How to mix nutritional rice cereal for children

The core logic is actually very simple. It is based on the premise of adapting to the digestive ability of the child's age. Cereals and potatoes are used as the base, with high-quality protein, seasonal fresh fruits and vegetables, and a small amount of functional ingredients with the same origin as medicine and food are enough. Do not add additional salt, sugar, or honey within one year of age. Allergenic ingredients should be added in small amounts at a time.

I have been raising my baby for three years, and I have seen a lot of controversies about the mix of rice cereal. For example, when can cereals be added? There are indeed two different opinions in the pediatric nutrition circle. One group believes that after the baby is 8 months old, cereals such as quinoa and millet can be added in small amounts, accounting for no more than one-third of the total rice cereal. It can exercise intestinal tolerance and supplement B vitamins. The other group suggests that it is best to wait until 1 year old before adding it to avoid bloating and constipation due to indigestion in the tender intestines. After asking around the mothers who have tried it, there is actually no standard answer. If your baby has regular bowel movements and rarely has milk flaps or food accumulation, adding it at 8 months is completely fine. If you have a weak stomach and often have diarrhea, adding it a few months later will not affect the nutritional intake at all.

When my baby was just 6 months old and adding complementary food, he ate only high-speed rice paste for the first two weeks. It was made almost as thick as old yogurt. After confirming that he had no allergies or intolerances, he started to add ingredients one by one. I still remember that the first time he added steamed soft iron yam, it was mixed with rice paste to bring out a glutinous fragrance. The first time the baby ate it, he chewed half a bowl. When it is dry in autumn, I will also add two or three steamed red dates with the core and skin removed. The sweetness is enough without adding additional sugar. After drinking it, the baby will have smooth bowel movements and will not be as dry as drinking pure rice cereal.

I saw my neighbor next door making a mistake a while ago. Her baby was just 7 months old. She was always worried that she would not have enough nutrition. She added four or five new ingredients to the rice cereal at one time. As a result, the baby had a rash on his face that day.

When the baby is over 1 year old, the mix becomes more flexible. Sometimes I am in a hurry to send the baby to kindergarten in the morning, so I use instant oatmeal and millet as a base, add a spoonful of blanched and chopped spinach, and add a steamed egg yolk and mix well. It is ready in five minutes and is very fragrant. The baby can go out with a small water cup and jump around all morning without being hungry. It is much more reliable than the prepackaged rice cereal powder that I buy with added flavor. By the way, don’t be superstitious about expensive ingredients. I have seen parents add sea cucumbers and cordyceps to rice cereal to supplement nutrition for their children. It is really unnecessary. Children’s stomach and intestines cannot digest these high-protein supplements, which will easily increase the metabolic burden. Ordinary ingredients are well matched and the nutrition is completely sufficient.

If you really don’t know what to make, it’s always good to follow the seasons. In spring, add some chopped baby spinach and blanched diced spring bamboo shoots; in summer, add some winter melon and watermelon with the hard skin removed; in autumn, add pumpkin and steamed soft chestnuts; in winter, add a small amount of yam and steamed red dates. The seasonal ingredients themselves are full of flavor, and kids love to eat them.