Wanting to mix it up from the usual baby cereals?! A homemade quinoa baby cereal is a great option! This recipe is so easy to make and gives a great boost of protein and iron from the quinoa.
When can a baby start having quinoa?
Babies can have quinoa as soon as they are showing readiness to start solids, such as being able to hold their head steady, show interest in food, and sit with minimal support. For more information on signs of readiness to start solids, check out this article here.
The great thing about this recipe, is you can puree the quinoa baby cereal into a smooth consistency, or you can leave it slightly lumpier for a more textured option!
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Ingredients
- water or coconut milk
- quinoa
- breast milk or formula
- optional – any additional mix-ins (berries, banana, steamed apple, applesauce, yogurt, smooth nut butter, leftover soft veggies)
See recipe card for quantities.
Instructions
Add the quinoa and water or coconut milk to either a rice cooker or prepare the quinoa on stove top according to package instructions.
Once you have the cooked quinoa, add the quinoa and liquid of choice (water, breastmilk, formula) to a blender and blend until smooth.
Dish out into a bowl and mix in any desired toppings.
Serve to your little one!
Substitutions
- Quinoa – You can use any colour quinoa for this recipe
Variations
There are so many variations you can do with this recipe!
- Fruity – add some chopped strawberries, flatten some blueberries, or add in some mashed bananas.
- Cinnamon apple – Add in 2 tablespoons unsweetened apple sauce or some mashed steamed apples (with peel removed) and a pinch of cinnamon.
- PB and banana – add 1 teaspoon of smooth nut butter (peanut or almond) and 2 tablespoons mashed banana
- Yogurt – add 2 tablespoon full fat Greek Yogurt and a dash of cinnamon or 1 teaspoon of ground flaxseed
Equipment
I love making quinoa in a rice cooker. It is so easy and you don’t have to worry about any overflowing water in any pots or keeping an eye on a stove top. Of course if you don’t have one, a stove top pot will work just fine!
Storage
The quinoa baby cereal can be stored in the fridge for 3-4 days or in the freezer for up to 3 months! I suggest only adding the toppings right before serving.
Top tip
This can be a great recipe to batch cook and store in individual portions. A silicone freezing tray is a great option for portioning out, popping in the freezer, and then when ready to use, you can just pop the serving out of the tray and thaw overnight!
FAQ
Yes! Babies can start to have quinoa once they are showing signs of readiness to start solids (generally around 6 months of age). Quinoa is such a great food for babies, providing iron, protein and those wonderful omega-3 fatty acids, which are great for the brain! Quinoa actually has double the protein of other whole grains such as rice.
Yes! This recipe shows you how! It is so simple, and such a great option to include as a morning breakfast.
No, quinoa is not considered one of the common allergens. If you do have concerns regarding your baby having allergies to whole grains, please speak to your child’s doctor or an allergist.
Recipe
Baby Quinoa Cereal
Ingredients
- ½ cup quinoa
- 1 cup water or coconut milk
- ⅓ cup breast milk or formula
- 2 tablespoons optional toppings
Instructions
- Add the quinoa and liquid to a rice maker or a pot on the stove top. Prepare the quinoa according to package instructions.
- Once the quinoa is cooked, blend the breast milk or formula with the quinoa until smooth or desired consistency.
- Mix in your toppings of choosing! Flattened blueberries, mashed banana, or yogurt are all great options.
Related
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