Homemade Baby Cereal

My baby is 9 months old. I can't believe it!
Where does the time go...

A few months ago I wrote about making my own baby food and what foods I started with. I explained that I don't start with cereal, instead I start with avocados. Many Pediatricians use to recommend starting with rice because it considered one of the least allergenic foods. However, many Peds are now leaning toward starting with avocados, banana's or sweet potatoes. I do believe whole grains to be very nutritious and an important part of a babies diet, but until 6-8 months a baby's digestive system isn't mature enough to handle whole grains. The processed and refined rice cereal you purchase is not a whole grain, (the good stuff has been taken out and it has been 'enriched') which is why you can feed it to a very young infant.

Making baby food is very easy.
Fruits and vegetables simply need to be washed thoroughly, cooked/steamed and pureed. It is simple to do this in large quantities and freeze in freezer cube trays or small containers. Cereal takes slightly more time until you get a system down. There are several short cuts you can take to decrease the time cereal takes to prepare.

1. Blending whole grains into a powder in a food processor or blender will shorten the cooking time. As your baby grows, you can shorten the blending time resulting in a thicker cereal.
2. The powdered cereal you purchase from the store has been processed, refined, precooked and dehydrated, which allows you you 'just add liquid'. Cereal you make from whole grains must be cooked, even in a powdered state.
   
3. Making big batches and freezing extra cereal will cut down on preparation time.

Brown Rice Cereal

• 1/4 cup brown rice powder
• 1 cup water

Bring water to a boil. Add the rice powder, stirring constantly. Reduce to a simmer. Simmer 10 minutes, whisking consistency. Add breast milk, water or formula to desired constantly. Serve warm, add pureed fruits/veggies if desired. Freeze extra. Double or triple if desired.

Oatmeal
1/4 cup ground old fashioned oats, NOT instant or quick cook
3/4 - 1 cup water

Bring water to a boil. Add the oatmeal powder, stirring constantly. Reduce to a simmer. Simmer approximately 10 minutes, whisking constantly until cooked. Add breast milk, water or formula to desired consistency. Serve warm, add pureed fruits/veggies if desired. Freeze extra. Double or triple if desired.

NOTES:

• When making baby cereal, you are not limited to brown rice and oatmeal! Any whole grain can be make into cereal. A good general rule to follow is 1/4 cup powdered grain to 1 cup water. The smaller the grain, the more water you will need. Smaller grains pack together tighter making them more dense than larger grains.
• Around 7 months of age your baby can have mixed grains. Simply mix the grains and cook together.
• Around 9 months of age your baby can have beans/legumes. Grind beans in blender and cook with the grains. Two parts grains to one part beans/legumes equals a complete protein.
  
• The less powdery you grind the beans/legumes and grains, the longer the cooking time will need to be.
• If you are making rice/millet/barley/couscous/quinoa/beans... for your family, simply puree or mash after cooked and feed to your baby.
• Healthy add in's (wait until 8-9 months): brewer's yeast, kelp, wheat germ, flax

Remember, whole grains are a great way to start every one's day!
Ditch those boxed cereals, add some fruit, cinnamon and a little honey or sugar, and you've got a great breakfast for the whole family :)