When asked to switch from normal rice to brown rice, the decision seems like a no-brainer for adults. But just like any other food item, it is important to know the right time to give it to your baby and the right manner of giving it.
Brown rice is known to have many nutrients in it and is also quite compatible with many other food items. Brown rice for baby’s first food is a pretty good choice since the chances of it having any allergies to it is extremely low.
Brown rice that is prepared at home is the safest option to give to your baby. Most people recommend introducing your baby to solid food items only after they turn 6 months old. Hence you can start giving brown rice to your little one once he turns 6 months old.
In a 100g serving of cooked brown rice, the nutrients present are as follows:
Description | Quantity |
Vitamin B1 | 0.401 mg |
Vitamin B2 | 0.093 mg |
Vitamin B3 | 5.091 mg |
Vitamin B5 | 1.493 mg |
Vitamin B6 | 0.509 mg |
Vitamin B9 | 20 mcg |
Carbohydrates | 77.24 g |
Sugar | 0.85 g |
Fibre | 3.5 g |
Fat | 2.92 g |
Proteins | 7.94 g |
Water | 10.37 g |
Calcium | 23 mg |
Iron | 1.47 mg |
Magnesium | 143 mg |
Manganese | 3.743 mg |
Phosphorous | 333 mg |
Potassium | 223 mg |
Sodium | 7 mg |
Zinc | 2.02 mg |
Source: https://www.verywellfamily.com/brown-rice-nutrition-information-for-babys-first-year-284323
Following are some of the health benefits of brown rice for your baby.
Here are a few tips on how to store and choose brown rice.
When purchasing any packets of uncooked brown rice from the market, double-check the expiry dates on them.
At home, these rice packets should be stored in the fridge. The reason is that the brown rice still has the oily germ cover on it, which is not present in white rice. If this is exposed to room temperature, the heat can turn the rice rancid.
Once cooked, the bacteria present in the rice can multiply rather quickly on storage. Ideally, the rice can last for up to 4 days in the fridge. However, it is best to cook only the amount of rice that is required and throw away any leftover to avoid infection.
Another way to store cooked brown rice is to cool it down quickly after cooking and freeze it immediately. Such frozen brown rice packets can be stored in the freezer for as long as 6 months at a time.
A brown rice puree for baby is the best way to introduce your baby to brown rice. This is done by cooking brown rice inside a cooker. A quarter cup of rice powder mixed with a couple of cups of water should be stirred properly and constantly.
In very few cases, trace levels of arsenic have been observed in brown rice. On a general level, however, the chances of encountering arsenic are negligible when purchasing authentic brown rice or organic brown rice, and the health benefits are much higher.
Any allergic reaction that a baby has after consuming brown rice is probably because of other ingredients present in it. These are primarily gluten and wheat, which are mixed with brown rice, and may result in an allergic reaction.
You can try these simple and healthy brown rice recipes for kids.
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Yes, brown rice takes a comparatively longer time than white rice to be cooked properly. However, the cooking time can be reduced by taking the required amount of brown rice in advance and soaking it through the night the previous day itself. The same soaking water can then be used for cooking in order to retain all nutrients.
The presence of arsenic in brown rice is something that has been observed in a few samples. In research, brown rice syrup was known to have an amount of arsenic that was nearly 6 times more than the safe amount. Although most people use brown rice syrup to sweeten food items, most baby foods do not and should not make use of artificial sweeteners or sugars.
In case the baby is lactose intolerant or has an allergy to soy, brown rice milk can be given to the baby, after consultation with the doctor.
Fermentation increases the nutritive value of the rice. However, it is important that the fermented rice is stored properly in the fridge for use before feeding the baby.
With long grains, the absence of gluten, and a higher amount of amino acids, brown basmati rice builds on the existing nutrition and is great for babies.
The nutritive value of instant brown rice is highly reduced due to the process it undergoes. Therefore, it is best to give normal fresh brown rice.
The nutrition of brown rice and the versatility of use in various recipes makes it extremely useful as a food item for babies. In any case, get a quick recommendation from your doctor about the amount of brown rice to be added to your baby’s diet and you are all good to go!