The (ANTI) Case for Rice Cereal
Or why I chose to start my baby with real vegetables, and why you should to.
“Oh your baby is ready to start solids? Better get that rice cereal ready!”
I’ve had this conversation, or those close to it, many times since Bodie turned 6 (now 7!!) months old. And I laugh, thank them for their opinion, and move on my way. This well-meaning advice is a cultural norm in America. EVERYONE starts their children on rice cereal. Why? It’s very unlikely that a child will have an allergic reaction to rice; it’s easily digestible since it’s a straight carbohydrate, and it’s what our parents did. And our parent’s parents, and our parent’s parent’s parents… and maybe that’s as far back as it goes.
But, what’s the real case for rice cereal? Is it really the best bet to start our children on this food source?
After looking at some of the most recent research, I’d say (and many other experts would agree) NO.
Why is this? Well first it’s important to look at why rice cereal was recommended in the first place. Rice cereal was first recommended as a starter food for infants in the 1920s. The timeliness of the need to mass-produce baby food at this time is quite relevant- it was the dawn of the world wars and for the first time mothers were not in the homes, but in the workplace. Before this time women were regularly producing their own starter foods in their homes; solids would range from barely, to oats, to beans to cabbage, depending on the cultural heritage of the infant. Then the dawn of Food Science began- between the 1930s-70s (aka the Golden Age for nutrition), food scientists around our great country started discovering the need for water and fat soluble vitamins, and what happens when our body doesn’t get them in the correct quantity. Before this time diseases such as rickets, blindness, anemia, etc. were common in our populations due to inadequate amounts of nutrients introduced at the wrong time (Personal note- I sometimes wonder if we could possibly go back to this time due to our lack of nutritional value in common kid’s foods today…). The best invention during this time period? The ability to enrich common food sources with nutrients that were usually lacking in the then modern American diet.
The stretch between 6 months old to 1 year old is, around the world, one of the biggest times for nutrient deficiencies which in effect hurt millions of children globally. Common deficiencies include Vitamin A, Iron, and Zinc. This is where the popularity of rice cereal began- as mentioned earlier it is easily digestible, commonly not an allergen, and easily enriched to include a greater concentration of both iron and zinc for the needs of an infant whose growth has depleted the natural storage of these nutrients acquired during pregnancy.
So, does this mean that rice cereal is the best thing to start your child on due to the need of both iron and zinc? In my research, absolutely not. Rice cereal, especially white rice cereal, is what is commonly referred to as a “high glycemic food” meaning that it quickly raises and lowers the blood sugar concentration and the hormone insulin during digestion. This means that the cellular response to those eating white rice is similar (though not entirely the same) as those eating white sugar. As we have all heard over and over again, exposing yourself and your child to this quick up and down shift of blood sugar is NOT good for anyone and long term exposure can increase the risk of obesity and diabetes. And who wants that for their child?
Knowing the nutrient deficiencies that your child is at risk for during the 6 to 12 month phase can help parents choose more natural food sources that can provide these nutrients naturally, no need for any food enrichment! Common iron foods include spinach, kale, red beans, red quinoa, and meat. Zinc is mostly found in meat products, especially organ meats and shellfish, but can also be found in beans, tofu, wild rice, and pumpkin and/or squash seeds. Vitamin A is easier to come by; pretty much anything orange will have it. From carrots to sweet potatoes, this water soluble mineral is one of the easiest for us to come by, and our kiddos to eat. How much of everything do they need? We will discuss this in detail in another blog post- don’t you worry!
I will be posting some of my favorite childhood (and hopefully Bodie approved) starter food recipes here in the coming weeks. I hope you’re as excited as I am to get started on the culinary adventure of food evolution with my son.
Thanks to everyone looking at my blog! Please comment and share.
XOXOXO,
– Petra
Note- Resources:
Food Sources of Zinc. Dietitians of Canada. Posted Feb. 28, 2014. Accessed Nov. 15, 2015. http://www.dietitians.ca/Your-Health/Nutrition-A-Z/Minerals/Food-Sources-of-Zinc.aspx
Krebs, Nancy F and K Michael Hambidge. Complementary feeding: clinically relevant factors affecting timing and composition. American Journal of Clinical Nutrition; February 2007 vol. 85 no. 2 639S-645S.
Mannel, Rebecca; Martens, Patricia; Walker Marsha. Lactation Consultant Practice. Copyright 2013 by Jones & Bartlett Learning, LLC.
Micronutrient Deficincies. World Health Organization. Updated 2015. Accessed Nov. 15, 2015. http://www.who.int/nutrition/topics/vad/en/
Originally published at mommiesnmunchkins.net.
