EASY PORRIDGES FOR BABIES – Benefits, Tips and Recipes
Is it the time to start weaning? Weaning is the gradual replacement of the breastfeeding with other foods to get the required nutrients for growing babies. Porridges for Babies are the best first foods that provide the exact nourishment.
In many places, babies are stated with a little solid food in addition to breastfeeding or formula milk from 4 months of age. However, we recommend the right age to start weaning is 6 months as per the WHO standards.
What is Porridge?
Porridge (also known as porridge, porage, parritch) is a gruel dish made of ground, crushed grains that are boiled with water or milk.
For a sweet flavor sugar, honey or jaggery are generally added. And to make a savory dish spices & vegetables are added.
Please note: Salt, sugar, honey, jaggery are not recommended until 1 year
When can we give porridges to babies?
As said earlier, you can start weaning/ solid foods / first foods from 6 months of age. And porridges are the power packed meal for babies.
Goodness of Porridges for Babies
- Fulfills all the nutrient requirements, thus helps in overall development
- Makes them feel full for a long time making the baby less cranky
- Helps your baby have normal bowel movements
How to make baby porridges tasty
For babies below an year :
- Add vegetable puree
- Add fruit puree
- Dry Dates Powder
- A pinch of spice like pepper, cumin, turmeric etc.
For babies, 1 year +
- Add spices
- Organic Jaggery,
- Any other form of Jaggery
- Dry Dates Powder
Few Indian recipes of Porridges for Babies :
(Click on the title of each porridge to go to the complete recipe)
HOMEMADE RICE CEREAL (6 months +)
Rice cereal is the first food of choice for many infants and best suggested Porridges for Babies. It is easy to digest, gluten-free and rarely causes allergic reactions or sensitivities. This makes a simple to make porridge for you a new mother who’s learning the what’s what of Baby Food.
APPLE RICE PORRIDGE (6 months +)
Apple & Rice Porridge is a delicious treat for your baby. It is easy to digest & very nourishing This porridge can also be given in a cough & cold as it is easy to digest, smooth on the stomach and also provides the required energy to fight the illness.
KERALA BANANA POWDER (6 months +)
Kerala Banana Powder also called the Ethakka Podi in Kerala is a complete natural and a perfect First Food for your Babies and one of the easily digestible Porridges for Babies. Kerala Banana Powder prepared using Raw Kerala Banana is a traditional food from world famous Land of Ayurveda. Kerala Banana Powder can be given to babies in all seasons as they do not cause any cough or cold and best part being an Immunity Booster Weight Gaining Food. This can be found on our Organic Food Store.
3 EASY OATS PORRIDGE RECIPE with Apple, Banana & Carrot ( 6months +)
Oats is considered better over rice for babies for the best reason being its easily digestible. It is also loved by most babies all over the world for its natural flavor and texture. Oats is very rich in protein like legumes, soya and meats and hence makes it for the Vegetarian Babies. With addition of apple, banana and carrots, this healthy dish not only becomes more healthy but more yummy as well.
HOMEMADE SPROUTED RAGI POWDER (6 months +)
Ragi is known as super food for its many nutrient power. It contains the highest amount of Calcium, is also High in fibre and hence easily Digestible. It is Good source of Iron and best for anemic babies or kids. Sprouting process makes it easier for the body to absorb nutrients. It is also A great Immunity Booster and a boon for Lactating Mothers. Parents who find it difficult to make time to make it at home, can buy homemade Sprouted Ragi Powder here.
RAGI OATMEAL PORRIDGE (6 months+)
Ragi & Oats combination provides all essential nutrients required for the growth and development of the tiny tummies. It is also one of the easily digestible porridges for babies. Make it yummy adding any of fruits or vegetable purees
BARLEY CEREAL & BARLEY PORRIDGE (6 months+)
Barley provides all essential nutrients required for the growth and development of the tiny tummies. This Barley Cereal is high in proteins, vitamins, and minerals. In case if you have Barley allergy in the family, ensure to go slow – rule out the allergy before feeding this porridge.
INSTANT MAKHANA PORRIDGE TRAVEL FOOD (6 months +)
Instant Makhana Porridge mix is nutrition filled with the facts of goodness and taste making it a perfect meal for during travel as well. They are very good source of protein, magnesium, potassium and phosphorous. This just needs hot water to prepare so there’s nothing to stop you to freely travel with a baby you just started weaning.
SAVORY CARROT OATS PORRIDGE (8 months +)
Ensuring health benefits, good nutritional values this porridge definitely will tingle the baby’s taste buds and initiate the craving for healthy Savory Oats Recipe, yet delivering the daily nutritional needs. A great combination again with Oats and Carrots a savory tinge will help introduce new flavors to your baby.
INSTANT SOYA POHA CEREAL (8 months +)
Soya is a boon for vegetarians and hence very widely used in many recipes. Soya when roasted well is edible just like peanuts, and doesn’t need further cooking. Also Thin Poha/Beaten Rice needs very minimal cooking and the same job is done by using piping hot water to make this mix. Check Instant Soya Rice Porridge at our store.
SATHUMAVU HEALTH MIX (6 months+)
Sathumavu, Mixed Millets Flour, Sirudhaniyam Sathumavu, Healthy mix powder, Millets energy powder, Millets drink, Ragi health mix, Multi Millets powder or traditionally Ragi seri is the one and only incredible Multigrain Health Mix recipe with combinations of perfect proportions of Millets to make one energy mix powder or Sathu maavu as it’s traditionally known as. The best nutritious First Food or these Porridges for Babies can be given to babies from +6 months of age. The health drink or porridge prepared from Sathumavu Health mix could be aptly consumed by babies from 6+ month to adults and old people of 60 years of age. You can buy this mix at our organic food store.
BARLEY APPLE PORRIDGE (6 months +)
Power packed with nutrition, dietary fibers a perfect filling porridge with cooking made easy with just a whistle away, was the main motive about designing Barley Apple Porridge for babies. Rich fiber Apple with Barley having dietary fibers as well combine to make a porridge for baby, well its awesomeness together to make a baby’s taste buds go happy for new foods and porridges.
SPROUTED SATHUMAVU HEALTH MIX (7 months +)
or Multigrain Health Mix for Babies
Sprouted grains enhance the key nutrients Vitamin B, Vitamin C, Folates, Fber, and Essential Amino Acids often lacking in grains. Sprouted grains may also be less allergenic to those with grain protein sensitivities and has shown great absorption. It can be consumed by pregnant ladies and nursing mothers for better health. If you find it difficult to make it yourself you can find it in our store. Organic, Homemade & Certified Sprouted Health Mix for Babies.
DATES & RAISINS POHA KHEER (8 months +)
WHO recommends no sugar, salt and honey till an year. This doesn’t mean your little one can’t enjoy festival desserts. This Dates and Raisins Poha Kheer has been worked out in a way where babies can enjoy the goodness of the taste and benefit by its nutrition as well. These type of Porridges for Babies are the one serving multiple purposes without compromising on no sugar rule.
INSTANT KHICHDI MIX (6 months +)
Khichdi is most probably the most popular first food that is introduced to babies as solids. It has the Ability to provide fast and instant energy regulate and improve bowel movements. it is packed with proteins and is a good vegetarian super food with high fibre content. It also helps in digestion and avoids the gassy nature. You can buy this mix at our store too.
CHOCOLATE OATS PORRIDGE ( 8 months + )
Oats are extremely nutritious, fulfilling grain loaded with dietary fibre, proteins, essential vitamins and famous as gluten-free breakfast cereal. This is a real chocolate treat for your kids also your family will love the combination. Use any fruit puree to sweeten it for Babies.
MOONG RAGI PORRIDGE POWDER (6 months +)
When my daughter was to start weaning I’ve tried many combinations of porridge mixes, using cereals, pulses and dry fruits. This Moong Ragi Porridge Powder Mix was much liked by her for the awesome texture, flavor and taste it gives. The health benefits of moong bean or moong dal for babies include good source of vitamins, minerals, and protein. Ragi or finger millet is extremely nutritious, and it helps your baby’s overall growth and development. Finger millet contains high amounts of proteins, calcium, and iron. These type of Porridges for Babies are gluten-free, low in fat, absorb-able and easily digestible
DATES & WALNUTS OATMEAL (10 months)
With Walnuts and Dates this oatmeal makes a filling Breakfast option for Babies, Toddlers, Kids and Adults equally. Dates form an important part of dietary supplements in everyday routine, other than fruits and nuts. These delicious fruits come packed with energy boosters like vitamins and minerals that are vital for your little one’s growth and development. Walnuts are dry fruits that almost look like a miniature human brain. They add many essential nutrients to your kid’s plate.
INSTANT POHA & FRUIT PORRIDGE (6 months +)
Poha and Banana are great for making baby food, because they cook very fast and can also be used as travel food. Its other benefits include that its easily Digestible, provides good energy and is Rich in Calcium.
Dalia or Broken Wheat Porridge for Babies (6 months +)
Dalia or Broken Wheat is one of the healthiest and easily digesting food for all ages. Specially for babies, it is given in the form of dalia or broken wheat porridge for babies and popularly known as Indian Porridge. It is of high nutritious value when cooked with tasty, aromatic and nutty texture. It is healthy and tasty to be eaten in the form of a dessert also for all ages. To make it easier for infants, it can be blended smooth and fed easily. This is one of the best alternative home made porridge to store available porridge.
FOXTAIL MILLET KHICHDI (8 months+)
The day you try a new recipe and hear a WOW from hubby and daughter, how does it feel? For me it feels awesome, as it makes my day. One such recipe is Foxtail Millet or Navane or Tenai Khichdi. This also makes an awesome baby or toddler food for its nutritional benefits. Foxtail millet is extremely rich in protein & fiber. The presence of protein is higher than wheat and plays a very important role in the body of a growing baby. The rich fiber ensures they stay full for longer and is said to be about 30 times higher in fibre when compared to rice.
BARLEY MOONG KHICHDI (6 months +)
Barley is a nutritious and versatile grain to offer to babies. Although barley is not a common food these days, it is one of the most nutritious grains naturally available. It contains lots of fiber, amino acids, iron, copper, B vitamins, manganese, iron and phosphorous. Check for any allergens if it runs it the family.
*Not a porridge
DRY FRUITS POWDER (8 months +)
Dry fruits are extremely rich sources of minerals and proteins. Including Dry Fruits in your kid’s diet can boost his overall growth and development. In this powder we have 3 dry fruits that have been included. This can be added to porridges, pancakes etc to make the food nutritious. You can buy this from our store too
We create lots of Baby Food Recipe Videos on our YouTube Channel. Don’t forget to Subscribe here.
Check our Organic Baby Food Store at TOTS AND MOMS FOODS
This article will be updated as and when new recipes are prepared. Stay connected & Follow Us through Facebook, Twitter, YouTube, Pinterest, Google+, Instagram, to be updated with our New Recipes