Oatmeal is a super healthy whole grain and a terrific first baby food. With recent concerns about arsenic levels in white and brown rice, oatmeal is a great choice as a Super Porridge baby food base. Oatmeal for baby food differs from oatmeal that you might make for yourself as an instant breakfast on the run. Oatmeal for baby is comprised of whole grain oats that look similar to brown rice grains or old-fashioned rolled oat flakes. Oat flakes are made from whole grain oats that have been steamed and flattened.
Whole grain oats have fiber, calcium, protein and vitamin b vitamins. It is often not an allergen and has been found to relieve constipation in babies. You can find rolled oats or “oat groats” at your local health food store and more recently (hurray!) in the organic section of your grocery store. Bob’s Red Mill is a brand that carries groats and rolled oats and can be purchased online. I have recently seen this brand on the end of grocery isles.
Below, I describe the preparation of Oatmeal Super Porridge appropriate to feed your baby at 6 months old as part of the Super Baby Food Diet. Adding a bit of mashed babana and or yogurt can boost the nutritional value of the Oatmeal Super Porridge. At 9 months, you could also add the new favorite “super green” – steamed, puréed Kale.
To Prepare Super Porridge with Oatmeal:
➢ Place a cup of water on the stove to boil
➢ While it is heating put 1/4 cup of rolled oats or oat groats in the blender and grind to a fine powder, approximately 2 minutes.
➢ Whisk the oat powder into the water and let it sit over low heat for 10 minutes. Whisk frequently to prevent lumps. Add breast milk or formulas to reach the appropriate consistency for your baby and serve.
To Prepare Kale to add to Oatmeal Super Porridge when baby is 9 months old or older:
➢ Select kale that is loose and not in plastic bags, if at all possible
➢ Wash each leaf thoroughly under cold water
➢ Discard unwanted leaves
➢ Remove stems
➢ Steam leaves for 5 minutes, reserving the liquid
➢ Place pieces in blender with some reserved liquid
➢ Purée away!
➢ At this point in preparation, it would be perfect to add the puréed kale to a stainless steel ice cube tray for freezing for later use.
A word on kale. Kale is, in my opinion, the most super of the Super Green Veggies. Kale has so many wonderful nutrients including fiber, calcium, Vitamin B6, magnesium, Vitamins A, C and K, copper, potassium, iron, manganese, and phosphorus.Its strong flavor makes Oatmeal Super Porridge perfect to mix with it.
You can add almost any age-appropriate food to Oatmeal Super Porridge. I am interested in your “blending” discoveries. What combinations have worked for you and your baby?