Baby Food For Thought: Preparing Bulgur For Your Child’s First Meal

One of the joys of being a parent is witnessing your little one’s exciting milestones, like when they have a bite of their first meal.

Entering parenthood is an exciting chapter in our lives, but it comes with its own challenges. For one, feeding your baby gets trickier as they get older. When they reach eight to nine months, it will only be a while before the messy eating phase begins. For first-time parents, nothing will test your creativity more than preparing their first solid food.

There are pre-made options readily available in the market, but if you’re looking for a more wholesome meal, homemade baby food might be a better option. A recent study from the University of Glasgow revealed that baby food from markets contains only half the energy and protein value of homemade meals. Unlike store-bought packs and jars that are thickened with preservatives, preparing their food in the kitchen allows you to choose only the freshest and healthiest ingredients.

For starters, bulgur makes an excellent base for baby food when you’re introducing them to solids. The consistency of whole-grain exposes them to different food textures and encourages them to use their mouths and tongues—an essential part of speech and feeding development. On top of that, the versatility of bulgur wheat makes it a darling to pair with fruits, salads, and other side dishes according to your little one’s liking.

If you’re keen on learning how to create meals to please their tiny palate, start off with a bulgur-based healthy meal. Here’s a quick and easy recipe for the next meal time with family.

What you’ll need:

• 1 cup Duru Fine Bulgur
• 3 bananas
• 100g celery
• 150g carrots
• 2 tbsp of smooth applesauce
• 1 tsp of ginger
• 1 tsp of turmeric

Here’s how to do it:

1. Put the peeled and coarse chopped carrots and celery into a pan and add water to cover them. Boil the veggies until they get very soft.
2. Pass the mix through a wire mesh screen to mash.
3. Shred the bananas.
4. Place bulgur in a bowl of hot water. Cover it and let the it absorb the water
5. Flavor it with applesauce, turmeric, and powder ginger. Make sure your applesauce is very smooth so it is easier for your baby to consume.
6. Serve as warm or cold. — (TGM)