Quinoa is a whole grain that has gained immense popularity and demand over time in India. Originally from the United States, it was initially consumed by people who were into fitness and weight loss programs but eventually became a staple in many households. It has several health benefits apart from just contributing to weight loss.
So the question is since this is a newly added staple in our plates which we don’t know so much about, when can we feed babies this magical grain? Many specialists suggest that quinoa may be introduced to your baby from 8 months of age while some even suggest that it can be given to babies as old as just half a year. However, it is safer to wait until babies turn at least 8 months old before being fed with quinoa since it contains complex nutrients which they might not find very easy to digest before that. Quinoa has a powerful nutritional profile making it a great choice of first foods for your babies. Quinoa has a nutty flavor and a sweetish taste that babies will enjoy.
Some yummy dishes to cook for your babies with quinoa are:
Take around half a cup of quinoa, wash it thoroughly 2 to 3 times and soak it for 2 to 3 hours or overnight. This soaked quinoa will be used in the following recipes:
- Quinoa Kheer:
Ingredients – Quinoa (2 tablespoons), 150-180 ml breast milk/whole milk (breast milk is recommended for babies younger than 1 year), banana paste (1 tablespoon), dates paste (1 tablespoon), grated/desiccated coconut (1 tablespoon), water as required.
Recipe – Take a pan and add 120-150 ml water and 2 tablespoons of washed and soaked quinoa. Let the quinoa cook for 5-10 minutes on medium flame until the water is fully absorbed and the quinoa turns translucent in color. Now add 150-180 ml milk depending on your desired consistency and add 1-2 tablespoons banana paste and 1 tablespoon dates paste, and desiccated coconut each. Cover and cook for 5 minutes and Tada! Yummy sweet porridge that every baby will love without fail is ready to serve.
- Apple Quinoa porridge:
Ingredients – quarter cup quinoa, half an apple (diced), dates paste (optional), water as required.
Recipe – Take a quarter cup of soaked and washed quinoa in a pan and add half a cup of water or a little more if you like the quinoa soft and mushy better. Cover and cook for 5-10 minutes until the quinoa absorbs all the water and turns translucent. Add the diced apple and a tablespoon of dates paste (dates paste is optional). Cook for a few more minutes until the apples are cooked and turn mushy so that babies can eat and digest them easily. This simple and easy apple porridge is not only tasty but very healthy too. So, do not miss out on this simple apple porridge for your babies!
Note – Make sure to stir and separate quinoa before feeding it to your baby since it might cause choking otherwise. It is recommended that you consult your doctor before feeding your baby quinoa because they know it best.