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Hare

Meat

Age Suggestion

6 months

Iron-Rich

Yes

Common Allergen

No

two raw hare legs on a white background

When can babies eat hare?

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

Where does hare come from?

Native to parts of Africa, the Americas, Asia, Europe, there are over thirty distinct species of hare worldwide, and unlike their cousin the rabbit, none of these hare species have been domesticated. To the benefit of hunters, hare reproduce quickly and are widespread, leading to a diversity and long history of dishes featuring hare. Hare is typically classified as a red meat and tends to have a strong, gamey flavor, that is distinct from rabbit meat, with a texture that benefits from slow cooking in liquids. Hasenpfeffer, jugged hare, and lepre in agrodolce are just a few of the many dishes that take this approach, cooking the meat with liquids like vinegar or wine.

How do you prepare hare for babies with baby-led weaning?

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 to 8 months old:

Offer a thick strip of hare meat about the size of two adult fingers pressed together. Bigger is better at this age because the shape is easier for baby to grab, hold, munch, and bring in and out of the mouth. Just be sure to remove any skin and bone. As baby munches, a too-big piece may break off in the mouth. If this happens, take a deep breath and give baby a chance to work it forward before intervening. Babies typically spit out too-big pieces or gag them forward, allowing them to practice this potentially life-saving skill. Alternatively, shred or finely chop the meat and mix it into another food, such as mashed vegetables, porridge, or yogurt and let baby self-feed with hands or a pre-loaded utensil.

9 to 11 months old:

Serve bite-sized slices of tender hare meat from a braise, confit, or stew. Err on the side of shredded or finely chopped pieces if the meat is on the dry side. Moisture can help baby swallow meat if it’s a little dry, so consider serving rabbit with a bit of the liquids used for cooking, with a small amount of sauce, or mixed into a mash or purée.

12 to 24 months old:

Serve bite-size pieces from a thin slice of hare meat or thick strips of hare meat from a braise or confit. At this age, you can offer hare sausage in moderation—just make sure to quarter lengthwise so the sausage is no longer round. Avoid large chunks or cubes of hare meat, as this size poses a higher choking risk. Now is the time to attempt to make the toddler’s portion of the meal look similar to your own in terms of sizing and presentation to help increase their interest. Just be sure to continue to remove all bones and cartilage until the child is old enough to independently find and avoid eating them.

Get caregivers on the same page with Baby-led Weaning with Daycare & Caregivers.

Videos

Amelia, 13 months, eats strips of hare.

Is hare a common choking hazard for babies?

Yes. Meat is a common choking hazard and because hare meat is very lean, it can become tough and chewy depending on how it is cooked. To reduce the risk, slow cook or braise the meat in liquid in order to cook it thoroughly without drying it out, then cut the meat in an age-appropriate way. As always, make sure you create a safe eating environment and stay within an arm’s reach of baby during meals. For more information on choking, visit our sections on gagging and choking and familiarize yourself with the list of common choking hazards.

Is hare a common allergen?

No. Hare is not a common food allergen. Do note, however, that certain tick bites (mainly the Lone Star tick in the continental United States, but other ticks in different parts of the world), are associated with the development of an allergy to galactose-alpha-1, 3-galactose (“alpha gal”), a sugar which is present in all non-primate mammalian meat. This results in a delayed allergic reaction 3-8 hours after red meat, such as hare, is consumed. Alpha gal allergy is more prevalent in the southeastern United States, but is starting to become more common in other areas as the geographic distribution of the Lone Star tick expands. Some individuals with alpha gal allergy also react to small amounts of the sugar present in dairy products, gelatin, or organ tissues (such as liver) from mammals. That said, there is evidence that some patients with alpha gal allergy may be able tolerate very lean meats, such as hare, as the allergen tends to be concentrated in mammalian fat.

As you would when introducing any new food to a baby, start by serving a small quantity during the first few servings. If there is no adverse reaction, gradually increase the amount over future meals.

Is hare healthy for babies?

Yes. While information for hare is limited, it is nutritionally similar to rabbit, which is an excellent source of protein and iron, as well as omega-3 fatty acids, zinc, choline, and vitamins B6 and B12. These nutrients work together to prevent anemia, develop a thriving nervous system, and nurture olfactory senses such as taste and smell perception.

In general, avoid cured hare, hare jerky, or hare products that have been smoked or glazed until after the first birthday due to high sodium and nitrate levels. That said, as long as the dish doesn’t contain honey (a high-risk food for infant botulism), it’s okay to offer a small taste on occasion. Just be sure to thoroughly cook hare to a minimum internal temperature of 160 F (71 C) to eliminate any harmful bacteria.

★Tip: Cook hare with heart-healthy oils like avocado oil or olive oil and use rich sauces when serving hare to babies. Hare meat is low in fat, and babies need plenty of fat to grow.

Is hare meat safe for babies?

Yes, as long as the meat has been thoroughly cooked to a minimum internal temperature of 160 F (71 C) to eliminate any harmful bacteria and the cooked meat has been cut into age-appropriate sizes. You may have heard of “rabbit starvation” or “protein poisoning,” an illness caused by an individual eating only hare or rabbit and thereby lacking fat and other important nutrients. Rest assured that this condition is extremely rare and has not been reported in modern day. Simply eating hare or rabbit meat as part of a balanced diet would not cause this.

Can babies eat wild hare?

Yes. Wild hare is safe for babies and toddlers as long as the meat is thoroughly cooked (to a minimum internal temperature of 160 F (71 C) to reduce the risk of foodborne illness. If hunting hare or obtaining hunted hare from others, ensure that it has been hunted, processed, inspected, and cooked with impeccable care. If in slightest doubt of the hare meat quality, do not serve it to baby.

Can hare help babies poop?

No. In general, hare is rich in protein and lacks fiber, qualities that typically slow the processes of digestion and pooping. Remember that pooping patterns can vary significantly from baby to baby. If you have concerns about baby’s pooping and digestive function, talk to your pediatric healthcare provider.

Our Team

By

Dr. Rachel Ruiz

Dr. Rachel Ruiz

Pediatrician & pediatric gastroenterologist

Dr. Sakina Bajowala

Dr. Sakina Bajowala

Pediatrician & pediatric allergist/immunologist

Kary Rappaport

Kary Rappaport

Pediatric occupational therapist, feeding & swallowing specialist, international board-certified lactation consultant

K. Tatiana Maldonado

K. Tatiana Maldonado

Speech-language pathologist, feeding & swallowing specialist

Venus Kalami

Venus Kalami

Pediatric registered dietitian & nutritionist

Reference Material

  1. 1.

    USDA. (2019) How do you cook rabbit safely?

  2. 2.

    American Academy of Allergy, Asthma, & Immunology. Alpha-gal defined.

  3. 3.

    American Academy of Allergy, Asthma, & Immunology. Alpha-gal defined.

  4. 4.

    Commins SP. (2020). Diagnosis & management of alpha-gal syndrome: lessons from 2,500 patients. Expert Rev Clin Immunol. 16(7):667-677. doi: 10.1080/1744666X.2020.1782745.

  5. 5.

    Cordain, L., Miller, J.B., Eaton, S.B., Mann, N., Holt, S.H.A., Speth, J.D. (2000). Plant-animal subsistence ratios and macronutrient energy estimations in worldwide hunter-gatherer diets, The American Journal of Clinical Nutrition, 71 (3): 682-692, DOI: 10.1093/ajcn/71.3.682

  6. 6.

    Cordain, L., Miller, J.B., Eaton, S.B., Mann, N., Holt, S.H.A., Speth, J.D. (2000). Plant-animal subsistence ratios and macronutrient energy estimations in worldwide hunter-gatherer diets, The American Journal of Clinical Nutrition, 71 (3): 682-692, DOI: 10.1093/ajcn/71.3.682

  7. 7.

    Tushingham, S., Barton, L., & Bettinger, R. L. (2021). How ancestral subsistence strategies solve salmon starvation and the "protein problem" of Pacific Rim resources. American journal of physical anthropology, 175(4), 741–761. DOI: 10.1002/ajpa.24281

  8. 8.

    USDA. (2019) How do you cook rabbit safely?

  9. 9.

    Rodríguez-Calleja, J. M., García-López, I., García-López, M. L., Santos, J. A., & Otero, A. (2006). Rabbit meat as a source of bacterial foodborne pathogens. Journal of food protection, 69(5), 1106–1112. DOI: 10.4315/0362-028x-69.5.1106

  10. 10.

    Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. (2018). FAQs (Tularemia).

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