Parents often search for various foods which will be good for their babies. Now, your baby needs nutritious foods to stay healthy and happy. Chickpeas or Kabuli Chana, as many might refer to it, is a great food that your baby can have. It comes from the legume family and has nutritional elements that can really boost the growth and development of your baby.
If you want to start feeding your baby chickpeas, it would be advisable to wait till the baby turns 8 to 10 months. Moreover, another vital thing that you have to remember is before starting to feed your baby chickpeas, make sure you consult it with your doctor because, at occasions, it can cause digestion issues and gas for the babies.
Hence, after introducing your baby to chickpeas, don’t get worried to see the flatulence problem in your baby. You also have the option of creating puree of the chickpeas which will make the digestion for your baby a lot easier. Moreover, as the flavor of chickpeas is quite delicate, you can add it to different dishes as well.
Health Benefits Of Chickpeas For Babies
10 Benefits Of Chickpeas For Babies:
Chickpeas are counted as an exceptional resource of plant-based protein, copper, folate, magnesium, zinc, iron, fiber, and phosphorous. It also comprises numerous other vital nutrients as well. What’s more, it is relatively cheap and hence counted as highly economical food when compared to other foods. Therefore, chickpea is very beneficial for babies. Here are ten advantages of chickpea for babies:
1. Growth And Development Of The Baby
Chickpeas have very high protein content. Protein is a necessary component for creating new cells blood, muscles, hormones, enzymes, and cartilage. A baby needs a high amount of protein to facilitate body growth and development. Chickpeas will help the baby to fulfill this need for protein.
2. Development Of The Baby’s Brain
During the younger days, an important part of a baby’s growth happens in the brain. Chickpeas have a substantial amount of polyunsaturated fats which play a pivotal role in the brain development of a baby. Moreover, it provides the energy with your baby needs as well as soften the skin of your baby.
3. Provides Iron For The Baby
Chickpeas are a good source of iron as well which will help to create red blood cells in the baby’s body. This will surely play a huge role in preventing anemia in the baby.
4. Strengthens Muscles And Bones Of The Baby
Chickpeas have a good amount of calcium which helps in strengthening the bones and muscles of the baby. Moreover, it can also work as a substitute to milk if your baby is allergic to milk.
5. High Amount of Fibre
Your baby needs a good amount of fiber in order to make the digestive system work well. Without the proper functioning of the digestive system, your baby might face multiple health issues. Chickpeas are a great source of fiber. Also, most of the fiber in chickpeas are insoluble fiber, which is very important not only for improved digestion but also it helps to keep bowel cancer and blood sugar control at bay.
6. Good Amount of Magnesium Content
Magnesium is one such element which helps the body to absorb vital nutrients like Vitamin B and E. Chickpeas have a high amount of magnesium in it which helps your baby to absorb such vital nutrients.
7. Good For Healthy Heart
Chickpeas have some elements which are great for your babies heart health. Polyunsaturated fats, antioxidants, and fiber promote good heart health which chickpeas have.
8. Good For Regeneration Of Cells
Chickpeas have Folate which is a type of vitamin important for DNA recreation. It is a very vital element for your child’s growth and development.
9. Reduces Diabetes Risk
If the father or the mother of the child is a diabetic patient then chickpeas can help to reduce the chances of the baby of having type-1 diabetes or hypoglycemia.
10. Creates A Strong Immune System
Zinc is a vital element which helps in creating a strong immune system in the baby. Chickpeas are a very good source of Zinc which means it will help your baby to have a strong immune system from the early days.
Effects Of Consuming Chickpeas For Baby:
Gas
Chickpeas have a huge amount of protein content which might result in intestine gas for the babies. That is why it is always advisable to incorporate chickpeas in your baby’s diet in small portions. This will help your baby’s body to get used to chickpeas. If there is severe stomach problem for your baby then you should stop giving chickpeas immediately.
Allergy
If your baby is allergic to lentils then he or she will also be allergic to chickpeas. Therefore, it would be good if you test the allergy first and then give it to your child.
7 Easy Chickpeas Cooking Tips:
Chickpeas are extremely simple to prepare. You can make a smooth puree with softly cooked chickpeas. You can then add it to other vegetable purees if you wish. Some babies love to have chickpea puree mixed with banana and pumpkin puree. Here are some easy chickpeas cooking tips:
- As the shelf life or roasted chickpeas is very less, it would be good to store it uncooked.
- Make sure you rinse chickpeas before cooking.
- To avoid fermentation of the chickpeas, store them in the fridge and always cook the fresh chickpeas.
- 1 cup of uncooked chickpeas will become 2 cups when it is cooked, so be careful about the quantity.
- Give your baby a small number of chickpeas for the first time and increase the amount with time.
- If you want to add lime, salt or even tomato puree while cooking, add it towards the end in order to avoid the hardening of chickpeas.
- You should not add baking soda while cooking chickpeas as it will add extra sodium which your baby does not require.
You need to teach you baby healthy eating habits and for that, you have to be his or her pioneer. So, you should start having a healthy diet plan in the first place. You will child will also start to follow your footsteps soon. Moreover, do have a consultation with your doctor before introducing chickpeas to your baby’s diet.
