AT WHAT AGE CAN MILLETS BE INTRODUCED TO CHILDREN ?
Dr. Khadar sir says one should respect children and should take utmost care when it comes to their choice of food for a healthy growth.
-
Colostrum is the first form of milk produced just prior to giving birth. It contains many immune cells and antibodies to protect the newborn against disease.
-
One should compulsorily feed the newborns with mother’s milk till the age of 9months.
-
Dr. Khadar sir suggested that millets can be introduced to children right from the age of 9 months.
-
INFANTS: One week – One Millet is the mantra to be followed in introducing millet food to infants. Introduce all the 5 siridhanya (millets) to the infants in rotation, one millet per week. Roast the millets and make ravva, soak it for 4 hours. The ratio of millet and water should be 1:5. It can be fed to them along with regular vegetables, sambar, dal and curd.
-
KIDS: For children above 2 years millets can be directly fed. Increase the soaking time to a minimum of 8 hours and a maximum of 12 hours. Cook them soft with desired vegetables. Sea salt and desi ghee made at home to be used for kids.
-
MILK: One can introduce milk as well to kids from the age of 9 months along with mother’s milk. Milk extracted from finger millet (ragi), groundnuts (palli), sesame seeds (nuvvulu), safflower seeds (kusumalu), coconut (kobbari), pearl millet (sajjalu) can be given.
-
Start with coconut milk for 3days and milk extracted from finger/ pearl/ safflower/ sesame/ groundnut for a day each. Rotate the consumption of milk in the same way.
-
​
-
MAKE IT A PRACTICE TO COOK IN MUD/Clay VESSELS