Healthy Homemade Rice Cereal for Babies

Sadly, commercial rice cereal for babies is not a good food to offer your baby for many reasons. Here, I offer a healthy homemade rice cereal for babies that is a better alternative.

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Baby rice cereal is one of the most common first foods parents have been offering to their babies for almost 100 years now.

Rice cereal was created in the 1930’s when the introduction of processed, convenient foods became more prevalent. Rice cereal was known as pablum and mothers were advised to mix this processed cereal into their baby’s bottle from about six weeks of age.

Then when the baby was three to four months old, the mother made the consistency of the rice cereal thicker and would spoon feed it to the baby. It was marketed as the ideal first food.

Now, almost 100 years later, while ‘ideal first food’ is not the term most baby food marketers would use, it is still a prevalent baby food option on the supermarket shelves today.

The Problem with Baby Rice Cereal

You want to be feeding your baby with real nourishing foods, to give them a good start in life. Sadly, rice cereal (even if labelled ‘organic’) is stripped of important nutrients and fibre.

It is highly glycemic, due to the heavy carbohydrate contents and little protein contents.

Most food offered to babies should contain some sort of healthy, monounsaturated fat, at least to begin with. Fat is helpful in sustaining blood sugar, satiating hunger hormones and balancing out the carbohydrates content in their meals.

It is important to start your baby off with a meal containing all three macronutrients:

• Protein
• Carbohydrates
• Fats

I chat about this in depth in my First Foods to Offer Your Baby and you can also explore Safely Introducing Common Allergenic Foods to Your Baby.

So, while rice cereal is a convenient food to offer your baby, it is not the most beneficial and nutrient-dense.

One more thing to add is that it often contains fortified ingredients like fortified iron.

The problem with fortified iron is that it does not get absorbed into the body like naturally occurring iron does. It also means that it is highly processed with synthetic nutrients added to it. This poses issues like constipation, imbalances in the body like blood sugar imbalances.

What is the Healthier Alternative?

I have made this healthy homemade rice cereal for babies for my past two babies and they have both thoroughly enjoyed it.

Plus, I am comforted to know that they are eating real food and not food highly processed in a factory for convenience.

This rice cereal, while it does not actually contain rice, it contains quinoa flakes, which are easier to digest and better absorbed into the body.

Quinoa flakes contain nutrients like magnesium, fibre, protein and folate, which are all important nutrients for a growing baby.

Instead of milk or water as the liquid, I use coconut milk.

An interesting fact about coconuts:

Coconut milk contains lauric acid, which is good for the liver, autoimmune health and heart health. It really is a superfood to offer your baby and it is an optimal source of monounsaturated fat for your baby.

You can also add other foods like chia seeds, hemp seeds or nut butter for a more nutrient-dense breakfast.

Ingredients for Healthy Homemade Rice Cereal for Babies

All you will need is:

• Quinoa flakes
• Coconut Milk
• Optional: chia seeds, hemp seeds or almond/peanut butter (from 7 months old).

Method

1. Heat a small saucepan on the stove at low-medium heat.
2. Add coconut milk to saucepan and let it warm for about 3 minutes.
3. Add in the quinoa flakes and stir.
4. Continuously stir for about 5 minutes before it turns into a thicker consistency.
5. Keep on low-medium heat for another few minutes.
6. Add in your chia seeds, hemp seeds or nut butter after it has cooled and serve.

Recipe Notes

• Nutrient-dense alternative: this version of rice cereal skips the traditional processed white rice and instead uses quinoa flakes, which are packed with protein, fibre and important minerals like iron and magnesium, which are all important for a growing baby.
• Dairy-free and gentle on little tummies: using full fat coconut cream adds a creamy texture while providing healthy fats that support baby’s brain development and stabilise blood sugar levels. It is also a great option for babies sensitive to dairy or who are not old enough to drink cow’s milk (omit until at least one year old).
• Texture tips: you can blend the quinoa flakes and coconut milk for younger babies just starting solids for a smoother texture. You can add a bit more water or coconut milk to thin out the texture too.
• Optional superfood boosters: Chia seeds – a great source of omega-3 and fibre. Soak before using if serving to younger babies. Hemp seeds – a great source of plant-based protein and essential fatty acids. Nut butter (almond, peanut or cashew butter) – stir in a small spoonful of nut butter for healthy fat, smoother texture and flavour. Do not introduce until 7 months old (when little tummies are more susceptible to tolerating nuts and tree nuts).
• Batch and freeze-friendly: make a larger batch and freeze in ice cube trays/silicone trays for easy single-serve portions throughout the week. Purchase great, affordable and optimal baby food sized silicone trays here.