Benefits
 
Broad bean contains L-dopa, which supports production of dopamine that is responsible for happiness. Also let's not forget phosphor content of broad bean, which is important for bone and tooth health. Broad bean is a very nutritious and easy food to digest.
 
Keep in mind
 
When buying broad bean, pick the ones that look fresh and that has no stain on it. Just like green beans, tear it apart from the center and check whether it is fresh or not. Eat it right after you buy it without waiting too long. You can keep it inside a nylon bag for 1-2 days. Broad bean will easily loose its freshness. So it is better to cook it as soon as possible without keeping it too long in the fridge.
 
You should reap off the skin of green broad beans that did not grow ripe yet. Otherwise it will be hard for little gourmets to digest it. However if they are very fresh, you may not need to peel off their skin.
 
If you are going to use dry broad bean, soak half of the broad bean overnight. Drain the beans that swelled.
 
Warning
 
Babies should not eat broad beans before they turn two. People who have glikoz-6-fosfat-dehidrogenaz (shortly G6PD) enzyme deficiency in their blood cells may bejaundiced. This is called favism. People with favism react to external factors that trigger jaundice during babyhood the most. As it is not possible to know enzyme deficiency in babies, it is better to avoid giving broad beans to your baby until they are two years old.
 
It is a diuretic food. If your little gourmet has  diarrhea please ask your doctor first to avoid increasing dehydration.
 
 
It is advised that broad bean is not consumed by babies at night time meals. Because it may cause difficulty in digestion and lead to sleeping disorders.

Nutritional value per 1 cup of boiled broad bean (170 gram);
 
Protein 13 gram

Vitamins
Vitamin A 25.5 IU
Vitamin C  0.5 mg
Vitamin K 4.9 mcg
Folate 177 mcg

Minerals
Calcium 61.2 mg
Iron 2.5 mg
Magnesium 73.1 mg
Phosphor 212 mg
Potassium 456 mg
Sodium 8.5 mg
Selenium 4.4 mcg