Soon after we introduced our daughter to her first solid food (pumpkin) we started making oatmeal for her breakfast. I didn't see much benefit in making "baby specific" oatmeal, it just didn't seem very substantial and besides, I wanted to start her day right with a real meal that would stick to her ribs. As I have mentioned before, I am not a fan of refined sugar so I also figured that putting her into the habit of starting the day with a bowl of plain, good old fashioned oatmeal would also be a way to introduce her to real cereal without introducing the sugar that one usually finds in most cereals.
My Mister is the true oatmeal aficionado in our house. He is partial to McCann's Steel Cut Irish Oatmeal but since neither of us is willing to commit to the 45 minutes it takes to make porridge every morning, we decided to take the easy path. We buy Quick Cooking Rolled Oats which are so, so, so simple and quick to make. If you have a tea kettle, a bowl and three minutes, you can make delicious oatmeal in a snap. I asked Bettina RD why it's good for babies (and all of us for that matter) to eat oatmeal and she told me that ...
- Everyone should increase their consumption of whole grains to increase the consumption of vitamins, minerals, fiber, lignans and antioxidents lost in processed foods
- Oatmeal is a good source of fiber, including soluble fiber which reduce cholesterol. The soluble fiber in the oatmeal also means that you stay fuller for longer and that sugar is more slowly released into your blood stream, giving kids the energy they need without that fast sugar rush.
We started our little sprite with plain oatmeal mixed with formula. Then we graduated to oatmeal mixed with a quick fresh fruit fruit purée (made in the blender) or mash. Next we mixed in whole milk and water plus fruit and eventually we arrived at where we are now which is every morning starts with a very hearty bowl of oatmeal mixed with water, milk and fresh or dried fruit. I still don't add sugar, honey, agave or maple syrup and she is none the wiser. She loves her breakfast oatmeal and we love that she is getting a very healthy first meal to fuel a morning filled with running (and jumping and swinging and sliding) all over the playground.
Equipment:
- A tea kettle or a small pot
- Bowl
- Spoon
Ingredients:
Instructions:
- Add a cup of water to the kettle.
- Turn the heat up and wait.
- As you wait, add a 1/4 or 1/2 cup of dry oatmeal to the bowl.
- When the water comes to a boil, pour some water (not all) into the bowl and start mixing the cereal with a spoon. If it looks too thick, add more hot water until you reach the consistency you think will work.
- Let the oatmeal cool.
- Voila! Your baby's breakfast is ready.
Here are a few nutritional ways to "upgrade" baby's oatmeal without adding refined sugar. Add one or more of these items:
- Fresh blueberries (cut them in half if they are large or puree them)
- Pureed, mashed or cut-up banana
- Raisins
- Dried cranberries
- Raspberries
- Dried apricots that have been slivered
- Fresh grated ginger
- Apple sauce
- Cooked apple or pear puree
- Fresh diced or pureed peaches
- Fresh diced or pureed nectarines
- Smashed or cut-up kiwi
- Slivered almonds
- A dollop of plain yogurt (this actually helps the hot cereal cool down quickly)
- A small amount of whole milk or half-and-half
- A spoonful of silken tofu
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