Benefits of feeding baby rice cereal
Baby Food for Thought: How Safe is Rice Cereal?
For generations, rice cereal has been a top choice for babies starting solid foods, but lately there’s growing concern about what’s in it besides the rice: arsenic. UR Medicine’s Dr. Ruth Lawrence, an internationally recognized expert on breastfeeding and infant nutritional needs, offers some information and advice for parents.
Arsenic occurs naturally in soil, air and water. Because rice is grown in water, any arsenic in the water supply binds to the rice as it grows. A known carcinogen, arsenic can influence risk of cardiovascular, immune and other diseases, and research has shown that even low levels can have a negative impact on babies’ neurodevelopment.
Both adults and infants are exposed to arsenic when eating rice, but it’s a bigger concern for babies. The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) says rice intake for infants, primarily through infant rice cereal, is about three times greater than for adults relative to body weight. In fact, people eat the most rice (relative to their weight) at approximately 8 months of age, a prime time for infant brain development.
The FDA recently proposed a limit of 100 parts per billion of inorganic arsenic in infant rice cereal. Their testing found that most infant rice cereals on the market either meet, or are close to, the proposed level. A JAMA Pediatrics study, published on the heels of the FDA’s recommendation, advises parents to keep an eye on the amount of cereal their babies eat. Researchers followed children for a number of years, noting the amount of rice products they ate and analyzing the arsenic levels in their urine. Babies who ate rice cereals had higher concentrations of arsenic than those who didn’t.
Here’s some advice for parents who are wondering if, why and when to consider feeding rice cereal to babies.
- Follow the “six-month” rule. Don’t feed your baby rice cereal—or any other solid food—prior to six months of age.
Babies should be exclusively breastfed or given formula (or a combination of breast milk and formula) for the first six months of life. Breast milk, and even formula, is much more nutritious for babies at this age than solid-food alternatives. - Note the benefits of rice cereal. There are reasons why rice cereal is so popular: it’s easy to digest, doesn’t trigger an allergic reaction as the gluten in wheat can, and is well tolerated by babies who are transitioning from breast milk or formula to solid food. In an appropriate quantity, it’s still a food you can include in your baby’s diet.
- Watch your baby’s intake. The greatest brain development occurs in the first year of life and a baby’s diet has an impact on that development. When you feed your baby rice cereal, follow the American Academy of Pediatrics’ advice: Don’t feed rice cereal every day and don’t make it the only food in the meal.
- Pick your brand of rice cereal wisely.
Levels of inorganic arsenic can vary widely by brand in both baby foods and products for adults. (Check out Consumer Reports’ study of arsenic levels in a variety of products.) - Expand your baby’s diet. Add other grain cereals to your baby’s diet, including barley, quinoa, and oats. Choose single-grain cereals, rather than multigrain so you can see how your baby reacts to various grains and avoid any that seem to cause a problem. When it’s time to add vegetables and fruits, follow the same principle and introduce one new food at a time.
- Choose iron-fortified cereals. These help ensure your baby gets the nutrients it needs for optimum brain development.
- Don’t overlook other potential sources of arsenic. Arsenic can be found in other foods and other sources besides rice cereal—especially groundwater. If you have a well, be sure to have it checked periodically for arsenic as well as heavy metals such as lead, which also can be harmful to babies’ and adults’ health.
Ruth A. Lawrence, M.D., is a professor of Pediatrics and Obstetrics and Gynecology at the University of Rochester Medical Center, and medical director of the Ruth A. Lawrence Poison and Drug Information Center and of the Breastfeeding and Human Lactation Study Center. She is an internationally renowned expert in breastfeeding and author of Breastfeeding: A Guide for the Medical Profession, now in its eighth edition.
Health Benefits And Nutritional Value
This easily digestible cereal is packed with vitamins and is a healthy choice for babies.
Research-backed
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However, if you find any incongruencies, feel free to write to us.
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Rice cereal for babies is a common first food choice in several cultures worldwide. Rice is a grain that can offer a baby several nutrients, such as B vitamins and minerals.
You can prepare rice cereal for babies using simple ingredients such as whole milk and jaggery. However, before feeding rice to babies, knowing the right age and age-appropriate ways to introduce it is essential to help babies reap its benefits fully.
Read on as we tell you the right age and age-appropriate ways to feed rice to babies, its possible health benefits, and side effects for the baby.
When Can Babies Have Rice Cereal?
Infants can have rice cereal after they are six months old, which is also the recommended age for starting solid foods (1). Rice cereals are excellent first food for the baby as it is less likely to trigger an allergic reaction when compared to other grains (2).
There are some health advantages of starting the baby’s solid food diet with rice cereal.
Related: 6-Month-Old’s Milestone Chart & Tips To Improve Development
What Are The Health Benefits Of Rice Cereal?
A baby can reap the following benefits from rice:
- Replenishes the body’s energy: 100g of rice cereal contains about 83g of carbohydrates. A bowl of rice cereal can provide your baby with the much-needed energy to stay very active.
Image: iStock
- Can be good for bones: Rice is a good source of calcium and magnesium – both essential for healthy bones (3). Regular servings of rice cereal, in addition to breast milk, can be an additional source of calcium for the baby.
- Good for the overall health of the body: Rice contains small quantities of micronutrients including zinc, copper, and selenium.
These micronutrients play an essential role in keeping several functions of the body going smoothly (4).
Next, we list down the nutrients and the overall nutritional value of a bowl of rice cereal.
Related: How Is Breast Milk Made During Pregnancy & Interesting Facts
Nutritional Value Of 100 g Of Fortified Dry Rice Cereal For Babies:
| Energy: | 390kcal |
| Protein: | 6.65g |
| Fat: | 2.19g |
| Calcium: | 860mg |
| Iron: | 53mg |
| Magnesium: | 37mg |
| Phosphorus: | 273mg |
| Potassium: | 281mg |
| Sodium: | 32mg |
| Selenium: | 5µg |
| Zinc: | 10. 92mg |
| Vitamin C: | 2.4mg |
| Vitamin B1 (Thiamin): | 1.195mg |
| Vitamin B2 (Riboflavin): | 1.459mg |
| Vitamin B3 (Niacin): | 23mg |
| Vitamin B6: | 0.885mg |
| Vitamin B9 (Folate): | 230µg |
| Vitamin B12: | 4.6µg |
| Vitamin D: | 8.5µg |
| Vitamin E: | 5mg |
| Vitamin K: | 0.5µg |
Source: United States Department of Agriculture (5)
How To Make Rice Cereal For Baby?
It is easy to prepare infant rice cereal at home. But before you do, you must know how to select the right type of rice cereal. Read on to know how to choose and prepare the right kind of rice cereal for the baby.
- Select only fortified versions: Always choose iron-fortified rice cereal for your babies. Most infant rice cereals are fortified with iron and other nutrients, but you can look for plain rice cereal with no fortification if you are sure the baby is getting enough iron from other food sources, confirm this with your pediatrician.
- Check other ingredients: Some infant rice cereal makers may add a small quantity of soy lecithin as a food additive. Avoid these versions if your baby is just beginning solids. It is best to start with one type of grain at a time when you introduce solid foods to the baby.
- Mix with formula or breast milk: You will only need a tablespoon of rice cereal to start. Mix a tablespoon of cereal with three to four tablespoons of formula or breast milk. It is best to use freshly pumped breast milk or freshly prepared formula.
If you are using frozen breast milk or formula, then let it reach room temperature before using.
Image: iStock
Once the cereal and milk are thoroughly mixed, you can feed it to the baby. However, rice cereal is bland and may not be liked by the baby immediately. So how do you get the baby to eat it?
Quick tip
Keep the baby in your lap or highchair when feeding them cereal. It is advisable to introduce cereal to your baby when both of you are relaxed. Use an age-appropriate spoon to feed your baby (15).
Related: 6 Helpful Tips For Storing Formula Milk For Your Baby
How To Introduce Rice Cereal To The Baby?
Here are a few tricks to get the baby used to the taste of rice cereal.
- Mix fruits and vegetables: You can add a tablespoon of pureed vegetables or fruits to the rice cereal. Adding your baby’s favorite vegetable or fruit puree to the rice cereal can make them like it sooner.
Image: iStock
- Explore food ideas for toddlers: If you introduced rice cereal late and in toddlerhood, then you have several options available.
You can consider adding honey and cow’s milk to the rice cereal for taste. Rice cereal can be a dessert option too. Do note that honey and cow’s milk should not be given to children below the age of 12 months.
As your baby grows older, you can also increase the number of tablespoons of rice cereal you serve them.
Rice cereal has several benefits for infants and toddlers. But parents could still have thoughts lurking in their mind about any possible risks.
Can Babies Be Allergic To Rice Cereal?
Yes. Just like any other food, rice cereal has the potential to trigger an allergy. An example is food protein-induced enterocolitis syndrome (FPIES), which is a rare food allergy affecting the gastrointestinal tract (6). Rice is among the common triggers for the condition. Below are the symptoms of FPIES:
- Vomiting that happens a couple of hours after eating rice
- Diarrhea that usually occurs after vomiting
- Fever
- Lethargy and irritation
- Dehydration, due to continuous diarrhea and vomiting
Image: iStock
Eliminating rice from the baby’s diet brings down the symptoms of rice-induced food allergy.
If your baby is severely dehydrated, then consult a doctor.
Overall, the chances of rice allergy are less due to the absence of gluten in it. The incidence of rice allergy also varies by region, with fewer cases in Europe and the Americas than in Asia (7).
Rice can be safely eaten by infants with a wheat allergy and immune disorders of the gastrointestinal tract, such as celiac disease (8). It is still best to consult a doctor before feeding rice cereal in case the baby has other allergies.
Quick tip
You can make your rice cereal at home. Wash rice under running water and let it air dry on a cloth. Dry roast on a medium flame till it gives a pleasant smell. Let it cool down, powder it, and store it in an airtight container.
In the next section, we answer some commonly asked questions about rice cereal for babies.
1. Does rice cereal cause constipation?
No. Rice cereal in itself does not cause constipation.
But the iron content in fortified cereals can increase the iron levels in the body and make the baby a little constipated, especially if your baby gets iron from other dietary sources. To avoid constipation, give your baby plain, non-fortified cereal when they are getting enough iron from other food sources (9).
2. Does rice cereal contain arsenic?
Rice naturally contains arsenic, a compound that is commonly found in soil and water. The rice plant has a natural tendency to absorb more arsenic than other grains. Experts state that maintaining a balance of rice cereal and other grains in the baby’s diet prevents the infant from receiving excessive arsenic (10). Choosing good quality rice cereal from a trusted brand could mitigate the risk of excessive arsenic exposure to some extent.
3. Is it okay to feed rice cereal in a bottle?
No. You must ideally use a spoon to feed rice cereal and other solids to a baby.
A bottle is used to feed liquid foods such as breast milk or formula. Adding rice cereal to a bottle of baby formula or milk can lead to excessive weight gain and also act as a choking hazard (11).
4. How many times a day should I feed rice cereal to my baby?
You can give rice cereal to your baby two times a day. It can be from three to nine tablespoons divided into two meals (12).
5. Does rice cereal help babies sleep?
Many parents follow the practice of using rice cereal in the bottle to help their babies sleep through the night. However, the American Academy of Pediatrics does not recommend using rice cereal in the bottle to improve sleep in infants. It is harmful and may cause choking, constipation, or excessive weight gain (13).
6. What can I use instead of rice cereal for my baby?
Oatmeal is gluten-free, similar to rice cereal (hence less possibility of an allergic reaction). Rice cereal has been found to contain trace amounts of arsenic.
Long-time consumption of rice cereal may increase arsenic exposure in babies; hence, you can use oatmeal over rice cereal (14).
There are several attributes about rice cereal that make it the first choice of solid food for a little one. The rice grain does not contain gluten and is readily accepted by the baby’s digestive system, which is new to solid food. Remember to strike a balance between rice and other grains. Making rice cereal a part of the baby’s balanced solid food diet is the best way to reap its maximum benefit.
Follow the golden rule of never eating the same thing frequently. Variety is the key, this helps avoid exposure to heavy metals and introduces variety in a baby’s diet and helps those taste buds.
Key Pointers
- Rice cereal is a common weaning food in several cultures that can provide babies with energy and essential nutrients such as B vitamins, copper, and selenium.
- It is less likely to trigger allergic reactions when compared to other cereals and grains such as wheat.
- Preparing rice cereal in age-appropriate ways is important to ensure the baby can swallow and digest it comfortably.
References:
MomJunction's articles are written after analyzing the research works of expert authors and institutions. Our references consist of resources established by authorities in their respective fields. You can learn more about the authenticity of the information we present in our editorial policy.
1. Food for Baby’s First Year; Ohio State University
2. Age-Appropriate Nutrition, Feeding, and Support for Breastfeeding; Texas A&M University
3. Magnesium plays important role in building strong bones; University of Southern California
4. Precious metals and other important minerals for health; Harvard Medical School
5. Babyfood, cereal, rice, dry fortified; U.S. Department of Agriculture
6. Food Protein-Induced Enterocolitis Syndrome (FPIES); Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia
7.
Allergenic Foods and their Allergens; University of Nebraska-Lincoln
8. Allergy information for Rice; University of Manchester
9. Baby Food Basics; University of Utah
10. Is rice cereal safe for your child?; Oregon Health & Science University
11. Cereal in a Bottle: Solid Food Shortcuts to Avoid; American Academy of Pediatrics
12. Baby Food for Thought: How Safe is Rice Cereal?; University of Rochester Medical Center
13. Ruth Milanaik et al.; Prevalence and Parental Perceived Efficacy of Rice Cereal in Bottles Used as a Natural Sleep Aid for Infants Aged 0-11 Months; American Academy of Pediatrics
14. Oatmeal: The Safer Alternative for Infants & Children Who Need Thicker Food; American Academy of Pediatrics
15. FAQ: Introducing Your Baby to Solid Foods; The Regents of The University of California.
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Rice porridge for a child - benefits and harms
They began to grow rice as a cultivated plant about 6 thousand years ago.
It was first mentioned in Chinese myths. Gradually, it spread throughout Asia, where it is still one of the staple foods.
Hundreds of dishes are prepared with rice in Europe, all thanks to its taste and good combination with other ingredients. In Russia, he became known about 300 years ago.
Moms, wanting to provide their child with healthy nutrition, are interested in how healthy rice porridge is for children, is it suitable for babies, what is the difference between different types of rice, and what kind of cereal is better to cook for children. nineOlo pumpkin
- See also:
Varieties of rice
Rice varieties
colors are distinguished depending on the shape and order of varieties
3
There are over 20 varieties of rice in the world. Rice is classified according to grain shape and color. On sale you can see white and brown rice, parboiled, round grain, medium grain and long grain.
Depending on the processing method, even rice of the same variety can have not only different taste and properties, but also different cooking times. According to the method of processing, white, brown and steamed rice are distinguished:
- According to nutritionists, brown rice is the most useful. But this is not a special variety - it is a whole grain cereal. On brown grains, the bran shell is preserved, which contains many valuable substances, so they are more useful than white grains. But brown rice is coarser, takes twice as long to cook, and has a shorter shelf life. nine0011
- White rice is obtained by grinding, that is, removing all the shells from the grain. It cooks for 10-15 minutes (the longer the grains, the longer they cook). Dishes from it are tender, tasty, but more than half of the useful vitamin-mineral composition and dietary fiber is lost. The loss of magnesium is especially significant, and the fiber content is reduced by 4 times.
- Parboiled rice is prepared as follows: the unpeeled grains are first soaked in water, and then hot steam is applied to them under pressure, after drying they are polished.
Steamed rice is transparent, with an amber-yellow tint, durable, but most importantly, about 80% of all useful ingredients enter the grains from the shells. True, it takes longer to cook cereals (up to 25 minutes). In the process of cooking, it becomes white, soft, does not stick together. nine0011
The size and shape of the grains do not affect the concentration of minerals and vitamins, but the starch content in the cereal, and hence its culinary properties, depends on them:
- The most starchy is round rice. It boils well, opaque grains absorb a significant amount of liquid, become sticky, acquiring a creamy consistency. Such short-grain (or round) rice is best used for making mashed soup and liquid porridge for babies. White round rice is perfect for pudding, casseroles, desserts and pies. nine0011
- Medium grain rice is less sticky and absorbs the flavors of other ingredients well. Medium-sized white rice is suitable for making risotto. A brown variety of medium grain rice should be chosen for a diet menu (for example, for soup).
It is easy to make flour for baby food from it. - Long grain rice moderately absorbs liquid during cooking, does not stick together, does not boil. It turns out crumbly and somewhat dryish. This variety is considered universal, rice is suitable for preparing a wide variety of dishes, ranging from a side dish, salad and ending with the creation of culinary masterpieces, dishes of European and Oriental cuisine. nine0011
Composition and calorie content of rice
Rice contains proteins, including 8 essential amino acids, carbohydrates in the form of polysaccharides, minerals and vitamins.
Starch content can be up to 75%. Gluten and cholesterol are absent in rice.
The mineral composition of rice is:
- iron;
- zinc;
- phosphorus;
- magnesium;
- manganese;
- sodium;
- potassium,
- selenium;
- iodine.
Potassium and sodium are found in cereals in a ratio of 5:1.
This is the optimal proportion that helps maintain acid-base balance, removing excess fluid from the body.
In addition to vitamins PP, K, E, rice contains a whole complex of vitamins B , B 12 ).
Calorie content of 100 g of white rice in the form of cereals is 345 kcal, and brown - 330 kcal. 100 g of milk porridge made from white cereals contains 97 kcal, and in porridge without milk - 78 kcal.
Benefits
If a child is not gaining weight well, rice porridge (dairy-free or cooked with breast milk) can be recommended as the first complementary foodRice has many properties that are beneficial for a growing body: and providing muscle strength.
Pronounced sorption and enveloping properties of rice are used in medical practice.
Rice porridge and rice water are used in the treatment of:
- intestinal infections;
- food poisoning;
- inflammatory processes in the organs of the digestive tract;
- for diarrhea in a baby.
Since the therapeutic effect is associated with the action of starch, white, the most starchy, rice is used to prepare a healing decoction. It is cooked without sugar and salt. Grains adsorb and remove toxic substances, and the decoction has an enveloping effect on the mucous membrane, contributing to its healing. nine0003
To prepare a decoction, mix 50 g of rice flour in 1 liter of water and boil for 10 minutes. The dosage of the decoction is prescribed by the doctor depending on the condition and age.
Disadvantages of rice
- Rice strengthens, therefore, if a child is prone to constipation, it is excluded from the child's diet or consumption is significantly limited.
- Rice is hypoallergenic, but occasionally there may be an allergy to the fiber contained in cereals. This can be manifested by indigestion or constipation, flatulence, nausea. nine0011
- Phytic acid in rice cereal prevents the absorption of magnesium, iron and calcium.
Frequent consumption of rice can provoke the development of rickets and anemia in children. - Rice grains from some manufacturers may be treated with chemicals to better preserve the grains and kill parasites. When buying, you should give preference to well-known manufacturers.
- Diabetic children should not eat white rice, as blood sugar levels may rise sharply. nine0011
Brown rice porridge can be consumed by diabetics as it contains more fiber, which prevents the conversion of starch into glucose. But the use of dishes even from brown rice should not be frequent, it must be coordinated with a pediatric endocrinologist.
When and how to introduce rice into the diet
According to pediatricians and nutritionists, rice porridge can be given to the baby as complementary foods.
- If the child develops correctly, there are no problems with weight (excess or deficiency), a tendency to allergies, then complementary foods are introduced from 6 months.
nine0011 - According to the rules, cereals should be introduced after fruit and vegetable purees, at the age of about 7 months. By this time, the baby is already producing enzymes, albeit in a minimal amount, to digest porridge.
With a tendency to diarrhea and profuse regurgitation, rice porridge can be introduced earlier, but only as directed by a doctor!!
Prepare porridge for babies with water or breast milk. Porridge at the stage of introducing it into complementary foods should not be cooked from whole grains, but from rice flour. nine0003
The consistency of the porridge should be easy for a child to swallow, without lumps. At first, it is prepared liquid, and then thicker, in order to feed the child from a spoon, and not from a bottle.
Porridge for babies should be prepared before feeding and given only once a day.
- The first test of porridge is given in the morning, not more than 1 tsp.
- The reaction of the body is monitored throughout the day (the nature of the stool, the condition of the skin, etc.
). - In the absence of a negative reaction in the following days, a single portion of porridge is already 2-3 tsp. and gradually increases.
- During the week, the portion is adjusted to 120-150 g.
After 8 months, you can cook porridge from whole grains of rice at the rate of 2 tbsp. l. cereals per 100 ml of water:
- On low heat, the porridge must be constantly stirred.
- After the grains have swollen, you can add 50 ml of breast milk (or formula) and cook for another 10 minutes.
- Then remove from heat and leave covered for 5 minutes.
But such porridge should be rubbed through a strainer before giving to a child (or chopped with a blender). A child older than a year can be taught to eat dishes from unground cereals.
You can add fruits and butter to the porridge not earlier than 3 months after the introduction of rice porridge into complementary foods. At 9-10 months, you can diversify the child's menu, cook rice milk soup with cauliflower, porridge with pumpkin.
nine0003 Children over one year old can add fresh fruit to their porridge. Apples go well with rice, but they are recommended to be added to dairy-free cereals.
If you are prone to constipation, you can cook porridge from a mixture of oatmeal and rice cereal, taken in a ratio of 1:1. You can also get rid of constipation by preparing rice porridge for an infusion of dried apricots, prunes, fennel, or by adding chopped dried fruits to the porridge.
Pureed rice porridge (or made with rice flour) can be mixed with cottage cheese for children who do not like to eat it. Porridge will not only “disguise” the cottage cheese, but also soften its sour taste. If it remains, then instead of sugar, you can add a little glucose or fructose. nine0003
In cases where the child does not consume milk (for example, in case of lactase deficiency), milk-free rice porridge is prepared, that is, only with water.
- To improve its taste, you can add vegetable or fruit puree, butter to it.
- And you can cook dairy-free porridge with the addition of an apple (peeled and cut into pieces).
Grind the finished porridge with a blender to a puree-like consistency.
For babies, you can buy ready-made rice porridge. It is a powder that should be diluted with boiled water or milk (milk mixture) before use, it does not need to be boiled. Dry crushed fruits are additionally introduced into the composition of such cereals. Such porridge can be made liquid, fed to a baby from a bottle. nine0003
Older children can be served rice with fish, meat, milk, vegetables, seafood, mushrooms. Rice porridge is best given for breakfast or an afternoon snack.
The following additives may add flavor to rice:
- tomato paste;
- garlic and onions;
- olive oil;
- cinnamon;
- vanilla;
- cream;
- dried fruits;
- chocolate;
- jam;
- honey;
- lemons;
- apples; nine0011
- strawberry;
- oranges.
These additions can help make rice porridge your favorite meal. But they can be used taking into account age restrictions and in the absence of allergies. Adding fruit to pudding or porridge will eliminate the need for sugar.
How to store cereals
An older child can add favorite vegetables, fruits or berries to rice porridgeRice should not be stored for a long time.
- Grains are best kept in a dark, dry, cool place in a cloth bag, which is pre-boiled for 20 minutes in a strong saline solution (so that bugs do not start). nine0011
- Rice can also be stored in a tin, earthenware or glass jar with a tight-fitting lid. Inside the jar, put a lemon peel, a clove of garlic or a little salt in a gauze bundle.
Recipes for children
Before preparing a dish, any rice must be washed well with cold water (until clear water is obtained). After that, round rice should be poured with warm water and left for 15 minutes, then rinsed again with cold water.
Long rice, after washing with cold water, should be washed with boiling water, then washed again with cold water. nine0003
Neither sugar nor salt is added to baby porridge.
Rice flour porridge
- Take 1 tsp. powder obtained by grinding rice grains in a coffee grinder.
- Add it to 100 ml of boiling water and, stirring constantly (so that there are no lumps), cook over low heat for 10 minutes.
- Add 50 ml of milk and cook for an additional 10 minutes.
Porridge is infused for 5-10 minutes under the lid, and you can feed the baby.
Pumpkin porridge
- Peel and cut into pieces 200 g pumpkin pulp.
- Pour it in a saucepan with 1 glass of milk or water.
- After boiling, cook over low heat for 10 minutes.
- Add prepared rice and cook covered for 15 minutes.
Such porridge will be less high-calorie, beautiful in color and tasty.
Rice and vegetable porridge
It can be prepared in a slow cooker:
- Finely chop all the vegetables (1 small courgette, 3 medium tomatoes, 2 carrots and 1 onion).
nine0011 - Stew onions with carrots for 3-5 minutes with 30 g of oil (vegetable or butter).
- Add tomatoes, zucchini and simmer for another 5 minutes.
- Pour in 1.5 cups of previously washed rice, salt, mix.
- Pour boiling water over the mixture of rice and vegetables (the water level should be about 3 cm above the vegetables with cereals).
- Set the “cereals and cereals” mode and cook for 45 minutes.
Porridge can be served as a side dish for meat.
Resume for parents
Rice is good for children. Porridge made from rice grains or flour can be given to babies in the form of complementary foods. It is nutritious, tasty and easy to digest. You can cook such porridge for mom yourself or buy ready-made.
For babies, only white, round rice is used, as the most starchy. For older children, steamed and brown rice are more beneficial.
Rice can be served as a side dish, and when combined with fruit, make a dessert.
Read also:
Rice porridge for babies: benefit or harm, recipes Updated
Content
- “Elementary” benefits
- “harmful” processing
- Rice porridge for infants
- Rice decoction
Children's diet is an eternal topic for disputes, as scientists, as well as young people mothers who want to give their child the best. One of the stumbling blocks is rice porridge, the benefits and harms of which remain a controversial topic for many. nine0003
"Elementary" benefit
The main advantage of any rice dishes is the composition of rice grains. This is just a storehouse of useful vitamins and minerals that benefit both children and adults.
The number of useful elements per 100 grams of rice:
- Proteins - 6.4 grams;
- Carbohydrates - 72.5 grams;
- Fat - 0.9 grams;
- Potassium - 70 milligrams;
- Calcium - 30 milligrams;
- Magnesium - 38 milligrams; nine0011
- Phosphorus - 104 milligrams.
Also vitamins and various useful substances, they are part of rice in large quantities. This is the presence of vitamins of group B and PP, various amino acids. Also in rice there was a place for carotene, iron, zinc and iodine.
Another important factor in determining the positive qualities of rice porridge is the large amount of starch contained in all varieties of this grain. During digestion, this starch is digested very slowly, which allows the glucose contained in all carbohydrate foods to evenly enter the bloodstream in small portions. From this we can conclude that rice is becoming a very valuable product for diabetics and people who want to lose extra pounds. nine0003
Mucus, which is part of rice porridge, has beneficial properties for the stomach and digestive tract in general. It gently envelops the entire surface of the stomach, helps the affected areas to "rest" from the aggressive effects of gastric juice.
Rice has another useful property - it perfectly adsorbs all bad substances.
Therefore, rice dishes and rice water are often indicated for poisoning. Harmful treatment
The benefits and harms of rice porridge depend not only on the quality composition of the grain. Sometimes all useful points can come to naught due to incorrect or excessive processing.
Depending on the degree of cleaning of rice grains, there are several types:
- Unpeeled (brown) rice;
- Steamed;
- Ground round.
It is the small cleaning of brown rice that is useful, since all the useful elements that make up its composition are in the coarse shell of the grain. The steamed look also has a good value, since such processing "drives" useful elements into the core of the grain. nine0003
Polished or refined rice has nothing but starch, so its health benefits are minimal. Moreover, such processing can worsen health: harm the cardiovascular system, increase blood pressure and cause the formation of kidney stones.
Rice porridge for babies
Rice porridge cooked according to the rules is very healthy for babies. It is an ideal first food for a child, because it contains all the necessary substances and trace elements. Among other things, it is very nutritious and amazingly tasty. nine0003
To prepare the right rice porridge suitable for breastfeeding, you should pay attention to the following steps:
- Rice grains should be washed in cold water until the rinsed liquid remains clear.
- If the grain is round, leave it in warm water for a few minutes and then rinse again with cool water.
- If the grain is long, it does not need to be soaked, it is enough to pass boiling water through it and immediately - ice water. nine0011
- Prepared grains must be dried. It is better to do it naturally, laying it out on a paper towel, or put it in the oven at the minimum temperature.
- The dry beans are then ground in a coffee grinder.
- In a container, bring one cup of purified water to a boil, add a little salt, and then 1.5 tablespoons of rice flour.
- After 15 minutes of regular stirring, add half a glass of hot milk to the porridge.
- After 5 minutes, the porridge is ready. nine0011
There is no need to sweeten this porridge, as sugar is an allergen. You can put a small piece of butter, such porridge will be useful for the baby.
As a complementary food, rice porridge is given in the morning, starting with one tablespoon. In the future, the amount can be increased if the child tolerates it well.
Rice water
In addition to rice porridge, which is very useful for babies, you can make rice water. In addition to excellent nutritional properties, this drink also has a healing effect. Rice water for babies is often used for diarrhea, if it does not have an infectious cause. nine0003
Procedure:
- Take one tablespoon of grains in a glass of water;
- Put all the ingredients in a container and put it on a small fire, so that the mixture boils only a little;
- The cooking process lasts about an hour, you need to stir the cereal from time to time so that the grains do not burn;
- If the boil is too violent and the water begins to evaporate, you can add it to the previous volume;
- When an hour has passed, remove the mixture from heat, strain and leave the liquid to cool.
