3 Essential Grains that your Child’s Meal Must Have
Once a baby turns 4 months old, mommies start thinking about healthy options to start solids to their baby. Although there are various foods that you can introduce to your child, there are 3 grains that are particularly of much nutrient value to your growing baby. These include Millets, Oats, and Lentils. They are not just beneficial for babies, but also for older children and even adults! Let’s see how they can benefit your child. #1. Millets The first cereal grains consumed by human beings, Millets, are also one of the most nutritious and healthy foods that can be given to babies and kids. Millets are of various types but the top two varieties are Ragi and Foxtail Millets.
- Ragi or Finger Millet
Ragi, also known as finger Millet is a superfood for kids due to the various health benefits it provides to them. Also known as finger millet, it is also gluten-free and non-allergenic, which makes them a great option for kids suffering from a gluten and other allergies.
Click here to see Ragi Cereal
Following are the health benefits of Ragi for babies and kids:
- Rich source of calcium, which strengthens the bones
- Help to boost immunity
- Helps to keep blood sugar levels under control
- High in iron content and prevents anemia
- High in fiber and aid in digestion
Click here to see Ragi Cookie
- Foxtail Millets
Click here to see Foxtail Millet Pancake
Considered as the perfect food for a healthy diet, foxtail millets were initially naturalized in China.
They have the following health benefits:
- Rich in Vitamin B1, which helps to enhance the memory
- Contains antioxidants which delay aging of skin
- Loaded with iron which enhances brain development and maintains muscle health
- Contains proteins which that help to maintain hair and skin health
Click here to see Foxtail Millet Pancake
#2. Oats
For many people, the day begins with a bowl of oatmeal. Do you know why? Because not only are they highly nutritious but also very filling and can prevent from you unnecessary snacking.
Click here to see Oat Cookies
Here are the health benefits of oats:
- Rich in soluble and insoluble fiber, they help prevent constipation
- Low in calories, they help to lose weight
- Loaded with antioxidants, they help to keep the heart healthy
- High fiber content keeps blood sugar level under control
- Magnesium present in oats regulates enzyme function
Click here to see Oat Cookies
#3. Lentils
A member of the legume family, lentils are of various types – black lentils, brown lentils, red lentils, moong bean, yellow lentils, soya beans and kidney beans to name a few.
Click here for Dosa with four types of lentils
Lentils have the following health benefits:
- Storehouse of proteins that are essential for the growth of children
- High in soluble dietary fiber that helps to maintain a healthy digestive system
- Magnesium in lentils keeps the heart healthy
- High levels of soluble fiber keep cholesterol levels under check
- Help to provide kids with the much-needed energy
Click here to see cereal with lentils
Here is the opinion of two mothers who regularly give oats and millets to their kids:
- "I usually give oats with applesauce to my son daily for breakfast. It takes care of the fiber and the fruit element of the meal," says Neha Sharma, mommy to a seven-month-old.
- “I give ragi to my children in some form or the other every day as it has lots of calcium and I want them to develop the taste from the very beginning,” says Kanika Kumar, mother of two children.
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