When baby porridge noodles and rice instead of just potatoes

Alternative cereal supplements can reduce the risk of gluten intolerance

07/24/2014

If, after a few months, a baby gradually receives porridge as an alternative to the milk meal, the midday porridge usually consists of vegetables, potatoes and meat. On the advice of pediatrician Prof. Hildegard Przyrembel, however, small amounts of pasta or other cereal products could be used more frequently here - because this could reduce the risk of a later gluten allergy.

Conversion to complementary foods should be as slow as possible
At the earliest at the beginning of the fifth, but at the latest at the beginning of the seventh month should parents on the recommendation of the network „Healthy in life“ with her baby with the so-called „supplementary diet“ begin to provide the child with sufficient energy and nutrients. The conversion should be slow, because the child needs a certain amount of time to get used to the new food and to change the digestion. Accordingly, the midday milk meal is usually first replaced with the midday porridge, which usually consists of potatoes, vegetables and meat. But that does not have to be, because „The porridge can be supplemented from time to time by small amounts of pasta or other cereal products“, said Prof. Hildegard Przyrembel, pediatrician in the network Gesund in Leben opposite the news agency „dpa“.

Rice, bulgur or couscous as an alternative to potatoes
In addition to potatoes, the child could therefore not only noodles, but also other cereal side dishes such as rice, bulgur or couscous be offered, which initially best only a small amount should be added to the porridge. In this way, the child can slowly get to the so-called „gluten“ Gluten, meaning proteins which are present in large quantities in wheat and spelled, and in smaller quantities in many other cereals such as rye and barley.

Those affected by Zölliakie must follow strict diet
If the child is already receiving parallel gluten-containing foods during breastfeeding, the risk of subsequent intolerance can be reduced, the expert continues. A promising tip, because who of such a „celiac disease“ affected, must change his entire eating habits in order to stay as symptom-free. If this does not happen, gluten-containing foods can cause inflammation of the small intestinal mucosa in those affected, which means that nutrients can no longer be sufficiently absorbed and typical symptoms such as abdominal pain, diarrhea, flatulence, vomiting, loss of appetite, tiredness and facial tears occur. For a well-balanced diet potatoes should of course still be on the menu for the child: „The floury-boiling potato varieties are best suited because they are especially easy to puree“, so Przyrembel. (Ag)