Floating Leaf Snack Foods For Babies
Floating leaf snacks for babies are a natural way to get your baby to eat healthy, fresh fruit. There are many varieties, from oats to fruit to popped water lily seeds. This article will explore three of the most popular options. Read on to find out which ones are best for your baby! Here are some tips for choosing the right kind of snack food for your baby.
Fruits
It's important to choose fruits carefully when making snacks for your baby. Fresh fruits are packed with fiber, vitamins, and minerals, and they are low in fat and sodium. Try to choose soft fruits if your baby is still a baby, as they pose less of a choking hazard. For easier texture, cut up hard fruits like grapes or berries into smaller pieces. It is also helpful to mash up other fruits that are difficult to chew, such as bananas and strawberries.
Make fruit lollipops using any fruit. Depending on your child's age, use as many or as few as you like. Make sure to wash and cut the fruit before assembling. Then slice them into bite-sized pieces. Add a few pieces to each stick and stir gently to combine. You can help your child assemble the snacks. Keep in mind that this snack is best suited for toddlers around 20 months. Younger kids may find it difficult to maneuver the sticks.
Oatmeal
Oatmeal is an excellent source of fiber. Just a half-cup contains four grams. Fiber can lower the risk of heart disease, diabetes, and cancer. It also keeps the digestive tract healthy and promotes bowel movements. Unfortunately, most people don't get enough fiber. Women should aim for 25 grams a day, while men should eat 38 grams daily. Luckily, there are plenty of options for babies that have oatmeal as one of the ingredients.
Popped water lily seeds
Packed with vitamins, minerals, and a low calorie count, popped water lily seeds are a nutritious snack that can be enjoyed by babies and toddlers. They are also free of cholesterol, saturated fat, and sodium. As part of the water lily family, water lily seeds are a healthy and nutritious alternative to popcorn and can be found in many flavors, including melon, lemon, and vanilla.
One of the main benefits of popped lily seeds is their ancient roots. Archaeologists have discovered lily seed remains in Acheulian hominin deposits in Israel, demonstrating that they were once a significant food source for Homo sapiens. This food has a compelling story, as well, and Makhana, the company that produces it, struggled to find the right positioning in the US market. To help the company launch and grow its business, the team turned to Kitchentown, which supports food start-ups. Co-founder Mallika Chawla was studying for her MBA at the University of California, Berkeley, at the time.
Traditionally, popped lily seeds were eaten by people in Bihar, a state bordering Nepal. Farmers gathered the seeds by hand from the aquatic plant and used bamboo spikes to pop them. They are crunchy and have a neutral flavor, which many people describe as similar to corn puffs. Their umami flavor is mild and is good for your child. Popped water lily seeds can be added to salads, soups, and even curries.
If you're thinking about making popped water lily seeds a popular snack food for babies, you need to read the nutrition facts for the product you are considering. The nutrition information tables will typically focus on the amount per serving, not on the individual serving. For example, a single serving of AshaPops contains 119 kcal and 2.3g of plant protein. In addition, each serving has zero trans-fat, no sugar, and no sodium. Another reason to consider popped water lily seeds as a snack food for babies is that they're gluten-free. Gluten is a common cause of allergies in children, so check out the labels carefully.