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Bitter Melon

Fruit

Age Suggestion

6 months

Iron-Rich

Common Allergen

Warning

Avoid bitter melon juice, tea, seeds, and extracts, as they may cause gastrointestinal upset.

When can babies have bitter melon?

Bitter melon may be introduced as soon as baby is ready to start solids, which is generally around 6 months of age.

Bitter melon is the oblong fruit of a vigorous vine that originated in Africa and spread to the world’s tropical regions, including South Asia and the Pacific Islands, where it has many names: goya, karela, khổ qua, and peria, to name a few. There are many varieties – some with blunt ends and warty skin, others with pointy ends and jagged skin. While its leaves are edible, the plant is commonly cultivated for its fruit, which are harvested when they are unripe for its distinctively medicinal bitter taste. Crunchy and watery in texture like its cousins, chayote and cucumber, bitter melon can be eaten raw, and the fruit’s jade- or cream-colored flesh is often peeled, deseeded, and cooked or preserved to balance its astringency.

How do you serve bitter melon to babies?

Every baby develops on their own timeline, and the suggestions on how to cut or prepare particular foods are generalizations for a broad audience.

6 months old +:

Halve bitter melon lengthwise, scoop out and discard the seeds, and either keep the halves whole, or cut the halves crosswise to create half-moon shapes that are the width of two adult fingers pressed together. Alternatively, you can cut whole bitter melon crosswise to create thick rounds, then scoop out and discard the seeds. Either way, cook the deseeded bitter melon until soft (the exposure to heat mellows the bitter flavor), then serve the fruit shapes on their own as finger food. Lastly, you can also mash cooked, de-seeded bitter melon to serve in a bowl for hand-scooping or on a pre-loaded spoon for utensil practice.

9 months old +:

At this stage, babies develop the pincer grasp (where the thumb and forefinger meet), which enables them to pick up smaller pieces of food. When you see signs that this development is happening, try serving bite-sized pieces of cooked bitter melon with the seeds removed. You can also continue to offer larger pieces of bitter melon or mashed bitter melon for hand-scooping – just be sure to remove all the seeds first.

12 months old +:

Serve cooked, de-seeded bitter melon in larger pieces for practice taking bites or in bite-sized pieces, either on their own or as part of a meal. This is also an excellent age for baby to practice with trainer chopsticks and forks, so keep offering bite-sized pieces of cooked and deseeded bitter melon to encourage utensil practice.

Videos

Amelia, 7 months, tastes cooked and deseeded bitter melon

Callie, 12 months, eats bite-sized pieces of cooked bitter melon

Leila, 14 months, eats a dish of pork, rice, and bitter melon

Is bitter melon a choking hazard for babies?

Yes. Bitter melon can be firm, slippery, and contain large seeds, qualities that increase the risk of choking. To reduce the risk, prepare and serve bitter melon in an age-appropriate way as described in the How to Serve section. As always, make sure you create a safe eating environment and stay within an arm’s reach of baby during meals.

Learn the signs of choking and gagging and more about choking first aid in our free guides, Infant Rescue and Toddler Rescue.

Is bitter melon a common allergen?

No. Allergies to bitter melon are rare, though individuals with allergies to other foods within the Cucurbitaceae family (such as cucumber, melons, and zucchini) may be sensitive to bitter melon. Individuals with Oral Allergy Syndrome (also known as pollen food allergy syndrome), particularly those who are allergic to ragweed pollen, may also be sensitive to foods within the Cucurbitaceae family. Oral Allergy Syndrome typically results in short-lived itching, tingling, or burning in the mouth and is unlikely to result in a dangerous reaction. Peeling and cooking the bitter melon can decrease the risk of developing oral allergy symptoms.

As you would do when introducing any new food, start by offering a small amount for the first few servings. If there is no adverse reaction, gradually increase the amount served over future meals.

Is bitter melon healthy for babies?

Yes. The skin and flesh of bitter melon are packed with essential nutrients to fuel baby’s growth and development, including fiber, vitamin C, folate, iron, potassium, and zinc. The pulpy flesh around the seeds also contains lycopene, a beneficial plant compound with antioxidant powers in the body. Plus, the fruit is loaded with lutein and zeaxanthin, two nutrients that support eye health.

Avoid bitter melon juice, seeds, tea, and extracts as these foods have been associated with negative health outcomes, including gastrointestinal problems.

★ Tip: Bitter melon’s skin color indicates its stage of ripeness and intensity of flavor. Green bitter melons are unripe with a more bitter flavor than ripe ones, which turn orange or yellow as the fruit matures. Size can also affect taste: smaller bitter melons tend to be less bitter.