Since childhood, our mothers tried to give us the best, such as food, clothes, toys and so on. The same thing is happening now. In order for your baby to grow up healthy and with good immunity, from an early age you need to teach him healthy food. Semolina porridge plays an important role in this. Thanks to its composition, this product not only nourishes and saturates our body, but also helps remove waste and toxins.
In this article we will tell you about the simplest and most delicious semolina porridge recipes for a 1 year old child. In addition, you will learn everything about the composition of this cereal, its beneficial properties and cooking secrets. After all, proper nutrition plays the most important role in our lives.
Description
Semolina itself is finely ground wheat. The diameter of the grains is approximately 0.25-0.75 mm. This cereal is quickly absorbed by the body and brings it a long-lasting feeling of satiety. In most cases, semolina is cooked either in milk or water.
We will definitely tell you how to cook semolina porridge for a 1-year-old child, but now let’s move on to its composition.
Semolina porridge for babies - at what age can you
Porridge appears in the diet of a newborn baby after the first complementary foods from vegetables are introduced. It will be more beneficial if the baby gets completely used to vegetable puree before moving on to a new type of food - cereal porridge. However, semolina porridge, as a traditional product, is no longer in demand among young mothers. They consider semolina useless and even harmful for children. This opinion can be found in discussions on women's forums. Meanwhile, pediatricians believe that semolina porridge for infants can take its rightful place on the menu if it is administered correctly.
Semolina porridge can be introduced into a baby’s diet according to certain rules
Compound
As we said earlier, semolina is distinguished by its rich composition and a number of useful properties.
So, what does this product include:
- starch;
- proteins;
- gluten;
- phytin;
- calcium;
- potassium;
- phosphorus;
- iron;
- sodium;
- vitamins B and E.
Many experts claim that semolina porridge is a very valuable and healthy dish. This is especially true for the category of people who monitor their health. However, excessive consumption of this product by children under 3 years of age may be fraught with consequences. Therefore, experts recommend diluting your baby’s diet so that he gets vitamins and minerals from other dishes.
The benefits of semolina for infants
When talking about creating a baby’s diet, doctors usually insist on the high benefits of certain foods. Of course, the question of a healthy menu is one of the first ones when the baby turns 6 months old. It becomes even more relevant when the baby self-weans.
Semolina is a cereal obtained by coarsely grinding wheat. Accordingly, this is a nutritious porridge with a high calorie content, which is necessary primarily for gaining weight and nursing weakened babies. The cereal contains:
- essential proteins;
- carbohydrates containing starch;
- vitamins PP and group B;
- microelements – calcium, phosphorus, iron, etc.
An undoubted advantage of semolina is the speed of its preparation: you can cook porridge for a baby in a matter of minutes, while many other cereals need to be boiled for a long time.
Beneficial features
The main beneficial qualities of semolina porridge include the following:
- helps normalize heart function;
- restores and strengthens blood vessels;
- improves the functioning of the gastrointestinal tract;
- nourishes and saturates the body with useful substances and vitamins;
- strengthens bones, nails, teeth and hair;
- promotes faster skin regeneration and returns it to a healthy appearance;
- improves blood circulation;
- replenishes iron deficiency;
- reduces the risk of developing heart disease;
- supports nervous system health;
- The fiber contained in semolina speeds up the process of food digestion.
Like any other product, semolina also has harmful properties. Therefore, you can eat porridge only in moderation.
Now that we have told you about the composition and beneficial properties, we can move on to the recipe for semolina porridge for a 1-year-old child.
Timing of introduction of complementary foods
Initially, a newborn baby does not require any food other than mother's breast milk. This nutrient liquid contains all the useful components that the baby requires for its growth and development. The older the baby gets, the more nutritional components he needs. In this regard, various complementary foods are introduced into his diet.
The child’s body begins to gradually be “introduced” to new products. For complementary foods, those foods that are easier to digest are selected first. Gradually, various cereals are added to the nutrition menu.
Semolina porridge is a fairly high-calorie product. So, on average, the calorie content of this dish, if it was cooked with milk, is about 100 kilocalories per 100 grams. However, the calorie content of porridge increases significantly if butter is added to it. This milk porridge is a rather “heavy” food product to digest.
Semolina porridge is not a complementary food. Modern doctors often recommend including this dish in the diet of children who are underweight. The high calorie content of the dish helps the baby gain weight better.
Pediatricians, as a rule, recommend adding semolina porridge to a child’s menu after he is one year old. However, these recommendations are conditional. In some cases, semolina porridge should be included in the child’s diet a little later. Typically, individual recommendations are developed by a doctor who has been observing the baby since birth.
Semolina porridge contains B vitamins, which have a beneficial effect on the functioning of the nervous system. Also, these components help improve the baby’s mood and have a positive effect on the functioning of his brain.
The macro- and microelements contained in semolina are necessary for the full functioning of the child’s internal organs. These components are necessary for the baby to be active and develop well.
However, a monotonous diet of only semolina porridge is not at all optimal, since this dish contains only a limited amount of useful elements. The diet of a child, especially an infant, must be competently and carefully composed. You should not feed your baby semolina porridge every day.
Semolina porridge for baby
Initially, pediatricians allowed the use of this product for children from 3 months, but recently the criteria have changed and semolina became prohibited until they reach one year. But from one year to three years, parents must control the amount of semolina so that the child grows up strong and healthy.
Did you know that semolina has three varieties?
- M (soft) is a cereal produced from soft varieties of wheat. In supermarkets this particular species is offered for sale. It is distinguished by viscosity and a high glycemic index.
- MT is a combination of hard and soft semolina. Thanks to mixing varieties, the porridge is less calorie, tender and with a uniform structure.
- T (solid) is a cereal with a low glycemic index, but includes more beneficial properties. Of all types, hard semolina is considered the most expensive.
Norms of semolina for complementary feeding by month
Some experts do not see the benefit of semolina and do not recommend giving it to children overweight. In fact, many children love semolina porridge with milk, so sometimes you can please your baby with a delicious dish. The main thing is that this should be done infrequently, maximum once every 7-10 days. For a baby, it is better to include porridge in the morning meal, so that you can observe the reaction of the child’s body during the day.
Semolina porridge with additives in the form of fruits and berries diversifies a child’s menu
How often to give semolina porridge
To answer the mother’s question, at how many months can you feed your baby semolina porridge, children’s nutritionists have developed a rough schedule for introducing porridges, including semolina. Porridges are introduced into the infant’s menu as follows:
- from 6-7 months – rice, buckwheat and corn;
- from 7-8 months - a combination of several grains, oatmeal; in this case, the condition is met - the child must tolerate all types of cereals well;
- from 10 months – millet and pearl barley;
- after 1 year - semolina.
For your information! This schedule is ideal in baby food, but in reality semolina porridge can be offered much earlier. Some mothers, in the old fashioned way, prepare semolina for a 4-month-old baby, believing that he does not have enough milk. However, it is better to follow the advice of pediatricians: semolina should not be introduced before 8 months. The lack of breast milk can be filled with formula milk.
Amount of semolina porridge
Acquaintance with porridges should be gradual, you need to start with one teaspoon. It is advisable to give porridge for breakfast, supplementing the baby with breast milk or the usual formula. The scheme for introducing porridge into a child’s complementary feeding looks like this.
Entering semolina porridge into the baby menu
| Timing of complementary feeding | Amount of complementary foods |
| 1 Week | 1 teaspoon 5 g. |
| 2 week | 2 teaspoons 10 g. |
| 3 week | 3 teaspoons 15 g. |
| 4 week | 4 teaspoons 20 g. |
| 5 week | 50 ml |
| week 6 | 100 ml |
| week 7 | 150 ml |
Simple semolina recipe
Ingredients:
- clean water - 1 glass;
- semolina - 3 tbsp;
- milk - 200 grams;
- granulated sugar - to taste;
- butter - 10 grams.
How to cook semolina porridge for a 1 year old child:
- First you need to bring one glass of water to a boil.
- Then slowly add the semolina and constantly stir the products so that no lumps form.
- Cook the semolina for 10 minutes.
- Carefully pour in the milk and add granulated sugar.
- Remove the saucepan from the heat and add a little butter to the porridge.
- Beat with a mixer until smooth.
Before serving the porridge, you can season it with fruit jam or raisins.
Semolina porridge for a one-year-old child
Hercules decoction for infants with milk and water
By the age of one year, the baby's diet becomes more varied. He gets acquainted with new products and their combinations. Milk and semolina appear in his diet.
Note! At the beginning of complementary feeding, which usually starts at 6 months of age, it is better to offer the baby other cereals, primarily those that do not contain gluten. Semolina porridge is not included in this list. If consumed frequently, an allergy may develop, leading to gluten intolerance.
On broth
Semolina porridge for a child recipe can be changed. The peculiarity of a dish prepared with chicken broth is its unusual taste. Everyone is used to eating porridge in a sweet form, and not everyone knows that a healthy dish can be made salty.
To prepare you will need ingredients:
- Semolina – 2-3 tablespoons;
- Water – 450 milliliters;
- A small piece of chicken breast;
- Butter – 20 grams;
- Salt - to taste;
- Greens, for example, dill.
Boil the prepared chicken meat in lightly salted water. Then you need to separate it into fibers and return it back to the pan. When the liquid boils, add semolina, pouring in carefully and slowly, stirring the contents. Cook for about 5 minutes. If you keep stirring, no lumps will appear. The heat should remain minimal during cooking. At the end of cooking, add oil and dill. Leave the porridge to simmer under the closed lid for 10-15 minutes.
Porridge with broth
With fruits
Fresh fruits will make semolina porridge more attractive for the baby. The main thing is that they are fresh and juicy, which will only add benefits to the dish. Sweet fruits will replace sugar, which is harmful to the child's body.
An excellent breakfast is semolina porridge with apple, for the preparation of which you will need:
- Milk – 150 milliliters;
- Water – 150 milliliters;
- Semolina – 1.5-2 tablespoons;
- Apple – 1 piece.
How to cook semolina with milk for a child with an apple:
- The fruits need to be peeled, pitted and grated, then stewed with a little water and half the butter;
- Bring milk and water to a boil, carefully pour in the cereal and add the apple;
- Cook over low heat, stirring constantly;
- After 5-7 minutes, remove the pan from the heat. By this time the contents will thicken. All that remains is to add butter if desired and leave the dish covered for 20 minutes.
Instead of an apple, you can add a banana. It must be crushed with a fork in advance and placed before the start of the meal. You can do the same with pears, after chopping them in any way. If your baby has already become familiar with berries, they will be an excellent substitute for fruit. Strawberries, wild strawberries, and raspberries are added to semolina porridge.
Porridge with berries
Other recipes
Semolina for a child can also be prepared with vegetables, for example, carrots. For this you will need:
- Semolina – 2 tablespoons;
- Milk – 250 milliliters;
- Carrots – 1 piece;
- Salt and sugar - to taste.
Bring the milk to a boil in a saucepan. It can be diluted with a small amount of water. After this, add carrots, chopped on a fine grater. Boil for 10-15 minutes until the vegetable becomes soft. Then carefully add the cereal, stirring the dish constantly. After 5-7 minutes, add sugar and salt. You can add butter and remove the pan from the heat. Let the porridge brew for 10-15 minutes, then you can offer it to your baby. Another original recipe that the little ones will love and will not leave parents indifferent is semolina porridge with pumpkin.
For it, in addition to 6-7 teaspoons of semolina and a glass of milk, you need to prepare:
- Water – 200 milliliters;
- Pumpkin – 300-350 grams;
- Sugar, salt - to taste.
First you need to prepare the pumpkin: remove the peel and remove the seeds. Grate the pulp, this will reduce the cooking time. You can cut it into arbitrary pieces. They use not only fresh vegetables, but also frozen ones.
You need to boil the pumpkin in a small amount of water until it becomes soft. The vegetable should be easily pierced with a fork or wooden stick. After this, pour in milk, water and bring the contents to a boil. Then carefully add the semolina and stir the contents. After boiling, boil for 5-7 minutes, add sugar, salt and remove the pan from the heat. If you want a soft, delicate consistency, add a small piece of butter. All that remains is to simmer the cooked porridge for 10-15 minutes without lifting the lid.
Step by step process
How to prepare semolina porridge for a 1 year old child:
- First of all, you need to rinse the saucepan with cold water, wipe it and pour in the required amount of milk.
- Place the pan over medium heat and bring the milk to a boil.
- Add a pinch of granulated sugar and salt.
- Add semolina in a thin stream, stirring the porridge.
- Cook for about five minutes.
- As soon as the cereal swells, remove the saucepan from the heat.
- Add oil to the semolina.
- Using a whisk, beat the resulting mass and decorate with fresh berries.
To get a more delicate and airy consistency, many chefs advise grinding the finished porridge through a blender or mixer.
The benefits of semolina porridge for baby nutrition
All experts agree that for the benefits of semolina it is important to adhere to the timing of its inclusion in the baby’s diet. The first complementary feeding begins with vegetables, only after three weeks are grains introduced. This is due to the fact that the baby’s gastrointestinal tract is not yet ready to digest cereals, and the enzymes secreted by the pancreas are not able to digest large amounts of carbohydrates.
Children's nutritionists are not against semolina in a baby's diet. They say that its beneficial effect on the gastrointestinal tract has been proven; dishes based on this cereal are included in the diet. The main benefit of semolina is that it flushes out minerals and prevents hypercalcemia (disorders of calcium metabolism) in the body. Porridge, including semolina, is a source of carbohydrates, minerals, B vitamins, and vegetable protein.
Composition and nutritional value
It is believed that the nutritional value of any porridge depends on the composition of the cereal from which it is made. Semolina has such valuable composition as:
- High content of vitamins B, E, PP;
- Replenishes the energy expenditure of a child who begins to move actively;
- The protein content is close to buckwheat and rice;
- High content of amino acids and minerals: potassium, magnesium, sodium, calcium, phosphorus.
Due to the fact that semolina is rich in starch, it belongs to the group of hearty cereals, so its consumption should be strictly dosed. Nutritionists recommend when you can give semolina porridge to a baby - once every ten days.
Despite the obvious valuable properties of semolina, its harm is also noted. For example, cereal does not allow the child’s body to fully absorb vitamin D and contains gluten, which causes allergic reactions.
Step by step process
Recipe for semolina porridge for a 1 year old child:
- Pour water into the saucepan and bring it to a boil.
- Gradually add the cereal, remembering to constantly stir the porridge to avoid the appearance of lumps.
- If you prefer to feed your baby a thinner porridge, cook for about five minutes. But if your baby loves thick semolina, then the cooking time increases to ten minutes.
- Now pour in the hot, but not boiled, milk.
- We add a little sugar, since small children are prohibited from consuming this product excessively.
- Now add a pinch of salt, stir and remove the semolina from the heat.
- Add a slice of butter and beat the porridge with a mixer until pureed.
Semolina is a rather complex and unique dish. Some mothers are able to cook this cereal right away, but others have to try. Don't be upset if the semolina porridge doesn't work out the first time. Try new recipes, change the cooking time - and you will succeed!
Abuse of semolina
Why are pediatricians categorically against semolina and consider it harmful if bread is also made from wheat?
Semolina is not harmful for children: abuse of this cereal is harmful.
It is very important how many times a day the child is fed with it. If a mother feeds her baby only semolina, the recipe for which is simple and does not take much time to prepare, there is a risk of rickets.
How many times a day should you eat semolina to reduce your immunity? If you feed your baby one type of food every day, a breakdown in the immune system is inevitable. This applies not only to this type of cereal.
At what age is semolina considered healthy? The correct time for complementary feeding (and how many times to eat porridge) will be determined by the local pediatrician.
Some babies need semolina from the age of six months, while for others it may not be suitable at all.
Cooking method
Our actions are as follows:
- Pour the water into a saucepan and place on medium heat.
- Carefully add the semolina as soon as the liquid boils.
- Don't forget to constantly stir the porridge with a whisk.
- Then add salt and sugar.
- Stir and cook for five minutes.
- Turn off the heat, cut off the required amount of butter and put it in a saucepan.
- Cover the pan with a lid and give the butter time to completely melt.
Before eating, you can add chopped fresh berries, raisins or raspberry jam.
Now you know how to prepare semolina porridge for a 1 year old child, the recipe for which is above. You can choose what to use when cooking cereals - water or milk. With milk, semolina is more nutritious and aromatic, but porridge cooked in water has lower calorie content.
How to cook porridge for a child
Lactose-free formula for newborns
Preparing semolina porridge is not difficult; it cooks quite quickly. The main thing is not to overcook the dish on the stove, otherwise it will lose its beneficial properties.
Compound
You can cook porridge with water or milk. We must not forget that it is recommended for children after one year. At this age, milk can already be included in the diet; the digestive system is able to absorb the product.
Semolina with milk
To prepare semolina porridge with milk, you will need 4 teaspoons of cereal. This amount is enough for 1 serving. In addition, you will need:
- Milk and water - 130-150 milliliters each;
- Sugar - to taste.
How to cook semolina with milk for a child:
- Pour liquids into a saucepan or saucepan;
- Place on low heat;
- It is better to sift the cereal through a sieve in advance;
- When the contents of the pan boil, gradually add semolina and sugar. It is necessary to stir the contents during cooking;
- After everything boils, wait a couple of minutes and remove the dish from the heat;
- Stir again, this will get rid of lumps that small children do not like. Leave the porridge for 10-15 minutes with the lid closed.
After it has infused and cooled to body temperature, give it to the baby. Before this, you can put a small piece of butter in the dish. This will give the semolina a delicate taste. You can add more milk to make the porridge liquid. Then the baby will easily drink it from the baby bottle.
Baby drinks from a bottle
Semolina without milk
Porridge with water can be offered to children who are not familiar with milk. For 4 teaspoons of cereal you will need 250 milliliters of liquid. You also need to prepare:
- Sugar – ½ tablespoon;
- Salt - a pinch.
How to cook semolina in water for a child, step-by-step instructions:
- The liquid must be brought to a boil and slowly add the cereal. To prevent lumps from appearing in the finished dish, you need to constantly stir the contents of the pan or stewpan;
- After boiling again, cook for no more than five minutes;
- Add salt, sugar and mix gently again;
- Add a piece of butter if desired, leave the semolina to simmer under the lid for a quarter of an hour. After the dish has cooled, you can offer it to your baby.
The benefits of semolina
Semolina is obtained from wheat grains by grinding using a special technology. The size of the grains varies from 0.2 to 0.7 mm. Made from soft, hard and combined varieties of wheat.
The composition of semolina is varied and useful:
- tocopherol (E);
- B vitamins;
- a nicotinic acid;
- calcium, magnesium, potassium, phosphorus, silicon.
The dish contains a significant amount of carbohydrates, so it is considered energy-intensive and rich. Due to the strong grinding by the body, it happens quickly and easily.
When properly introduced into the diet, semolina porridge brings benefits to the developing body in the following ways:
- Replenishes energy reserves.
- The functioning of the nervous system improves.
- The condition of the skeletal system is normalized and teeth growth accelerates.
- Has enveloping properties. Does not irritate the digestive system.
- Strengthens the heart and blood vessels.
- Increases defenses.
- Contributes to the normal functioning of the body.
It is recommended to include semolina porridge in the diet after severe operations and illnesses for complete recovery of the body.
Porridge norms for 1 year
Although semolina porridge is considered a healthy dish, it has a number of contraindications. Thus, it impairs the absorption of calcium and vitamin D, which are necessary for a growing child’s body. Due to the large amount of semolina, iron is not absorbed in full. That is why the introduction of porridge is delayed for up to a year. Even then, you should adhere to the recommended standards so as not to harm the little person.
Serving Size
The serving size per year does not exceed 180-200 grams. There is no need to force a child to eat. It’s not scary if he gets less food one day and more on another.
The baby eats porridge by himself
Note! When your little one tries semolina porridge for the first time, you should offer him half a teaspoon. For the first complementary feeding, you need to take 5 grams of cereal per 100 milliliters of liquid.
If the baby responds normally, you can increase the dose without adding other new products at this time. If you observe undesirable reactions, such as skin rashes or stool disorders, you should postpone the introduction of the product for at least a month.
How often to feed
Until the age of three, you should not give semolina to your child more than once a week. If the baby is not inclined to be overweight, then you can offer the dish twice in 7 days.
Semolina porridge is a popular breakfast option for children and adults. It should be offered to a child only after one year, so as not to harm the body. The digestive system of a one-year-old baby is ready to meet a new ingredient. Different cooking methods will help diversify a dish familiar from childhood. Fruits and vegetables added to porridge will not only create a new taste, but also provide additional benefits.
From how many months can you give semolina to your baby?
When breastfeeding or bottle-feeding, complementary foods are introduced 6 months after birth, when the baby is not full of breast milk or formula. Therefore, the developing organism must be properly prepared for adult food.
Semolina and dishes made from it are not the ingredients that should be included in the diet of a child in good health. Porridge can cause constipation or, conversely, diarrhea. As an exception - premature, weak and malnourished babies with underweight. This group of children is allowed to introduce semolina, but after consultation and examination by a specialist.
Pediatricians recommend cooking buckwheat and rice with milk for the first complementary foods.
According to doctors, semolina porridge for children is recommended to be given no earlier than 8 months, and if they are prone to allergies, at 1 year. At this age, the digestive system is already stronger and copes well with the absorption of heavy foods.
Up to 3 years of age, feeding a child porridge is allowed no more than once every 7 days.
To prevent an inadequate reaction of the body to a new product, porridge must be properly introduced into the diet and in small portions. It is prohibited to add new ingredients to the diet, as it will be unclear which component caused the allergy.
Is it possible to use cooked semolina porridge in water as a first complementary food? Yes, according to pediatricians, this is the best option for a child aged 8 months. Initially, you need to give the child 10 grams to try. In the absence of rashes or discomfort in the intestines, the amount of food consumed is increased to 100 grams per meal.
Semolina is rich in gluten, so it can cause constipation.
In some cases, there is a need to feed the baby earlier than the specified time. Then the question arises: “When can you give semolina porridge to a baby?” If the child does not have colic, then it can be administered from 2 months, otherwise from 3-4. So, at a small age they prepare 5% porridge, and for children over six months old - 10%. Before administration, be sure to consult a specialist.
After porridge is completely included in the diet, it can be cooked with milk. For children with poor sleep who wake up at night with the need for food, it is allowed to give the baby porridge before bed.
Other recipes with semolina for children
Manno-carrot soufflé (from 1 year)
To prepare this dish, take 60 g of semolina and 400 ml of water, as well as one chicken egg, 100 g of carrots, sugar to taste and 5 g of butter. Carrots in this recipe can be replaced with pumpkin or apples.
- Cook porridge from semolina and water.
- Separate the egg into yolk and white.
- Add butter to the semolina, as well as the yolk mashed with sugar.
- Grate the carrots on a fine grater and add to the porridge, mixing well.
- Beat the egg white and gently fold into the semolina-carrot mixture.
- Place the mixture in a greased mold and cook for about 30 minutes in a double boiler or water bath.
Potato soup with semolina dumplings (from 1.5 years old)
This delicious, nutritious soup makes a great lunch dish. To prepare it you will need 1 liter of water, 2 potatoes, large carrots, small onion, 1 egg, 2 tbsp. spoons of semolina, butter, salt and herbs.
The preparation will be like this:
- Finely chop the onion and grate the peeled carrots on a fine grater. Simmer them in a small amount of water until soft.
- Peel and cut the potatoes into pieces, place them in boiling water and cook until half cooked.
- Brew semolina with boiling water to make a thick porridge. Cool slightly, add the egg, salt and mix.
- Add stewed carrots and onions to the water with potatoes.
- Take a teaspoon of the semolina mixture and drop it into the boiling soup to make dumplings.
- Bring all ingredients until ready.
- Sprinkle the finished soup in a bowl with fresh herbs.
Mannik (from 2-3 years old)
This tender and tasty pastry is prepared from semolina, kefir and sugar, using 1 cup of each ingredient. Also in the traditional recipe there are 2-3 eggs and a teaspoon of baking powder. You can add apples, berries, dried fruits and other ingredients to the dough.
Mannik is prepared like this:
- Pour room temperature kefir over semolina.
- After 30-40 minutes, combine the swollen cereal with kefir with eggs beaten with sugar.
- Add baking powder, mix thoroughly.
- Pour the batter into the pan and bake for about 40 minutes in the oven until golden brown.
See the opinion of specialists from the program “Live Healthy” on the introduction of semolina porridge into the diet of young children in the program.
How to choose the right cereal
Stool in newborns during breastfeeding
Semolina is produced from ground wheat and is divided into brands depending on its variety. The difference between brands is the ratio of fiber, protein and starch:
- “M” brand cereal is produced from soft wheat varieties, contains a minimal amount of fiber and ash, is poor in proteins, but rich in starch. It makes porridges and casseroles;
- Brand “T” is prepared from durum varieties, contains more ash and fiber, much less starch, and therefore is more healthy. It is good to use for preparing sweet dishes or for adding to soups;
- The “MT” brand is made from soft wheat with an admixture of durum wheat and occupies an intermediate position between the two varieties, therefore it has a peculiar balance between taste and quality.
It is advisable to choose the brand of semolina in accordance with the nutritional requirements of the infant
It is better to buy semolina in plastic bags. This makes it possible to see the flowability of the cereal and ensures that no moisture has entered the packaging. In addition, you can find troubles in the form of small pebbles and bugs.
The color and quality of the cereal also matters when purchasing. The grains must be the same in color and size. If they are not uniform, you won’t get good porridge without lumps. “M” brand cereals are usually opaque, mealy, white or cream in color. Brand “T” consists of grains of rich color (from cream to yellowish), which have a ribbed shape. In the “MT” brand, the grains are translucent and yellowish in color.
Disadvantages of semolina
Despite all the positive properties, scientists have identified a number of negative properties in cereals. Let's figure out why children should not be given semolina porridge:
- Unlike other types of cereals, semolina is inferior in nutritional value. It contains a varied amount of vitamins and minerals, but in small doses.
- It is considered the record holder for the content of the protein compound gluten. It is quite difficult for the gastrointestinal tract of a small child to digest this type of food, and severe allergies may also occur.
- The presence of phytin reduces the absorption of vital minerals. This is why semolina porridge should not be given to children under one year of age.
- Glyodine is a substance that negatively affects the functioning of the digestive system when feeding young children.
- Excessive consumption of baby semolina poses a risk of gaining excess body weight.
