La oatmeal It is a very common dish in the eating of the baby, this provides him nutrients and vitamins essential to grow and develop properly, among which can even be found the iron. In addition, being a soft preparation, it helps to introduce new textures and flavors.
The most common thing is to buy this porridge already prepared, but what about preparing our own? homemade cereal porridge, with 100% natural ingredients? This option has many advantages: we can select the cereals according to the nutritional contribution that our baby needs and, in addition, choose whether the porridge will be with or without glutenWe also control the texture (more liquid or denser), we avoid added sugars and we reduce the cost.
Whether our homemade porridge contains gluten or not will depend on the cereals chosen; for example, rice, the oats and tapioca do not naturally contain gluten (in the case of oats, prioritize certified varieties to avoid cross contamination). You can incorporate them from the Start of complementary feeding if your pediatrician recommends it. Start with a single cereal and later, make blends to expand flavors.
How to prepare homemade cereal porridge
Ingredients
- 1 cup of cereals (as I said before, you can choose the ones you prefer)
- 3-4 cups of mineral water
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Grind the cereal grains until turn to dustYou can use a grinder or a food processor. Boil the water and add the ground grains, mix, and you're done. Key tip: Cook the mixture over low heat for 10-15 minutes, stirring to avoid lumps; the cereals should always be cooked to make them digestible. Keep in the refrigerator in a tightly sealed container for Up to 48 hours (always cold and hygienic).
You can add breast milk or formula to adjust texture or mix it with a fruit puree already introduced. If it thickens upon cooling, stir in a little more liquid before serving.
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Advantages of making homemade baby food
- Ingredients under control: No added sugars or oils; if a reaction occurs, it's easier to identify the cereal.
- Cheaper: : Cereal in grain or simple flour is much cheaper than commercial porridges.
- Adaptive texture: from very liquid at the beginning to thicker to train chewing.
- Royal flavors: you avoid the uniformity and excessive sweetness of industrial preparations.
Note on commercial baby food: they usually use flours refined, cereals Pre-cooked and fortify after (iron and vitamins). At home it is not possible to replicate this fortification; if you prepare with formula milk, you provide part of the iron that the baby needs. Consult your pediatrician if you have any questions or for choosing cereals.
Gluten-free basic recipe
- Grains: white or brown rice + well-rinsed quinoa + millet (ratio 3:2:2).
- Liquid: water; to adjust, add breast milk or formula at the end.
- Wash the grains (especially the Quinoa to remove saponins).
- Cook for 15-20 minutes until tender.
- Blend and adjust with liquid until smooth. texture desired. You can integrate pear or pumpkin already introduced.
Basic recipe with gluten
- Grains: fine oats + wheat semolina + pearl barley.
- Cooking: Cook wheat/barley first for 20-25 minutes; add the oats at the end (5-10 min).
- Blend with water or milk suitable for babies and adjust the texture; optionally a pinch of cinnamon if you already tolerate it.
Preservation, freezing and storage
- Never raw: flours must always be cooked to be digestible.
- Refrigerator: in airtight containers, up to 48h. Do not reuse remains of the plate.
- Freezing: uses ice bucket or silicone molds; keeps for up to 1 month. When defrosting, add liquid if it remains rubbery.
- Homemade flours: save in jar Store tightly closed in a cool, dry place; prepare small quantities (1-2 weeks) and check that they are not smells rancid.
Getting Started Tips and FAQs
- Enter individually each cereal 2-3 days to detect reactions.
- Texture by stage: homogeneous at first; leaves small lumps later to aid chewing.
- Sweetens naturally: crushed fruit; avoid sugar and honey.
- Milk: prioritize breast or formulaCow's milk should not be the main beverage before the age of one; small amounts in recipes should only be used if approved by your pediatrician.
Can I use store-bought flour?
Yes. Choose plain flour (rice, oats, corn...) and cook it 10-15 minutes. If you can't find it, grind the cereal at home.
Can I start with fruits or vegetables?
Some families start with Fruits and vegetables (avocado, pumpkin, etc.) following pediatric guidelines. Cereal porridge is another option, not the only one.
Why are the commercials so thin?
They use refined flours and cereals precooked and dehydrated, which is why its texture is ultra-fine and its taste is sweeter.
How do I avoid waste?
Serve small portions, throw away the remains from the plate and keep the leftovers in separate containers.
Photo - Nestlé
