At what age can a child have semolina porridge: how to prepare it and whether there are allergies. Why can't children have semolina? The right choice of semolina for babies

Entire generations of children, one might say, grew up on classic semolina porridge. Despite this, the question: “what is semolina made from?” Not everyone can answer. It turns out that semolina, or semolina, is a coarsely ground wheat cereal, the average particle diameter is from 0.25 to 0.75 mm. Semolina is most often made from durum wheat. Semolina is a by-product in the production of wheat flour, when after grinding about 2% of small fragments of grain remain.

Semolina contains 70 percent starch, a lot of proteins, vitamins and minerals, and since it cooks quickly, they are all preserved. Semolina is digested in the lower intestine and then absorbed into the blood. That is why liquid semolina porridges are included in diets for diseases of the gastrointestinal tract. Semolina cleanses the body and removes fat.

Semolina porridge is very often prepared for children, which is not entirely correct, since the child’s stomach cannot yet digest the starch contained in semolina in large quantities. Phytin contained in semolina is able to bind calcium, which comes with other foods, thus depriving the child’s body of building material for bones. Often children who constantly eat semolina porridge develop rickets or seizures.

For adults and older people, the disadvantages of semolina devoid of fiber turn into its advantages: semolina porridge does not irritate the stomach and prevents colon cancer. Semolina is the only grain that is digested in the lower intestine and only there is it absorbed into its walls. Semolina is a good means of treating and preventing intestinal diseases; it cleanses the body of mucus and removes fat.

Semolina contains everything that wheat flour contains: starch, vitamins E and B1, B2, B6, PP, iron. Semolina is recommended for seriously ill patients during the postoperative period, when increased nutrition is necessary.

There are three types of semolina on sale: the letter “M” on the packaging indicates semolina made from soft varieties of wheat, the letter “T” indicates semolina made from hard varieties, and the letters “MT” indicate semolina containing at least 20% of grains from durum varieties. wheat. Very often this information is not indicated on the packaging.

An interesting fact is that semolina in Rus' was produced in small quantities and ended up on the tables of only aristocrats; the common people did not know semolina. In the USSR, semolina porridge became an everyday, generally available product.

One of the types of semolina porridge, the famous Guryev porridge, was invented at the beginning of the 19th century. The name of this porridge comes from the name of Count Dmitry Guryev, a member of the State Council and Minister of Finance, and it was invented by Zakhar Kuzmin, a serf cook. Guryev bought out Kuzmin and his family and made him his cook. There is another version, according to which Guryev himself invented the porridge recipe.

Useful tips

Semolina porridge is a product that we invariably associate with childhood. A spoon for dad, a spoon for mom, and also for grandparents, and whether you like it or not, you had to eat a bowl of semolina porridge for breakfast.

And if previously semolina was considered the most useful product for children, in the modern world this opinion is actively contested.

Is semolina beneficial or harmful? Let's try to understand this issue.

What is semolina made from?

Semolina is peeled ground wheat grains with a diameter of up to 0.75 mm.

Semolina is divided into three types:

T – made from durum wheat (this is what nutritionists recommend to use as the most useful and harmless for the figure in particular and the body as a whole, since it contains a maximum of proteins and a minimum of starch).

TM – the cereal contains hard and soft wheat varieties in a ratio of 20/80, respectively (this is a kind of “golden mean”, balanced in taste and quality).

M – made from soft wheat varieties, contains a large amount of starch, a minimum of proteins and fiber. But porridge from this variety will be soft.

The benefits of semolina porridge

Semolina is rich in vitamins and minerals (although many nutritionists claim that there is nothing healthy in semolina).

It contains all B vitamins, vitamin E, calcium, magnesium, phosphorus, iron, silicon, chlorine, cobalt, molybdenum, manganese, copper, chromium, potassium, etc.

Energy value and calorie content of semolina

100 g of semolina contains:

Vegetable proteins – about 10 g.
Zhirov – 1 year
Carbohydrates - about 70 g.
Fiber – a little less than 4 g.
Water – about 14 years

If we talk about the calorie content of the product, then 100 g of semolina contains about 330 kcal, however, during the cooking process, the calorie content of the cereal decreases and is approximately 100 kcal per 100 g of porridge, but provided that the porridge is cooked in water and without the addition of butter, sugar, honey, dried fruit or jam.

All of the listed products significantly increase the calorie content and nutritional value of semolina porridge, although they also make it more tasty.

The benefits of semolina porridge

Retains all useful components even after heat treatment, since it cooks quickly.

Provides quick and long-lasting saturation Thanks to its high carbohydrate content, it energizes and increases mental and physical activity.

Contains a small amount of fiber, due to which it can be included in the diet of patients with renal failure who require a protein-free diet. However, in this case, the porridge will have to be cooked in water.

It is quickly digested and easily absorbed by the body, thanks to which semolina porridge can be consumed in the postoperative period, as well as in patients with exhaustion, who should avoid any additional stress on the digestive organs.

Has enveloping, soothing and wound-healing properties, reduces pain, spasms and inflammation in the digestive system, making it recommended for patients with diseases of the gastrointestinal tract.

Promotes adsorption and removal of toxins, toxins and other pathogenic microorganisms contained in food products.

Prevents iron deficiency anemia, since it contains iron.

Does not contain cholesterol, so if consumed regularly lowers blood pressure in people with hypertension.

Gently cleanses the intestines, which is especially important for pregnant women suffering from constipation. But it should be borne in mind that eating semolina porridge more than three times a week is not recommended even for adults, not to mention children.

Strengthens the walls of blood vessels and has a positive effect on the heart muscle due to potassium and magnesium contained in the cereal.

Prolongs youth, makes skin elastic, and hair and nails strong. This effect is achieved thanks to vitamin E present in semolina.

Normalizes the psycho-emotional background and regulates the functioning of the central nervous system, which is ensured by the content of B vitamins in semolina.

Reduces the risk of developing colon cancer, since it prevents hypermineralization of blood cells.

Besides, semolina is credited with hypoallergenic properties, however, this is a controversial statement, since the cereal contains gluten, which is a fairly powerful allergen.

Some experts say that semolina porridge cooked in water without adding salt, sugar and other additives helps to lose excess weight.

Their statement is based on the fact that, firstly, semolina porridge is low-calorie, and secondly, it helps remove mucus and fats from the body.

But reviews about the semolina diet are extremely contradictory: some managed to lose 5 kg in a week, while others gained a couple of extra pounds while adhering to this diet.

Therefore, the choice is yours! In addition, not everyone can eat exclusively semolina porridge for a week.

But that's not all!

Harm of semolina porridge

High glycemic index(about 80 – 85): semolina consists of 70% simple carbohydrates, the consumption of which negatively affects the figure.

Suppression of insulin production, which leads to an increase in blood sugar, again due to the high glycemic index. Therefore, semolina porridge is not recommended for people with diabetes.

High gluten content– a specific protein that provokes disturbances in the gastrointestinal tract and causes allergies in people with gluten intolerance.

Exacerbation of celiac disease– a pathological hereditary form of gluten allergy.

Removal of calcium from the body due to the high phosphorus content, which prevents the full absorption of calcium. For children, this is fraught with brittle bones, impaired growth, dental problems, decreased immunity, deterioration of the nervous system, and even rickets. In adults, due to a lack of calcium, osteoporosis can develop, characterized by fragility and increased fragility of bones.

Death of the villi of the alimentary tract, which leads to the development of diarrhea, intestinal colic, and stomach cramps. And the culprit is gliadin (or gluten), which is part of semolina. In addition, it is excess gliadin that is one of the factors that provokes pain in joints and ligaments, which is especially important for older people.

Semolina porridge for children

Whether semolina porridge will bring benefit or harm to the child’s health depends on how correctly parents introduce it into the diet.

Rule No. 1: Semolina porridge is contraindicated for children under one year of age.

The body of a baby who is not yet one year old is not able to fully absorb the elements and carbohydrates contained in semolina porridge.

In addition, the proteins and starch that make up semolina contribute to rapid weight gain.

From the age of one year, semolina porridge is indicated for children with underweight, as well as with severe dystrophy.

Rule #2. Norm for using semolina porridge

After three years, you can include semolina porridge in the menu three times a week, increasing the portion to 75 - 100 g.

The benefits of semolina porridge for children

Contains phytinase, an enzyme that regulates metabolic processes and helps improve immunity.

Prevents anemia.

Charges with energy for a long time.

Harm of semolina porridge for children

The gliadin enzyme contained in semolina has a detrimental effect on the intestinal lint, whose task is to absorb nutrients and beneficial substances from foods.

Gluten, which is part of semolina, thins the children's intestinal mucosa, which also leads to impaired absorption of vitamins and microelements supplied with food.

Daily consumption of semolina porridge leads to intestinal dysfunction, which can lead to constipation or diarrhea.

Excess phosphorus in the body of a small child due to excessive consumption of semolina porridge leads to a deficiency of calcium, which the body will replenish from bone tissue, and this is a direct path to fragility of bones and teeth.

Taking into account all the pros and cons, we can draw the following conclusion: semolina porridge, like any other product, is useful only if it is consumed in moderation.

And finally, here are some tips that will help you prepare the perfect semolina porridge.

How to cook semolina porridge correctly?

Tip #1. Ice from burning

To prevent the semolina from burning, add an ice cube to the bowl you will use to prepare it. You can simply rinse the pan with ice water, then pour milk or water into it and put it on the fire.

Tip #2. Butter to prevent milk from escaping

Any porridge with milk has one more property - “to run away”. Butter will help you cope with this problem by lubricating the inner edges of the pan (the width of the oil line should be approximately one to two fingers).

Fat, forming a film, will not allow the milk to “escape” beyond the boundaries of the oil line.

Tip #3. Combination of water and milk

Semolina porridge in water does not have a high taste, while in milk, although it is tasty, it is also high in calories.

The golden mean is the ratio of milk and water 1:1. In general, it all depends on your personal preferences and goals.

Tip #4. Maintaining proportions

Semolina porridge of average thickness will be obtained if you take 6 tbsp per liter of milk or water. semolina.

Tip #5. "No" to lumps

Many people do not like semolina porridge because of the lumps that form during its preparation.

Do you want to cook semolina without lumps? To do this, add the cereal to milk or water only after boiling. It is important not to pour out all the semolina at once, but to introduce it in a thin stream, stirring continuously.

It is important to stir the semolina porridge throughout the cooking process!

Tip #6. Cooking time

Cook the semolina porridge for no more than 5 - 7 minutes, after which it is removed from the heat and left for another 10 minutes.

Tip #7. Adding oil

Of course, you can’t spoil semolina porridge with oil, but you can make it tasty and fluffy! To do this, just beat the porridge with a whisk while adding oil.

Tip #8. Experimenting with Supplements

Candied fruits, dried fruits, nuts, seeds, honey, cinnamon, fresh fruits - all these additives will make the taste of semolina porridge rich and varied!

Be healthy and bon appetit!

When it comes time to introduce a child to cereals, most mothers prefer hypoallergenic and healthy cereals such as rice, buckwheat and oatmeal. But modern parents are wary of semolina, so popular with our grandmothers. Recently, there has been a widespread belief that there is nothing healthy in semolina, and some mothers consider semolina to be harmful. Let's figure out if this is true, and also when you can give semolina porridge to children and what else can be prepared from semolina for the children's menu.

The benefits of semolina

Semolina is obtained from wheat after it has been threshed, so the composition of such cereals is in many ways similar to the composition of wheat. Thanks to the large amount of carbohydrates, such cereals are an energy-intensive and satiating product, and due to the strong grinding, the absorption of semolina occurs quite quickly and easily. Semolina also contains vegetable proteins, fiber, vitamins PP, group B and minerals. The advantages of semolina include the speed of cooking of this cereal.

Disadvantages of semolina

The nutritional value of semolina porridge is inferior to other types of porridge, since semolina contains fewer vitamin compounds and minerals.
Semolina contains quite a lot of gluten protein, which is not easy for young children to digest. Some children are allergic to this protein.
Due to the presence of phytin in semolina, this cereal impairs the absorption of iron, calcium and vitamin D (this effect of semolina is called ricketogenic), Therefore, it is recommended to limit it in the diet of children under one year old.
Semolina contains glyodine, which can negatively affect intestinal function when feeding semolina to young children.
Since semolina porridge is a fairly high-calorie dish, its frequent inclusion in children's menus can lead to the child gaining excess weight.

Should I give my child semolina porridge?

Having become familiar with a fairly large list of disadvantages of semolina, many parents begin to doubt whether it is worth starting to feed their child semolina at all. Nevertheless, porridge made from this cereal has many advantages, the main one of which is its high nutritional value, which allows us to recommend this dish for feeding children with insufficient body weight.

You should know the disadvantages of semolina porridge only in order not to introduce this product into the children's diet too early and not to give such porridge daily. If you introduce your child to semolina at the right time and prepare him porridge from this cereal 1-2 times every 2 weeks, there will be no harm to his health.

From what months should semolina be given?

Modern complementary feeding tactics do not include introducing any porridge into a baby’s diet before 6 months. Healthy breastfed babies begin to be given porridge from the age of 7 months. At the same time, it is recommended to start feeding porridge with rice or buckwheat, since such grains do not contain gluten. It is precisely because of the high risk of allergies that semolina is introduced into the children's diet a little later.

Most pediatricians believe that the minimum age at which a child can be introduced to semolina is 10 months, and if the baby has a tendency to allergies, then such introduction is postponed until 1 year.

At the same time, it is not recommended to indulge in semolina porridge before the age of 3 years. Let it appear on the child’s menu only occasionally, alternating with other cereals.

Create a calendar

The famous pediatrician Komarovsky assures that semolina porridge is not at all a harmful product and can be included in a child’s diet along with other porridges. A popular doctor calls the main advantage of semolina its ability to swell, due to which such cereals are consumed very sparingly and create a feeling of fullness for a long time. That is why he advises feeding children who often wake up at night due to hunger with semolina porridge in the evening.

You can listen to Komarovsky’s commentary on semolina porridge in the video below.

How to introduce it into your diet

Like all new products, semolina is introduced into the child’s menu gradually and carefully. Having prepared semolina porridge for the baby, for the first time they give only one spoon. This is done during the morning feeding and the baby is closely monitored until the end of the day.

If no symptoms of intolerance appear, the amount of porridge can be doubled next time. So gradually the volume of the dish is increased to the amount that is recommended for the child, taking into account his age.

How to cook porridge

For children under one year old, semolina is boiled in water without adding salt. Next, the kids begin to cook this porridge in milk diluted 1:1 with water. And only after such a dish is well tolerated should you switch to cooking it with whole milk.

The process of cooking porridge from semolina looks like this:
Bring water or milk (one glass) to a boil.
Pour semolina (3 tablespoons) into the boiling liquid while stirring constantly.
Reduce heat and cook the porridge for several minutes (usually 2-3 minutes is enough), continuing to stir.

After removing from heat, add butter to the porridge, as well as salt and sugar to taste.

To avoid the formation of lumps, you can dilute the semolina with a small amount of water and place it in a boiling liquid.

How to diversify semolina porridge

To make semolina porridge even tastier, you can:
Add pieces of fruit or berries to it.
Sweeten the finished porridge with honey.
Decorate the porridge with raisins, creating interesting pictures from them.
Top it with homemade jam or preserves.
Cook the porridge in a mixture of water and fruit or vegetable juice, such as apple or carrot.
Prepare unsweetened semolina porridge using vegetable broth.

Add the yolk mashed with sugar to the finished porridge.

Other recipes with semolina for children

Mango-carrot soufflé (from 1 year) To prepare this dish, take 60 g of semolina and 400 ml of water, as well as one chicken egg, 100 g of carrots, sugar to taste and 5 g of butter.

Cook porridge from semolina and water.
Separate the egg into yolk and white.
Add butter to the semolina, as well as the yolk mashed with sugar.
Grate the carrots on a fine grater and add to the porridge, mixing well.
Whisk the egg white and gently fold into the semolina-carrot mixture.
Place the mixture in a greased mold and cook for about 30 minutes in a double boiler or water bath.

Potato soup with semolina dumplings (from 1.5 years)

This delicious, nutritious soup makes a great lunch dish. To prepare it you will need 1 liter of water, 2 potatoes, large carrots, small onion, 1 egg, 2 tbsp. spoons of semolina, butter, salt and herbs.

The preparation will be like this:

Finely chop the onion and grate the peeled carrots on a fine grater. Simmer them in a small amount of water until soft.
Peel and cut the potatoes into pieces, place them in boiling water and cook until half cooked.
Brew semolina with boiling water to make a thick porridge. Cool slightly, add the egg, salt and mix.
Add stewed carrots and onions to the water with potatoes.
Take a teaspoon of the semolina mixture and drop it into the boiling soup to make dumplings.
Bring all ingredients until ready.
Sprinkle the finished soup in a bowl with fresh herbs.

Mannik (from 2-3 years old)

This tender and tasty pastry is prepared from semolina, kefir and sugar, using 1 cup of each ingredient. Also in the traditional recipe there are 2-3 eggs and a teaspoon of baking powder. You can add apples, berries, dried fruits and other ingredients to the dough.

Mannik is prepared like this:

Pour room temperature kefir over semolina.
After 30-40 minutes, combine the swollen cereal with kefir with eggs beaten with sugar.
Add baking powder, mix thoroughly.
Pour the batter into the pan and bake for about 40 minutes in the oven until golden brown.

See the opinion of specialists from the program “Live Healthy” on the introduction of semolina porridge into the diet of young children in the program.

Find out if your baby's weight is normal by using the following calculator.

Height and weight calculator

What grandmother does not strive to feed her grandchildren semolina porridge? However, this is not surprising, because previously this inexpensive, tasty and, at first glance, healthy dish was served for breakfast in kindergartens, medical and medical institutions. Whether it’s the case today, when the usefulness of certain food products is repeated at every turn, the question of whether semolina is good for children worries young mothers and nutritionists.

Semolina for children under one year old

The benefits of semolina are very doubtful. Experts came to these conclusions after comparing its composition with other cereals. Of course, semolina contains vitamins (B and E) and microelements (phosphorus, sodium, zinc, iron, potassium), but the amount of useful substances in comparison with other cereals is very small. That is, semolina will not compete with rice or corn grits for sure. However, this is far from the only argument that nutritionists use to motivate their answer when answering the question why children under one year old should not have semolina. Semolina contains therefore it is not recommended to give this cereal to babies as a first complementary food. After all, as you know, gluten negatively affects the functioning of the baby’s gastrointestinal tract: it causes constipation or diarrhea, and damages the villi of the small intestine. The substance is also a strong allergen.

In addition, semolina is contraindicated for children under one year of age for one more reason. The product contains a large amount of a substance called phytin. With an excess of phytin, an organophosphorus compound, calcium is not absorbed in the baby’s body, and magnesium, zinc and iron, on the contrary, are excreted. This state of affairs is extremely dangerous for a little person who needs calcium for full growth and development. However, it is worth noting that in order for the creature to reduce the level of calcium in the body, the baby needs to eat at least two bowls of semolina porridge every day.

Therefore, when answering the question, from how many months can semolina be given to a child, nutritionists do not advise rushing. Until the baby is one year old, you should not introduce him to a new treat.

How is semolina useful for older children?

The menu of a restless little one can be diversified with semolina porridge. Of course, the minimum content of vitamins and microelements does not elevate the dish to the rank of priority and necessary. But, with the goal of diversifying your baby’s diet, you can prepare semolina for breakfast once or even twice a week. In addition, if we talk about the benefits of this porridge, it should be noted that semolina saturates the body well with energy, since it consists of almost 100% carbohydrates. Having eaten a plate of semolina porridge in the morning, the baby will be full of strength and energy, and the feeling of hunger will return to him only by lunch.

Another obvious advantage of the product is the duration of its preparation. Literally 5-7 minutes and a delicious nutritious dish is ready. You can flavor the porridge with dried fruits and honey, which to some extent compensates for the low content of vitamins and microelements in the cereal itself.

In addition to children, the dish is recommended for adults with poor digestion or patients who have undergone surgery. Porridge coats the walls of the stomach and removes mucus from the intestines. Semolina can also be included in the diet of people suffering from diabetes.

Of course, the debate about the benefits of semolina for children does not subside. The older generation is outraged by the arguments of modern scientists about the dangers of the product. After all, we, our mothers and grandmothers, grew up on semolina porridge. Previously, no one thought that porridge could wash calcium out of the body or cause allergies. Maybe the children were healthier, or the attitude towards parenting changed radically. However, every mother has the right to decide for herself whether to feed her child semolina or not, but in any case, it has been proven that 1-2 servings of semolina porridge per week will not cause harm to a healthy child.

Attitudes towards this type of product have been completely different lately. Experts have proven the uselessness of this porridge, even some harm to the child’s body. In their opinion, there are a number of cereals that are much healthier than semolina. However, more than one generation of children has grown up on this product.

The benefits and harms of semolina porridge for children

Our grandmothers also started giving semolina to babies from 6 months. Many scientists are struggling with the question of what are the benefits and harms of semolina porridge for a child today. Doctors warn young mothers to be wary of semolina, considering it useless in a baby’s diet.

The cereal from which this dish is prepared is processed in the lower intestine. There it is digested, absorbed, and removes excess fat deposits. Thus, it is clear that this porridge is useful for older people, but not for children. What is beneficial for some is harmful for others.

Reading numerous reviews, parents doubt and do not know whether it is possible to feed their children semolina porridge. The opinions are so contradictory that many questions arise.

Useful properties of semolina porridge for children, constitute the smallest group, but their presence cannot be completely denied.

Benefits of semolina porridge for children:

the benefit lies in its potassium content. It is considered a vital trace element. Thanks to him, the little heart works well;
semolina contains a lot of iron. It promotes blood circulation in the body, carries oxygen, delivering it to every cell;
Another useful property is the presence of B vitamins. They are responsible for the state of the nervous system as a whole;
it cooks quickly;
Suitable for children with exhausted bodies due to low fiber content.

Children have been eating it for years, which confirms its usefulness. People tend to trust what they themselves have tried and grown up with. Therefore, it is not easy to give up this product.

Harm of semolina porridge for children. If you consume a lot of this product, you can provoke the onset of certain diseases. For example, celiac disease. This is an allergy to plant protein. It is not completely cured and remains with the person throughout his life. Consequently, doctors advise young children not to give semolina or to monitor the amount of semolina they consume.

The harm of semolina porridge for children, according to scientists, is:

there is phytin in it. It interferes with the absorption of vitamin D, iron, and calcium. The consequences can be the most serious, since these microelements are very important for a growing organism;
Semolina contains gluten. It can provoke allergies. Therefore, if you introduce this product into your diet, treat it with caution; the dosage should be moderate.

Knowing all the pros and cons, parents must decide for themselves whether to give porridge to their baby or not. It does not belong to strictly prohibited products.

Why can’t children have semolina porridge?

It contains 70% starch. The stomach of a newborn is not able to digest carbohydrates, so semolina porridge should not be given to children. All the energy contained in it is spent on assimilation of this product. As a result, semolina will remain in the baby’s body for a long time, bringing absolutely no benefit.

Porridge is prepared mainly using cow's milk. However, not all kids easily accept its protein. There are cases when it causes an allergy to semolina porridge in a child.

Allergy to semolina porridge in a child photo

Why can’t semolina porridge be given to children under one year of age? It contains phytin. It binds calcium, zinc, and vitamin D and prevents their rapid absorption. Before the baby reaches one year old, it is important to have calcium. It has a beneficial effect on strengthening bones.

Frequent consumption of semolina affects the absorption of iron by the body. A negative result may be the development of rickets. The activity of the ventricle will be impaired, and colds are possible. The baby’s health will be weakened, which will lead to negative events in the future.

Noting the benefits and harms of semolina porridge for a baby, it is impossible to give a definite answer whether to feed the baby with it or not. Of course, it is not completely useless. Not a single generation of kids has grown up on it. It is highly valued as a dietary product.

However, doctors do not advise getting carried away with this food product. It is recommended to introduce it after a year and not give it often. It is also necessary to monitor its quantity. When the time comes to introduce porridge into complementary foods, focus on buckwheat and rice.