases that provoke an allergic reaction;
• unfavorable environmental conditions, aggravating the child’s immune status and contributing to the occurrence of food allergies.

Risk factors also include the “overseas” nature of the orange, which differs from locally grown fruits. It’s not for nothing that pediatricians and nutritionists insist that parents prepare a diet for their children from fruits that are familiar to their particular place of residence.

The risk of developing allergies may be associated with the use of “chemicals” during cultivation (fertilizers, drugs to combat diseases and pests, ripening stimulants). There is also a danger in processing fruits with means to facilitate transportation and preserve their presentation.

In what form should it be given?

Children enjoy eating this delicious fruit fresh. Adding it to porridge or salads makes dishes bright and more appetizing. Orange juice is valued for its refreshing effect and the long-lasting boost of energy it can give. And sweets containing these exotic fruits give children benefits and at the same time a lot of pleasure.

Orange juice

Lastly, citrus fruit juices are introduced into the child’s diet. Pediatricians recommend offering them to children at least 1.5 years of age, and better yet, upon reaching 3 years of age.

For children from 7 to 10 years old, the daily amount of the drink should not exceed 70-100 ml, for preschoolers - 30-50 ml.

1. Orange juice must be diluted 1:1 with chilled boiled water.
2. It will be beneficial if drunk 10-15 minutes after preparation during a meal or at the end of a meal, and not on an empty stomach.
3. The drink will not come into contact with metal utensils and will retain more vitamins.
4. Children's tooth enamel is sensitive to fruit acids, so after drinking the juice you need to rinse your mouth or drink a few sips of water.

Salad with oranges

From the age of 2, gastroenterologists advise diversifying the children's menu with fruit and vegetable salads. But if the dish is decorated with an orange, it is wiser to please the child at the age of 3, and not earlier.

The juicy and aromatic fruit perfectly complements salads with fresh fruits, cheese, vegetables, chicken fillet, and boiled fish. As a dressing, it is preferable to choose vegetable oils, kefir, yogurt, but in no case mayonnaise. For salad, the orange is thoroughly cleaned of peel, white fibers and films.

Jam and preserves

Sweet orange preparations are a celebration of taste and citrus aroma. All parts of the fruit are suitable for them: only the pulp or peel, zest or the whole fruit with skin. The delicacy can also combine other ingredients: berries, fruits and even individual vegetables (for example, pumpkin).

The faster the jam or jam is prepared, the more vitamins will be preserved. A spoonful of jam diluted with water will successfully replace store-bought juice as a homemade fruit drink.

Candied fruit

They provide a healthy alternative to candy for little ones with a sweet tooth. Orange peels contain a lot of phytoncides that suppress the growth and reproduction of viruses and bacteria, which is important during the period of “rampant” infections.

Candied fruits are added to porridges, desserts, or offered to children as an independent dish for dessert.

But the high content of carbohydrates (sugar) excludes them from the menu of diabetics and requires restrictions for overweight children.

How to choose for a child?

Oranges are imported into the Russian market from South Africa, Pakistan, Morocco, Turkey, China, and Spain. All receipts undergo strict control by Rosselkhoznadzor, and the state refuses purchases with questionable quality or the presence of dangerous quarantine organisms.

Information on the packaging and labeling of the fruits themselves provide information about the exporting country, harvest time and variety.

When choosing fruits for your child, choose sweet varieties with a slightly sour taste. For example, on a popular variety Valencia(Valencia) from Spain with characteristic red spots on the skin and pulp, Shamouti(Shamouti, or Jaffa) from the Mediterranean or red variety Tarocco(Tarocco) from the coast of Sicily.

The color of exotic fruits does not indicate the degree of ripeness. The peel can range from light yellow to orange-red with greenish areas. The main indicator of fruit ripeness is juicy pulp.

You can definitely find a ripe and tasty orange by the following signs:

• small size;
• smooth or lumpy surface without dents or peel defects;
• greater weight when compared with other fruits of the same size;
• persistent citrus scent.

A win-win option includes varieties of navel fruits. Their name is associated with the presence of an additional embryonic fetus. Navel oranges have a sweet taste, virtually no grains, and peel well. But the taste of the pulp does not depend at all on the thickness of the crust.

The child constantly asks for oranges - what is he missing?

Experts say that the human body itself tells you what it lacks for productive work. If we adhere to this theory, then a child with a constant craving for oranges most likely needs vitamin C. But such a conclusion is questionable.

With a balanced and varied diet, the child’s body should not experience a deficiency in vitamins, microelements and other substances necessary for growth and development. Rather, the reason lies in the formation of new taste preferences, where the orange has taken a prestigious place.

It’s another matter if the child has frequent colds. Vitamin C is actively involved in the formation of immunity in order to give a worthy response to infections.

You can’t meekly indulge your baby’s wishes—you need to find a replacement for the coveted orange. More benefits will be brought by familiar fruits and vegetables, inferior in beauty to overseas exotics, but superior in ascorbic acid content: sea buckthorn, black currants, sweet peppers, Brussels sprouts and cauliflower, and dill.

Other citrus fruits in a baby's diet

• In the children's menu, among representatives of the citrus family, tangerines compete with oranges - children welcome their sweet taste, diluted with a slight sour tint, and delicate aroma enclosed in a bright peel.
• Lemon, kumquat (fortunella) and lime, due to their pronounced sour taste, are used to prepare drinks and more complex culinary experiments.
• differ from oranges in having a less sweet taste. They are not sour, but have a specific bitterness. They are offered to children in a purified form - the bitter translucent film is first removed from the slices.
• The largest exotic fruit is the pomelo. The sweet taste of the yellow fruits is reminiscent of an orange, the red ones are similar to grapefruit, and the smell of the green ones is slightly reminiscent of pine needles.