Barley Age for Introduction to Baby:
(4)6-8 Months
Please remember that the current recommendation for introducing solid food to a baby is 6 months of age!
The Goodness of Barley:
Barley is a good source of Vitamin A, Folate and even protein! Barley is a great baby food as it is easly blended into a soupy and cereal like consistency and full of nutrients that baby needs!
Barley (1 cup cooked - pearled)
VITAMINS:
Vitamin A - 11 IU
Vitamin C - 0 mg
Vitamin B1 (thiamine) - .13 mg
Vitamin B2 (riboflavin) - .09 mg
Niacin - 3.23 mg
Folate - 25 mcg
Contains some other vitamins in small amounts.
MINERALS:
Potassium - 146 mg
Phosphorus - 85 mg
Magnesium - 35 mg
Calcium - 17 mg
Sodium - 5 mg
Iron - 2.09 mg
Also contains small amounts of manganese, copper and zinc.
PROTEIN:
Protein - 3.55 g
When can I introduce Barley to my baby?
Homemade barley cereal is able to be introduced to baby from 4 months of age. Please remember that the current recommendations for starting baby on solid foods is 6 months of age!
How to select and store Barley for baby food
Purchase only hulled or pearled barley -
"Whole barley must be prepared for human consumption because of it’s hard, fibrous hull that is not easily removed. Only buy barley in it's whole form if you want to sprout it and eat it as barley grass. Processors use an abrasive machine to remove the hull making it safe to eat. At this stage it’s called hulled or pot barley. In this processed form, the germ has been damaged to the point that it will no longer sprout. Pearled barley, which is hulled barley with the ends of the kernel removed so it’s round in shape is another popular way you can get barley. Pearled barley has it’s germ and much of the bran around the endosperm removed. This is where many of the vitamins and minerals are found and because of this, it’s nutritional qualities are down about 25%-33% from what you generally find in hulled barley. But pearled barley cooks up much quicker which is it’s big advantage. Both pearled barley and hulled barley are primarily used in soups and stews where they fluff up to almost the size of a pea."†
Pearled barley may be stored for several months in a cool dry place. Most packaged or boxed pearled barley will have a "best if used by" date on the package as well. Milled barley should be stored in an air tight
container and preferably in your refrigerator. You can store them in a cool dry place however ensure that you check on the status of the grains if you use them infrequently!
Since these are whole grain flours, the natural oils that come from the grain may become rancid without refrigeration. When purchasing any type of milled whole grain, it's always best to buy smaller quantities to ensure that your whole grains are used prior to them going rancid.
The same "rules" apply for to rice powder or oat powder, barley powder etc. that you have ground (milled) for your homemade baby cereal. You should store it in an air tight container, in a cool dry place but preferably in the refrigerator if your home is warm.
The best way to cook Barley
When cooking ground barley "powder" for homemade baby cereal, use 1/4 cup of powder per 1-2 cups of water - more or less as you see fit. The key is to whisk whisk whisk as you are cooking to avoid clumping! We enjoy barley when is is cooked in a stock for soups, finger foods or salads; add a bit of apple or peach juice to the cooking water for baby cereal.
Add pureed fruits and vegetables to baby's homemade brown rice cereal - ensure that you have followed the 4 day wait rule!
A Few Barley Baby Food Recipes:
Barley Baby Cereal (4)6 months +
1/4 cup ground barley (barley ground in blender or food processor)
1 cup water
1. Bring liquid to a boil. Add the barley and simmer for 10 minutes, whisking constantly
2. Mix in formula or breast milk or juice and add fruits if desired
3. Serve warm
Barley and Sweet Potato Balls (4) 6 months +
1 cup soft cooked pearled barley (not pureed!)
1 cup cooked sweet potatoes
1/2 cup applesauce or peach puree
pinch of cinnamon, ginger, nutmeg as desired (8 months +)
1. Mix all ingredients together in a bowl
2. Shape into small bite sized "balls" or plops for a nice baby figer food!
Barley Salad 6 months+
soft cooked pearled barley (not pureed!)
soft cooked carrots - diced
soft cooked peas - smooshed if needed
soft cooked chicken or beef - diced or shredded into small bits (8 months +)
1. Toss all ingredients together in a bowl
2. Serve as a finger food meal or snack!
Foods Good to Mix With Barley:
Fruits, vegetables, yogurt and meats are all good foods to add and mix with barley homemade baby cereals! Try cooking Barley in a Homemade Veggie, Chicken or Beef Stock!
Visit our Combinations page to see more Homemade Baby Food Combination Ideas
† Barley Information from Walton Feeds
