All parents always try to choose the best food for their children, especially when they are still babies. Baby food should be healthy and natural, but sometimes it can be difficult for parents to figure out what products are beneficial and healthy for their little angels. If you would love to know why guinea corn and millet are good for your babies, then keep reading this article for more information.
Every aspect of your life can be directly or indirectly affected by what you consume, this is why we always try to give our children only healthy and natural food. In this article, we are going to look through why people give guinea corn and millet to their children and the health benefits of these products.
Health benefits of guinea corn
Guinea corn is known as a nutritional energy inducer because it rich in protein, cellulose and other micronutrients such as:
- iron;
- B-vitamins;
- copper;
- calcium;
- potassium.
Guinea corn is a rich source of tannins and three-deoxy anthocyanidins, which help to suppress the growth of colon cancer cells.
Another advantage of guinea corn is that it contributes to the health of the digestive tract. In other words, with the help of it, you can live a life free of common problems related with digestion. So, if you want your children to stay healthy and boost their immune system and digestion, you should add guinea corn to their diet.
Baby food in Nigeria with guinea corn
There is a healthy dish called Kunu Geida, which is cooked with dried nuts and guinea corn or millet. Your child will begin to gain weight and grow quicker if he/she eats this meal regularly. This food is rich in carbohydrates, proteins and fats which are needed for child’s growth. Please note that this food is recommended for children from six months.
Guinea corn can also be added to pap for babies to make an even more nutritious meal. Pap is well-known in Nigeria and almost every mother knows how to prepare, it is also considered the Nigerian version of English custard, and very good for infants.
In general, guinea corn plays a big role in babies’ meals because it supplies the necessary quantity of proteins, carbohydrates and vitamins for the kid’s growth. It can be further enriched with fruit purees, milk and even crayfish.
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Health benefits of millet
Millet is considered by many as “bird seed”, but it is also a versatile and nutritious grain to add to your baby’s nutrition. Millet can be prepared creamy and soft or made into couscous, it can even be used as the main ingredient in pilaf.
This grain is rich in phosphorus, B vitamins, potassium, iron, magnesium, and is considered a good source of protein.
Millet is a very nutritious product that is rich in the following vitamins:
- Niacin;
- Vitamin A;
- Vitamin C;
- Vitamin B1 (thiamine);
- Vitamin B2 (riboflavin);
- Folate.
Also, it includes such minerals as:
- Iron;
- Potassium;
- Manganese;
- Phosphorus;
- Copper;
- Magnesium;
- Sodium;
- Calcium;
- Zinc.
Guinea corn and millet for babies
It is a well-known fact that guinea corn helps children gain weight; so, if your baby has problems with gaining weight, simply add guinea corn to his meals. Every mother cares about her baby’s health and wants to do everything that is possible to improve it, the best and most effective way to help improve your child’s diet is to enhance the intake of calories, important minerals and vitamins.
Millet is also a very nutritious grain for babies. Like guinea corn, millet is useful for kid’s growth and is rich in minerals and vitamins such as B-vitamins, potassium, iron, phosphorus, magnesium, etc. What is more, it is a good protein source.
All these foods discussed above can be added to your child’s meal plan when they are up to 7 to 8 months old. They are very healthy and gluten-free. In general, guinea corn and millet are easily digestible, very nutritious, and are considered two of the least allergenic grain. This is why they are so popular in Nigeria and all over the world.
So, when thinking about healthy food for your babies, do not forget about guinea corn and millet; we wish your baby healthy growth and all the best!
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Source: Naij.com