Oh no! Your baby has a gluten intolerance or even a gluten allergy and now you are imagining endless hours searching for special foods and cooking every meal from scratch.
We say: relax and stay positive 🙂
Having a baby with gluten intolerance can actually be a great opportunity to discover the many delicious alternatives to wheat, rye and barley. Many gluten-free ingredients are highly nutritious and can enrich your entire family’s meals.
We explored several gluten-free cooking and parenting blogs and selected 10 easy gluten-free recipes for babies that are simple to prepare and introduce healthy substitutes for gluten products.
1. Banana Buckwheat Muffins
Despite its name, buckwheat is not related to wheat. It is a seed that can be ground into flour and used as a gluten-free substitute in pancakes, muffins and cakes.
Buckwheat flour is rich in carbohydrates, protein and calcium, making it a nutritious ingredient for baby-friendly baked goods.
We found this recipe on Motherly. These muffins are free from nuts, dairy, eggs and gluten, making them perfect for babies with multiple food sensitivities.
Ingredients
- 3 tablespoons chia seeds
- 1/2 cup unsweetened vanilla coconut milk + 2 tbsp
- 1 cup mashed ripe banana
- 1 cup buckwheat flour
- 3 teaspoons baking powder
- 2 teaspoons cinnamon
- 1/4 teaspoon salt
- 3 tbsp melted coconut oil
- 2-3 tbsp maple syrup (optional)
- 1 tsp vanilla
Instructions
- Stir chia seeds into the milk and set aside.
- Mix banana, flour, baking powder, cinnamon, salt and oil.
- Add chia mixture and mix well.
- Preheat oven to 400°F and grease a mini muffin pan.
- Bake for 14-16 minutes.
2. Rice Breakfast Pudding
Rice pudding is naturally gluten-free and easy to digest, making it a great option for babies between 6-8 months old.
This recipe was inspired by Wholesome Baby Food.
Ingredients
- 1/2 cup brown or jasmine rice
- 2 cups water
- 1/4 cup diced apples
- 1/4 cup raisins (optional)
- 1/8 cup brown sugar (optional)
- 2 tsp cinnamon
- 1/2 tsp ginger
Instructions
- Combine all ingredients in a saucepan.
- Cook over medium-low heat for about 30 minutes.
- Add a small amount of milk and cook 10 more minutes.
- Stir frequently and adjust consistency with water or milk.
3. Homemade Almond Milk
Almond flour and almond milk are excellent gluten-free alternatives. Almonds are rich in fiber, protein, vitamins and minerals including calcium and magnesium.
This milk can be introduced after about 8 months but should not replace breast milk or formula as the primary nutrition source.
4. Coconut Pancakes
Coconut flour is naturally gluten-free and very high in fiber. It also contains healthy fats, protein and important minerals such as zinc and iron.
5. Quinoa with Chicken and Peas
Quinoa is a seed originally grown in the Andes mountains and is packed with protein, fiber, vitamins and essential amino acids.
Cook quinoa like rice and puree with water or milk to make it baby-friendly.
6. Chickpea and Chicken Salad
Chickpeas are rich in fiber, iron and folate. Because they are legumes, they may cause gas, so they are best introduced after about 8 months.
7. Amaranth Pumpkin Porridge
Amaranth has been used for thousands of years and is extremely rich in protein, fiber and minerals.
8. Plantain and Bean Pancakes
Plantains are naturally binding and help replace flour in many gluten-free recipes.
9. Tapioca Cheesy Balls
Tapioca starch comes from cassava root and is commonly used to thicken soups, porridges and desserts.
These cheesy tapioca balls are a fun gluten-free snack that babies can enjoy once they begin eating finger foods.
We hope these recipes show you the bright and delicious side of gluten-free cooking. If you try any of them, we would love to hear your feedback!