Our health and well-being depends on the proper diet - this rule works at any age, because even newborn babies are often naughty and sick due to nutrition problems. It is no secret that breast milk is the only thing the baby needs. Nature herself took care of the little man who had just been born. Over time, the complex of nutrients in breast milk decreases, and for the correct growth of crumbs, additional sources of vitamins are already needed.
At the age of 4-6 months, pediatricians are advised to introduce the first complementary foods. Most often we are talking about cereals and mashed vegetables. Some mothers cook cereals and vegetables on their own, while others trust the largest manufacturers of baby food. Today you will learn about dairy-free cereals. A review of popular brands will certainly interest new parents.
Porridge or mashed potatoes?
This question is most often asked to family doctors and pediatricians. Puppies for the first feeding are more suitable for kids with weight deficit . The nutritional features of children with frequent stools or a diagnosis of malnutrition are also associated with the need for high-calorie foods.
Rule number 1. Gluten-free cereals should appear first in the child’s diet: buckwheat, rice and corn. Porridge is bred with breast milk, water or a mixture, without fruit additives, sugar and salt.
Rule number 2. On the shelves of stores you can find milk or dairy-free cereals for the first feeding. Which is better? The first contains skimmed cow or whole milk powder, therefore, with a tendency to allergies, digestive problems and lactose intolerance, they opt for dairy-free porridge.
List of the best
Our grandmothers and mothers were hardly tormented with the choice of porridge. In those days, semolina was considered the best and most nutritious, and in the stores there were hardly a few manufacturers. Today, shelves with baby goods can surprise you with an assortment, so it’s not so easy to buy dairy-free cereals for the first feeding.
The rating that you will find in our review is conditional. Experts can evaluate the composition and presence of harmful components, which, however, does not guarantee the success of a new product in a small fussy.
So, the five most popular brands:
- Nestle.
- Heinz.
- "Frutonyanya."
- Hipp.
- Semper.
Swiss quality
Choose dairy-free cereals for the first feeding? The manufacturers rating is led by Nestle. Specialists from Switzerland promise a minimal risk of allergies and high-grade complementary foods with a collection of nutritious and tasty cereals. The composition contains bifidobacteria BL, which strengthen the immune system and normalize digestion. Thanks to the special crushing technology, a large amount of dietary fiber, minerals and vitamins is preserved in cereals.
The impeccable reputation of the manufacturer is of great importance to parents. For the first feeding, according to customer reviews, Nestle porridges are ideal. Inside the package is a powder, similar in color and smell to the declared cereal. Opinions diverged regarding the consistency and convenience of cooking. Some mothers easily get a homogeneous mass, while others have to break lumps with a blender. In general, Nestle cereals are eaten with pleasure and without consequences in the form of an allergy.
Heinz
We consider puddings, soups, fruit desserts and dairy-free cereals for the first feeding. The rating is continued by the Heinz trademark, the assortment of which is significantly superior to competitors. Safety and round-the-clock quality control of all ingredients and finished products, as well as advanced technologies inspire confidence in customers.
In a series of low-allergenic cereals, the trio of buckwheat-corn-rice is already familiar to us. According to the manufacturer’s promises, the composition does not contain GMOs, dyes, preservatives or flavorings. Herbal prebiotics added to the product provide healthy digestion.
Reviews of young parents note the airy consistency and the absence of lumps, following the recommendations on the package. Ready porridge tastes like fresh cereal, which is what is required by inexperienced children's taste. For older kids, the Heinz collection has cereals with various berries and fruits, vermicelli and, of course, cookies.
"Frutonyanya"
FrutoNanny is a leader among Russian brands producing cereals for the first feeding. The rating of baby cereals put this manufacturer in third place for several reasons:
- A huge assortment of food for kids of all ages.
- High quality raw materials.
- The reputation of the Progress holding, which includes the brand.
Even more buyers turned their attention to FrutoNanny children's products, when an independent examination of one of the federal television channels recommended this particular food.
FrutoNanny dairy-free cereals have an airy texture. Buckwheat flour, minerals and a complex of vitamins are declared in the composition of the buckwheat product. To prepare one serving, you need 175 ml of water (40-50 degrees), which must be mixed with three tablespoons of dry product.
In the dairy kitchen
According to reviews, porridge has a uniform consistency and a pleasant taste that kids like. It is bred without lumps and does not cause allergies. Buckwheat helps to normalize stool.
Approximately 80% of parents choose the FrutoNanny brand. The company is constantly looking for new ways to promote the product. Almost two years ago, OJSC Progress won a tender for the supply of baby food to dairy kitchens in Moscow. In sets for babies there is also porridge for the first feeding.
Which cereals are better? Until recently, there could be one answer to this question - from foreign manufacturers. Today, many consumers were surprised to find that the Russian brand "FrutoNanny" in terms of quality and variety of products is not inferior to competitors.
Hipp
We continue to study dairy-free cereals for the first feeding. The ranking of companies gave the fourth place to another well-known global brand - Hipp. Its founder, Georg Hipp, is the son of the owner of a confectionery factory, where in 1901 they began to produce special flour for baby crackers. In the middle of the 20th century, Hipp began producing baby food on an industrial scale. At first, it was about four types of mashed potatoes. Over time, meat dishes, juices, desserts and whole grain cereals appear in the assortment.
Today, the Hipp collection of dairy-free cereals can be envied by competitors. Rice, corn, buckwheat, oat, wheat, multigrain, oat with melissa and bananas, buckwheat with fruits - kids who are prone to allergies and digestive problems can also eat tasty and varied.
Customer reviews mark the composition. Some parents are against artificially added nutrients, and Hipp buckwheat, for example, is a combination of buckwheat flour and vitamin B1. Excellent aroma and taste, preparation without lumps and the absence of an allergic reaction - these dairy-free cereals for the first feeding could have a much higher rating. However, Hipp's quality products are let down by the high price, because of which young parents have to look for budget options.
Organic farming
All Hipp milk-free cereals are marked with the Organic Product badge. In the 50s, George Hipp discovered organic farming, the main features of which are the lack of chemical processing and natural conditions. At the same time, Mr. Hipp carried out explanatory work with farmers.
The principles of organic farming in the company are true to this day. In the production of baby food only natural components are used, which allows you to be sure of the high quality of products and protects the environment from pesticides and artificial fertilizers.
Semper
Despite the absence of serious indications, pediatricians recommend dairy-free cereals for the first feeding. It is difficult to imagine a rating without the Swedish brand Semper, which Russian customers met eighteen years ago. The company launched its first batch of dried milk in 1939. At the next stage, a full-fledged milk mixture was developed. And in 1960, Swedish mothers got acquainted with Semper mashed potatoes and cereals.
In a series of dairy-free cereals, the manufacturer has only two types: rice and buckwheat. Only one component is declared in the composition - 100% buckwheat or rice. Milk, gluten, sugar, added vitamins and other ingredients, according to the brand’s specialists, are not needed for the kids.
Customer reviews
The usefulness and quality of porridge is affected not only by the formulation and careful selection of raw materials, but also by the cooking technology. Some manufacturers practice cereal hydrolysis, which breaks down complex carbohydrates. Semper specialists strive to preserve everything that nature gives us, and do not use this method.
Dairy-free cereals from Sweden, according to young parents, are great for feeding. The smallest children are allowed only one-component cereals, so a small selection in the assortment does not bother buyers. An open porridge for the first feeding can be stored for one month.
Which cereals are better?
Inexperienced parents can find it difficult to make a choice in favor of one or another manufacturer of baby food. Some mothers intensively study reviews on the Web and consult with friends, others trust the opinion of the doctor, but they are all united by concern for the health of children.
As with milk formula, choosing the right food is not so simple. The kid should become your main adviser and taster. "Agusha", "Baby", Bebi, Friso and other brands of baby food, not included in our small rating, are also in demand among consumers.
Before buying, be sure to read all the information on the packaging. The composition should not be:
- Sahara;
- preservatives;
- flavor enhancers.
Do not focus on your own taste, because the absence of spices is unlikely to appeal to an adult.