How many of us have sifted through a palmful of dry fruits with our other hand, to weed out those wrinkled ‘Dried Grapes’, more commonly called ‘Raisins’?
Of course, eating a Raisin is only elementary, after we have consumed some of the dry fruits our parents told us we must eat. Dry fruits like almonds and cashews, that is. But did you know, those tiny ‘treats’ are actually highly nutritious in their own right?
In this article, we at EurokIds propose to ‘raise the bar’ when it comes to your knowledge of these tasty treats, and get you to see that Raisins for Babies should form an integral part of their diets. From exploring the many wonderful Benefits of Raisins for Babies, to unlocking some cool Raisin Recipes for Baby, you can rest assured we have all your Raisin Queries answered here. Time for you to raise the bar yourself, and enhance your knowledge of ‘All things Raisins’!
Table of Contents:
- Raisins for Babies: Understanding if Raisins are Good for Babies
- The Benefits of Raisins for Babies
- Cool Raisin Recipes for Baby
Raisins for Babies: Understanding if Raisins are Good for Babies
The first question that might pop into your mind when you associate Raisins with your baby’s diet might be: Will my baby choke on them? The answer is yes, Raisins do pose a Choking Hazard for Babies. Which is why we don’t recommend you feeding whole raisins to your child until they are at least 18 months of age.
That being said, you can allow raisins to be part of that ‘solid-foods’ diet that you gradually initiate Baby into, when they are 6 months of age.
Note: Ideally, you want to first introduce raisins to Baby, as a puree.
Where it comes to answering the question ‘Are Raisins Good for Babies’, the answer is an emphatic ‘Yes!’ They are loaded with dietary fiber, and plenty of essential minerals and vitamins. The following section, which explores The Benefits of Raisins for Babies, will help you better understand why there’s a good reason for feeding raisins to your little one.
The Benefits of Raisins for Babies
There’s plenty of ‘goodness’ packed into raisins. Ultimate ‘taste’, yes, but several essential ‘nutrients’, too!
Presenting the reasons that Raisins for Babies must form an integral part of their diets.
- Great for the Gut
- Great for Constipation
- Help prevent Tooth Decay
- Invaluable for overall Physical and Mental development
- They reduce Blood Pressure
Not only are they good for Baby’s ‘sweet tooth’, but for their ‘gut’, too!
Cool Fact: It is believed that the combination of that dietary fiber and ‘phytochemicals’ that are present in raisins, works towards altering the gut microbiota of kids.
The last thing we want is to see our babies constipated.
Cool Fact: The high amount of dietary fiber in raisins comes to the rescue once again.
Tip: Another option would be to feed your baby juice from those dried grapes. That should work like a dream, when treating them for constipation.
You might be thinking, ‘How can something that is ‘sweet’ be good for my baby’s teeth?’
Cool Fact: This time, it’s those phytochemicals that have another role to play, besides boosting gut health. They play a vital role in reducing bacteria commonly found in the mouth, thereby helping prevent Tooth Decay and even Gum Problems.
It’s when they are small, that our kids develop far more rapidly than we can imagine. When they eat nutritious foods like raisins, that only helps speed that very ‘development.’
Cool Fact: The several Minerals present in raisins, like Phosphorus and Potassium, are responsible for the healthy development of your baby.
If you initiate your baby into eating foods that will lower their blood pressure, it will be extremely beneficial to them in the long run.
Cool Fact: It is believed that there are certain bioactive compounds in raisins like ‘tannins’ and ‘phenols’, that are responsible for lowering blood pressure.
Cool Raisin Recipes for Baby
As we mentioned earlier, you really don;t want to give ‘whole’ raisins to your baby, in the initial stages. So, how do you get them excited enough to eat those raisins? Presenting some cool Raisin Recipes, that will help you do just that!
Recipe #1: Raisins with Apples and Carrots
It’s best to introduce raisins to Baby in the form of a ‘puree’, like in this cool recipe!
Ingredients
- 1 tbsp Raisins
- 1 Apple
- 1 Carrot
- ½ cup Water
- A hint of Nutmeg Powder
Instructions
- Chop the apple and carrot into small pieces, after peeling their skin.
- Add the chopped apple and carrot into a pot of water. Add the nutmeg powder to it.
- Slowly cook the mixture until it is soft.
- When the apple and carrot are just about cooked, toss in the raisins. Then cook till the raisins fluff up.
- Leave the mixture to cool for some time.
- Combine the mix well in a food processor.
- Voila! Your Raisin Puree is ready to be served to Baby.
Recipe #2: Homemade Raisin Syrup
If you’re thinking of getting Baby their daily ‘fix’ of Raisins, there’s no better way than with this cool syrup, with the help of which you can sweeten your baby’s ‘kheer’ or ‘porridge’!
Ingredients
- Water – 1.5 cups
- Raisins – 1 cup
Instructions
- Soak the raisins in hot water for 1 hour.
- Transfer the softened raisins along with the soaked water to a blender, and grind till you get a smooth paste.
- Strain the mixture, pressing it with a spoon to collect even more liquid.
- Boil the ‘Raisin Water’ on low to medium flame, and stir occasionally. Do this till you obtain a ‘thick’ mixture.
- Finally, boil the mixture for around half an hour till you get your thick, dark ‘Raisin Syrup’!
As we have seen, Raisins are a wonderful source of Nutrients, apart from that delectable taste that makes us reach out for them every now and then, as though they might be some sort of ‘guilty snack’. Truth be told, you will feel more guilty if you don’t incorporate Raisins into your Baby’s diet! Get more Raisins from your local supermarket, so you can feed your baby this tasty treat as often as possible. Why should adults have all the fun?
