Spices and herbs are a great addition to any meal, but we often shy away from adding them to our baby’s food. There are many spices and herbs that babies can eat and it exposes them to versatile flavours that benefit them in many ways.
Why is it normal in our western culture to make baby food so bland?
Just look at rice cereal as the leading baby food on our store shelves today and that is your clue.
Food is meant to be enjoyed and it starts in the womb.
Our babies are exposed to flavour varieties that cross the placenta when in utero (see my post about what foods I recommend to eat in pregnancy).
Then, if we choose to breastfeed, babies are once again exposed to the food profiles found in breastmilk. So, it actually starts with us.
My husband is Fijian Indian, so we eat a lot of beautiful curries. My children were all given curry from around 8 months old. They love it.
Then, when I had my third son, I exposed him to a lot of sauerkraut. It is no surprise that he loves sour, bitter tasting foods.
When it comes to spices in particular, we limit what we give our babies. We think of chilli (we want to hold off on giving babies chilli. Ouch!).
But spices are more than chilli. In fact, different spices have different benefit. Are you even surprised by that?
I’m going to share why they would make a great addition to your baby’s meals.
Firstly, let’s talk about balancing your baby’s meal, which is the foundation to giving your baby a great nutritional start.
How Do I Balance My Baby’s Meal?
I am a huge advocate for blood sugar control from when your little one is a baby (see my post on how to balance your child’s blood sugar).
Keeping your baby’s blood sugar in check is top priority if you want to keep your child in good health.
How do we do this?
Once your baby is well acquainted with eating solid foods (e.g. you’ve tried a variety of fruit, vegetables, proteins and some nuts), then it is time to start balancing those meals with fats, protein and micronutrients.
Think about how you can add a protein and fat to each meal.
Some steamed carrot is not going to be filling or blood sugar balancing for your baby. Roast it in avocado oil/extra virgin olive oil, add some soft chicken breast and accompany it with some chickpea pasta spirals lathered in butter and you’ve got a pretty balanced meal.
Fats (avocado, fish, nuts, coconut, olive oil, yoghurt) and proteins (meat, eggs, tofu, fish) accompanied by your typical carbohydrate (potatoes, pumpkin, sweet potato, pasta, bread, rice) is what you need to balance a meal.
If you are reading this post because you want to learn about the health benefits of spices, then I hope that you will consider the importance of balancing your child’s meal first.
The Benefits of Spices (and Herbs) for Babies
Let’s talk about adding spices (and herbs) to our baby’s meals and let’s make it a norm.
Apart from adding flavour to a meal, many spices have anti-inflammatory properties and support gut health.
*Please note that this is not medical advice. Consider talking to a trusted Doctor for any medical advice relating to this topic.
Cinnamon: Cinnamon is probably the most common spice (apart from chilli) that can be used in savoury or sweet dishes. It has been shown that cinnamon can help stabilise blood glucose levels. The most effective dose of cinnamon per day is 1/2-2 tsp daily (for babies, even less: no more than 1/4 tsp per meal). It has also been shown to improve cholesterol levels and has anti-inflammatory properties and antimicrobial effects which may improve dental health (source).
Foods to add cinnamon to for your baby: apples, bananas, peaches, nectarines, carrots, pumpkin, sweet potato, homemade baked muffins/cake, Asian-inspired soups, curries, porridge, broths,
Turmeric: Turmeric has been used for centuries in Ayurvedic and Eastern cultures, and is now a winner in western culture for its main active ingredient, curcumin. Curcumin helps to manage inflammatory conditions and is a strong antioxidant. It has been shown that it has a positive effects on the brain, linking to lowering chances of depression and Alzheimer’s disease (source).
Foods to add turmeric to for your baby: curries, rice, roast vegetables, baked muffins/cakes.
Ginger: Ginger has many health benefits, especially in reducing nausea/vomiting or any gastrointestinal discomfort. Gingerol, the active ingredient in ginger, has the power to fight infections by preventing harmful bacteria species (source).
Foods to add ginger to for your baby: soup, meat marinades, broths, curries, Asian-inspired soups and baked goods.
Black pepper: Rich in antioxidants, from its active ingredient, piperine. It may relieve bloating, gas and help aid digestion. (source)
Foods to add black pepper to for your baby: Any savoury dish that you can think of (but only a little, as it has a very strong taste). (source).
Cumin: Cumin is another blood sugar stabiliser. It is also a source of iron and antioxidants and can have a positive effect on pancreatic health. (source).
Foods to add cumin to for your baby: curries, soups, roast cauliflower, a spice rub for beef brisket.
Garlic: can support cardiovascular health and immunity. When garlic is cut and crushed, a compound allicin forms, which gives garlic its aroma, but also antioxidant and antimicrobial properties. (source).
Foods to add garlic to for your baby: pasta, roast lamb/chicken, garlic bread, roast it in extra virgin olive oil.
Oregano: contains a good source of quercetin, which has been linked to improving allergies, and a source of luteolin, which can help with migraines. (source). Oregano oil has also been used in Eastern medicine practices as a natural antibiotic (fun fact: I took oregano oil when I had mastitis with my first baby and it helped to take it away!).
Foods to add oregano to for your baby: marinades, roasted vegetables, pasta, lasagne, and soups.
Of course, there are many more I could list, but I hope that this is a great start in offering more versatile flavours to your baby in their first year of life!
Leave a Reply