Sprouted Cereals for Baby

Culinary tools 

• High-power blender or food processor
• Cheese germoir or vegetable milk bag

Ingredients

• ½ cup whole grain (brown rice or oatmeal or millet or hulled barley)
• 1 tsp. lemon juice
• Soaking water

Preparation

• Place ½ cup of whole grain in a sieve and rinse thoroughly under cold water to remove impurities. Drain.
• Transfer rinsed and drained grains to a glass bowl. Cover with water (preferably filtered) and add 1 tsp lemon juice. Lemon juice breaks down phytic acid and improves assimilation of the minerals present in the grain..
• Cover with a clean cloth and leave to stand for 8 hours at room temperature.
• Drain rinsing water. Rinse and drain grains.
• Transfer grains to a sprouter, vegetable milk bag or cheesecloth bundle to activate the germination process. Rinse grains 2 to 4 times a day.
• Repeat until sprouts emerge from the grains like little white tails. This will take from 36 hours to 4 days, depending on grain type and environmental conditions.
• Rinse sprouts thoroughly under cold water and place on a clean towel. Leave to dry for 4 hours.
• Once the grains are completely dry, transfer them to a medium-sized frying pan heated on a low setting.
• Roast, stirring constantly, for 2 to 3 minutes, or until lightly browned.
• Remove from heat and transfer to a plate to cool.
• Place cooled beans in a high-powered blender to reduce to a fine powder.
• Boil two parts water to one part cereal in a small saucepan for 5 minutes. Transfer cooked cereal to individual ice-cube molds. Freeze and remove desired portion a few hours before serving, to allow to thaw in ambient air. Cereals can also be thawed in a bain-marie. Liquefy cereal with breast milk or formula as needed.

Frequently asked questions

Does this baby cereal contain enough iron?

Although this recipe doesn't include added iron like commercial baby cereals, the soaked, sprouted grains provide superior nutrition to unsprouted cereals. For added sources of iron, supplement a meal of sprouted baby cereal with pureed spinach, green peas or sprouted baby lentil powder.

To make sprouted lentil powder for baby, repeat the recipe and its preparation steps, replacing the grains with lentils.

In what order should I introduce sprouted grain cereals to my baby?

It's best to introduce gluten-free grains first. Rice, oats, millet and amaranth are good grains to introduce first. After introducing each grain one at a time, you can mix them up and add more complex grains such as quinoa and barley.

I've heard that young children shouldn't be given sprouts. Are there any risks for my baby in eating sprouted grains?

Germination is a process that takes place in a moist environment. It is this moist environment that enables the seeds to activate the germination process. However, it is also the environment in which certain pathogens such as salmonella and e.coli can develop or proliferate. For this reason, young children should not consume sprouts. Because of this risk, we've included the step of cooking sprouted grains in the frying pan. Roasting sprouts destroys all bacteria.

Is it possible to make homemade baby cereals without sprouting?

Sprouting improves the protein and fiber content, as well as the bioavailability of the vitamins and minerals present in the grains. However, if you're not comfortable offering sprouted grains to your child, or if you don't have the time to activate sprouting, skip steps 5 and 6 of the recipe. To learn more about the benefits of sprouting, visit our article on the subject.

About the author

Naturopaths of La Boite à Grains

Team of licensed and certified naturopaths (ND) in Gatineau, Outaouais.

Original article written by Véronique Cousineau, Naturopath