Table of contents:
- Comparison of brown rice with white rice
- What are the benefits of brown rice for babies?
- How to make brown rice porridge for babies at home
The staple food of Indonesians is rice, especially white rice. But why is food for babies usually red nasu porridge instead of white rice? Indeed, what's so special about brown rice for babies? Curious? Listen to this.
Comparison of brown rice with white rice
Brown rice is different from white rice. Brown rice only exfoliates the outermost layer of skin and does not undergo a long grinding process like white rice. If all the layers of brown rice skin are peeled off and processed further, you will get white rice. This makes white rice contains less vitamins, minerals, fatty acids and fiber than brown rice. Because all these nutrients are mostly found in the rice bran.
So, it's no wonder that brown rice has long been one of the recommended foods for babies, especially babies who are transitioning to solid foods. Brown rice is made into porridge so that it is easy for babies to eat.
What are the benefits of brown rice for babies?
Reporting from the Verywell page, there are lots of nutrients contained in brown rice. Some of these nutrients, namely protein, fat, vitamin B1, vitamin B2, vitamin B3, vitamin B5, vitamin B6, folic acid, calcium, iron, magnesium, manganese, phosphorus, potassium, sodium and zinc. A number of these nutrients, of course, these nutrients are needed by babies to support their growth and development.
Not only that, brown rice also contains high enough fiber, which is 3.5 grams of fiber in 100 grams of brown rice. This can help meet the baby's fiber needs, thus helping to smooth the baby's digestive system. The sugar contained in brown rice is also relatively small, which is only 0.85 grams per 100 grams of brown rice. So, it is safe for the baby's blood sugar levels.
In addition to the nutritional content of brown rice which is beneficial for the growth and development of babies, the advantages of brown rice for other babies are that it is easy to digest and does not cause energy reactions. This makes brown rice very suitable to be given to babies, given the baby's digestive system is still weak and immature.
How to make brown rice porridge for babies at home
Making your own baby food is certainly healthier. You can monitor what nutrients enter the baby's body. In addition, making your own food at home is also more clean. Most importantly, there are no preservatives or other chemicals added to baby food, if you make it yourself.
To make brown rice porridge, it's very easy. First, you have to grind the brown rice first so that it becomes a finer grain. You can grind it in a blender or grind it traditionally. Next, mix 1/4 cup brown rice powder with 1 cup boiling water. Cook, stirring constantly, for about 10 minutes. Done and you can serve to baby.
You can also add vegetables and protein sources to brown rice porridge. For example, steamed broccoli that has been mashed, steamed carrots that have been mashed, boiled meat that has been mashed. That way, the nutritional content in the food you serve to babies will be more complete.
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