Carrot Sticks with Hummus Dip

Ingredients

• 2 medium carrots
• 3 tablespoons hummus (low-salt, store-bought or homemade)

Method

1. 01

   Peel carrots and cut into thick finger-length sticks (about 1 cm wide).

2. 02

   Steam or boil carrot sticks until very soft (about 10–12 minutes). They must be soft enough to squish between your fingers.

3. 03

   Cool carrot sticks to room temperature.

4. 04

   Place a few spoonfuls of hummus in a small bowl on the tray (store-bought or homemade, low-salt).

5. 05

   Serve carrot sticks alongside hummus for dipping or spread hummus directly on the sticks.

How to offer

Place carrot sticks and hummus bowl on the high chair tray. Always supervise during feeding. At 6 months, carrots must be steamed until very soft — raw carrot is a choking hazard. The hummus provides a great protein and iron boost.

Storage

Refrigerate cooked carrot sticks for up to 3 days. Hummus keeps refrigerated for up to 5 days. Store separately.

Nutrition note

Carrots are a good source of vitamin B6, a necessary ingredient for a baby's body to grow and develop, as well as fiber to help with digestion. They also contain carotenoids, which are elements that turn into vitamin A in the body and helps eye development. Raw carrots may soften stool, however cooked carrots may bind stool. Children may experience constipation in different ways, though. Overall, carrots may aid with constipation because of their high fiber content when consumed with proper fluids, exercise, and other fiber-rich foods.

Nutrition information is general guidance, not medical advice. Read our nutrition disclaimer