Is millet good for babies? And a quick breakfast recipe with millets.
Millets for babies good or bad?
Millets are a superfood that is easily found in
Indian kitchens. It is rich in dietary fiber, protein, calcium, vitamin B, and
magnesium, among other things. It has slowly digestible carbohydrates. A child
of growing age needs to consume essential nutrients, vitamins & minerals
for healthy development. Millets are a perfect choice as they are versatile,
healthy, economical, and easily available. Millets are something that has been
traditionally prescribed for babies of weaning age.
And do you know millet is one of the oldest grains-
an ancient grain that even the early humans consumed?
Millets available in India
Various types of millets are available in India,
namely pearl millet, finger millet, Sargum, Fox tail millet, kangni, Kodu
millet, barnyard, etc.
Let's talk scientifically:
According to a study by the National Institute of
Nutrition, in Hyderabad, when 6-month-old babies are introduced to millets they
can easily digest it, and it gives them more energy and nourishment. It also helps
keep anemia at bay.
Benefits of millet for babies:
● Millets help in boosting their immunity. The
immunity of babies and infants is not strong and hence they are susceptible to
sickness with the season change. Introducing millets in their meals would boost
their immunity.
● the calcium content of millet is much higher,
helping babies develop stronger bones.
● Millet is also rich in protein, which is essential
for muscle growth and development.
● Millet has a good amount of fiber and is easy to
digest.
● it has a low glycemic index, helping babies stay
full for longer.
When you start with finger food for kids or when you
start with solid food for babies in their weaning stage, introduce millets in
the form of porridge,
khichadi, crackers, and raab.
A pro tip for mothers is when you are introducing millet to
your child, make sure the millet and dal proportions are 2:1. Remember to use
ghee in the dish as it aids digestion. You can also add mashed vegetables,
When introducing vegetables, start by introducing
one vegetable and one millet for 10 days, and observe if the baby shows any
allergic reaction to the new foods. If you see any allergic reactions, then
stop the feeds immediately and consult your pediatrician.
Bajara and Ragi are generally introduced in the
initial stages. You can start with bajara khichadi, bajara roti, bajara
porridge, ragi roti, ragi porridge, ragi sheera, and then gradually start
including other millets.
If you are a new mom wondering how to introduce
millets to your baby, try this simple breakfast recipe with millet. This is
easy to make and has the perfect texture that a baby can eat and digest.
Ragi porridge:
Ingredients:
● Ragi: 2 spoons
● Ghee: 3 spoon
● Salt as per taste
● Hing a pinch.
● Water as needed.
Method for making delicious ragi porridge:
● in a pan saute ragi,
● once cooled grind it into fine powder.
Alternatively, you can use ragi flour as well.
● in the same pan take some ghee and add a little
hing, salt as per taste, and water.
● once the water comes to a boil, add the fine
powder of ragi, and keep stirring so no lumps are formed.
● Stir and adjust consistency as per your baby’s
preference.
● Cook it well.
● Drizzle some ghee before feeding it to your baby,
making digestion easier.
Garnishing tip, if you have already introduced your child to
veggies and nuts, you can add them to the porridge, if you want to make it
sweet add jaggery powder instead of salt.
If your baby is a toddler, you can even introduce
food like millet-based dosa, millet idli, millet flakes, and more.
We hope you are confident about introducing millets
to your baby after reading this post. For more useful information about millets
and their various health benefits of it, continue to follow our blog post and
stay updated about all things millets!
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