Feeding Your Baby Oatmeal- Nutritious Oatmeal Baby Food Recipes.

Oatmeal in Baby Food Recipes - When Can Baby Have Oatmeal? Age for Introducing Oatmeal: (4)6-8 months  

 

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The Goodness of Oatmeal

 

Oats are high in fiber, calcium, protein and even some B vitamins. Steel cut oats are more healthy than rolled, quick cook or instant oats. These oats retain the most nutrients due to the lack of over-processing.

 

 

When can I introduce Oatmeal to my baby?

 

Homemade Oatmeal baby cereal is able to be introduced to baby from 4 months of age. Please remember that the current recommendation for starting baby on solid foods is 6 months of age.

Do Oats Contain Gluten? Oats are not known to be highly allergenic however they may contain traces of gluten.   Oats do not contain the same gluten as wheat however they may become contaminated with the gluten from other grains such as wheat. Oats are commonly processed together with grains that do contain gluten. Many producers of oats will note if the oats have been processed alone or with other grains.   If your family has a history of celiac disease, it would be prudent for you to ask your pediatrician about the introduction of oats to your baby.

 

How to select and store Oatmeal for baby food

Whenever possible, you should purchase steel cut oats as opposed to rolled or quick cook or instant oat(meal)s. Steel cut oats are minimally processed (they are simply cut into small bits.) so they retain their natural levels of fiber, protein, calcium and more.

As with other grains, oats may be stored for several months in a cool dry place.

If the temperature becomes extremely warm in your home, you may wish to store the grains in the refrigerator. Milled whole grains, such as rice flour, whole wheat flour, oat flour and the like, 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. Processed oatmeal will keep longer.

 

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 Oats and Oatmeal

 

Oats may be cooked in boiling water. When making oatmeal baby cereal from oatmeal "powder", use 1/4 cup of powder per 3/4 to 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.

 

Basic Oatmeal Baby Food Recipes

 

Oatmeal Baby Cereal(make it Organic by using Organic Rolled or Steel Cut Oats.)

1/4 cup of ground oats (do NOT use instant or Quick Cook), ground in blender or food processor
3/4 cup - 1 cup water

 

1. Bring liquid to boil in saucepan. Add the oatmeal powder while stirring constantly.
3. Simmer for 10 minutes, whisking constantly, mix in formula or breast milk and fruits if desired
3. Serve warm.

 

 

Baked Oatmeal Apple Cereal

 

1 small apple

1/4 cup ground oats

3/4 cup of water

 

1. Peel, core and cut a small apple into small dices
2. Place in a pan with 1/4 c ground oats and 3/4 c water
3. Bring mixture to a slow boil. Simmer covered, checking frequently, until apples are soft and oatmeal is cooked.
4. Be sure to stir and mash while cooking
5. Mix in formula or breast milk or juice to thin if needed - puree if necessary
(sprinkle a bit of cinnamon in the cereal if your desire and if baby is ready for or has had cinnamon)

 

Add pureed fruits and vegetables to baby's homemade oatmeal cereal - ensure that you have followed the 4 day wait rule.

 

 

Oatmeal Scramble - A yummy finger food

8 months +

 

Ingredients
1 cup of cooked oatmeal
2 egg yolks
1/4 cup soft cooked veggies or fruits of your choice
1 teaspoon olive oil

 

Heat the olive oil in a small frying pan
Peel the banana
Whisk the 2 egg yolks in a bowl
Add the oatmeal and fruits or veggies to the warmed frying pan then add whisked egg yolks
Gently scramble and fry until the yolks are fully cooked

Break the Oatmeal Scramble into small pieces that your baby will easily manage and chew. You can also offer up a fruit puree as a dipping sauce

 

Foods Good to Mix With Oatmeal:

Fruits, vegetables, yogurt and meats are all good foods to add and mix with oatmeal homemade baby cereals.

Try a Homemade Oatmeal Bath. Give Your Winter Skin an Oatmeal Bath. Quick and Easy Method Place 2 cups of Quick or Old Fashioned Oats into one leg of a nylon stocking; close open end by tying a knot. Place stocking under faucet; turn water on to full force, using warm water at a comfortable temperature. When finished filling tub, "swirl" stocking back & forth through water 5 or 6 times. Lift stocking above water and wring to squeeze water and starch out of stocking. Discard stocking -- do NOT reuse. Soak in tub as recommended by physician or for 15 to 20 minutes. Gently pat dry. Use once or twice daily, or as directed by physician. FOR INFANTS: Use 1/3 cup and follow instructions above. Soak infant (in infant bath tub) for 10 minutes or as directed by physician. Blender/Food Processor Method Place 1 cup Quick or Old Fashioned Oats into food processor or blender; grind oats into finest powder possible. Turn water on to full force, using warm water at a comfortable temperature. Slowly sprinkle oat powder under running water. Stir water thoroughly to avoid clumping or settling. Soak in tub as recommended by physician or for 15 to 20 minutes. Gently pat dry. Use once or twice daily, or as directed by physician. INFANTS: Use 1/3 cup and follow instructions above. Soak infant (in infant bath tub) for 10 minutes or as directed by physician

 

 

Quaker Oats offers the following suggestions for mixing Oatmeal with yummy foods - please make sure YOUR mixes are age appropriate, with allergens in mind, for your baby.

 

• Raisins, brown sugar, cinnamon and nutmeg

• Honey and honey crunch flavor wheat germ

• Applesauce and cinnamon

• Low-fat granola and skim milk

• Raspberry nonfat yogurt and dried cranberries

• Apricot fruit spread and sliced almonds

• Sliced strawberries, plain nonfat yogurt and brown sugar

• Maple flavor pancake syrup and chopped toasted pecans

• Canned crushed pineapple, sliced bananas and chopped macadamia nuts

• Strawberry nonfat yogurt and sliced kiwi

• Sliced bananas and vanilla nonfat yogurt sprinkled with cinnamon

• Reduced fat peanut butter and strawberry fruit spread

• Chopped dates, walnuts and cinnamon

• Canned pear slices, maple flavor pancake syrup and cinnamon

• Coarsely chopped canned peaches and ground ginger

• Diced dried apricots or diced dried mixed fruit and honey

• Pumpkin or apple butter and raisins

• Blueberry fruit spread, vanilla or plain nonfat yogurt and nutmeg

• Orange marmalade and dried cranberries

• Coarsely chopped apple, brown sugar, cinnamon and dates

• Orange or tangerine low fat yogurt and canned mandarin orange segments

• Mixed dried fruit

• Cherry preserves and wheat germ

• Reduced fat caramel topping and chopped pecans

• Whole berry cranberry sauce

• Applesauce and maple flavor pancake syrup

• Blueberries and sliced strawberries sprinkled with cinnamon sugar

• Sliced bananas and mini semisweet morsels

• Warm apple pie filling and skim milk

• Brown sugar and apple pie spice

• Chopped dried figs and mashed ripe banana

 

Visit our Combinations page to see more Homemade Baby Food Combination Ideas

 

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