“I am a tiny ancient grain, untouched by modern cultivation practices, organic and free of pesticides and an excellent source of calcium. What am I?”Here is a riddle. Any guesses to what’s the answer? Ragi, Nachani or Finger Millet or to give its scientific name Eleusinecoracana.

Whether it’s a baby, child, teenager, adult or the elderly ragi is a millet that deserves to be incorporated in their diet. Typically, when the baby is 6 months old complementary foods are introduced, as recommended by WHO, in a baby’s diet. Breast milk alone is not enough now to meet the growing requirements of the baby and so in addition to breast milk solid foods are introduced at this stage which is often referred to as Stage 1. So, what makes ragia versatile millet of choice in a 6 -month baby’s diet? Its immense nutrition and health advantages coupled with the fact that it is cheap and easy on the pocket and to make.

Here are the 5 benefits of ragifor babies which every mother should know at her fingertips:

1. Organic: Your precious baby is delicate and the last thing you would want is to subject his/her tender body to harmful chemicals and pesticides which are used in modern cultivation practices. Most of the cereals that are now grown are exposed to harmful pesticides but thankfully millets like ragi, bajra and barley are spared from these and are hence organic ragi baby foods.

2. Easy to digest: The baby’s enzymes in the gut are developing around 6 months of age so it is important that baby foods like ragi which are easy to digest are given to your little one.

3. Calcium- yum, yum: Did you know that ragi has 3 times more calcium (364mg%) than milk (120mg%) and thirteen times that of bajra (27 mg%)! Between 6-12 months of age, your baby needs 500 mg of calcium each day which is vital for your baby’s teeth and bone development.Ragi as a baby food is delicious as well as an excellent source of calcium.

4. Goodbye to constipation: The fact that ragi has a fibre content means your baby will pass stools easily and it’s goodbye to constipation and tears.

5. Gluten free: Gluten is a protein found in wheat and wheat-based products. Some babies are sensitive to gluten and cannot digest this protein. Since ragi is gluten free it is suitable for even babies who are gluten sensitive.

So, whether your baby is 6,8, 10 months old make sure to include ragi in your baby’s diet. How can you include ragi in your baby’s diet? The versatility of ragi makes it is easy to incorporate it in the baby’s diet. You don’t need expensive, commercial complementary foods for your baby’s growth and health. You can make cheap, ready to cook mixes or ready to eat organic baby foods at home with ragi. Here’s how.

Ragi malt can be made by soaking and sprouting the ragi, after which it is dried, then roasted and ground into a powder. This ragi malt powder can be stored in an airtight container and used to make ragi porridge, sheera, halwa and so on. The germination of ragi improves the bioavailability of nutrients so that the baby’s body can easily absorb them.

If you are super busy and don’t have time to germinate the ragi here is what you can do. Simply roast the ragi till the aroma wafts out. Once cool grind into a fine powder and store in an airtight container. This ragi powder can then be used just like ragi malt to make an array of dishes for your baby.

Content Source: https://babystaples1.blogspot.com/2019/06/benefits-of-ragi.html

The first two years of a baby’ life are crucial years during which they need to receive the right nutrition in order to grow without complications. As a parent, it is essential to ensure that you choose special diet plan for 6 month baby and right foods for your baby, foods that will provide them the nutrition they require. This is where organic baby foods comes in.

Choosing the right foods for your baby also involves considering not only the finished product but also where the food comes from and the process of production. With organic food, you can be confident that every aspect of the food your baby consumes is as safe and healthy as it can get. Organic food, as the name suggests, is grown as organically as possible, without using external products for modification. So, whether you are feeding your baby meat, fruits or vegetables, you know for sure that you are putting no harmful substances in their body and if you buy organic baby food online make sure it follow below parameters.

Below, we discuss the reasons why organic is the best option for your growing baby:

Organic baby food has no GMOs

Genetically modified organisms or GMOs are sometimes added to food products to modify the natural condition of the food. For instance, some genetically modified foods have delayed ripening, while some may resist pests. This is a cause of concern for many as it is not something natural, even though the FDA has said that GMO foods are safe. With food that is certified organic, you don’t have to worry about any unwanted GMOs in your baby’s food.

Organic baby food is free from pesticides

Today, many crops are grown with the help of pesticides, many of which are known to be harmful to human health. When such conventionally-grown foods are sprayed with pesticides, they often leave residues on the Baby food/organic baby food that your baby consumes. Many crop-growers use not only pesticides but other fertilizers such as herbicides and fungicides, all of which are known to be harmful. Even though there has been a safe level of pesticide residue decided, it is still very risky to feed your baby food containing chemicals and with organic food, you don’t have to worry about this.

Organic baby food does not contain antibiotics

In the U.S, livestock is the largest consumer of antibiotics. Many experts have spoken about how the overuse of antibiotics on livestock contributes to the development of resistant strains of bacteria. As a result, about 2 million people in the U.S contract antibiotic-resistant infections every year. Out of these people, about 23,000 die from these infections. Babies are extremely vulnerable to these, and feeding them organic food ensures that they are free from such infections.

Organic baby food does not contain added hormones

Many livestock today are injected with hormones so that they can grow larger in a short period of time. According to results of research, dairy cows that are treated with rBGH, a growth hormone, produce milk that contains ten times more IGF or insulin growth factor when compared to cows that are not treated. The scary part is that many studies have found a correlation between high IGF levels and cancer. This is just one example of many. Livestock is injected with all kinds of hormones, which may pose a threat to the health of your baby.

Organic baby food is free from all kinds of unsafe ingredients

Many food products today contain all kinds of ingredients which are meant for different purposes like increasing their shelf-life, changing their color, enhancing their taste, etc. These ingredients are often unsafe for our health and are also suspected of triggering hyperactivity in kids. With Best baby food products, you get to feed your baby food that contains only safe and nutritious ingredients like whole fruits and vegetables, grains like barley, millets, oats, etc.

It is important to make sure to include fresh fruits and vegetables in your baby’s diet as this will ensure they receive the right nutrition naturally. Not only are these easy to digest for the baby, but they are also highly unlikely to cause an allergic reaction. Vegetables like carrots, butternut squash, sweet potato, broccoli, and zucchini are great options, while fruits like bananas, apples, pears, and peaches will provide the required nutrition.

On top of fruits and vegetables, ancient grains such as millets, oats, and barley are great choices of food for babies. At around 4 to 6 months old, babies are ready to consume solid food, which is a great time to feed your baby grains, fruits, vegetables, and other organic foods.

Content Source: http://www.the-north-face.net.co/why-organic-baby-food-is-a-best-start/

Preparing a highly nutritious meal for your child is very important as it plays a great role in improving the mental as well as physical health of your baby. Babies require a large amount of protein, vitamins, and minerals as they are growing. While there is a great demand for organic baby foods, you also have to use some other natural food items so that your baby gets a good and wholesome meal. In this article, we will try to share with you some of the food that is good for your baby.

While nutrition is essential for the proper growth and development of a baby, fibre also plays an important role in keeping the digestive tract clean and preventing constipation. You may have heard that many people suggest Ragi for babies as it, not only fulfils the energy need of the kid but also thanks to the high fibre content are great for his health. Similarly, oats for babies is also very popular because it is easier to digest, gives bulk to the food and has a big amount of fibre content.

While choosing the right meal for your baby always selects organic food items instead of processed food. There are a lot of reasons why doctors insist on only organic food for your child. Before you start buying organic foods you should know what is organic food. Any food that is grown without using harmful toxins, as well as genetically modified elements in the crop is called organic food.

When you go out in the market looking for organic food, then you may get conned by some unscrupulous businesses that brand their food items as organic but have only 80% to 90% organic items and the rest are all processed. Therefore, whenever you are trying to buy canned food make sure that it is 100% organic. The second part that you should look for when you buy organic food from a well-known brand is whether it is tasty or not. The reason being, however advantageous the food may be for the health of his body, if it is not tasty, then the baby will refuse to eat that food. Therefore, choose such organic food which not only looks good but also tastes heavenly.

Just being an organic food will not help your child a great deal; it must have the requisite nutrients in the large amount. Make sure that the organic food you buy from the stores has all the nutrients that are required by a young body and mind that is growing very fast. The price of food is also very important. You will find that some brands are using the name of fancy food items to jack up the prices of their product. Do some research beforehand to see whether similar kind of organic food products is available in the market for a lesser price. While comparing the prices, you look at the ingredients carefully because food made up of high quality ingredients will obviously cost far more than its rivals that you do not use such quality ingredients in their food dishes.

While there are many options for buying canned organic food for your child, we suggest that you make your own organic food from the raw fruits and vegetables that are available in the market. These are not only fresh but also nutritious and tasty too.

Content Source: http://www.webblogersadda.com/why-organic-food-is-right-for-your-child/

Thanks for joining me!

Good company in a journey makes the way seem shorter. — Izaak Walton