How and when can pearl barley porridge be introduced into complementary foods?

Useful and harmful properties

Two thirds of this product are carbohydrates. Therefore, dishes made from this grain turn out extremely rich and satisfying. After eating pearl barley porridge, you will have enough strength and energy for a long time. In addition, the product includes vitamin E and B vitamins, amino acids, phosphorus and iron, iodine and other important compounds, minerals, elements. Pearl barley performs the following useful functions and properties:

• Kills germs, strengthens and supports the immune system;
• Restores strength, gives energy, invigorates and improves mood;
• Normalizes digestion and frees the intestines from toxins, waste and other harmful substances;
• Improves bowel movements and eliminates constipation;
• Positively affects the functioning of the liver and kidneys;
• Stabilizes blood sugar and insulin levels, prevents the development of diabetes;
• Strengthens bones and teeth, ligaments and joints;
• Provides tissues with oxygen, stimulates brain function, improves memory;
• Regulates material metabolism, water-salt and acid-base balance.

Among the disadvantages of pearl barley, we note that the cereal needs to be cooked for quite a long time, and the grains need to be soaked before cooking. In addition, it contains gluten. This is a sticky substance that is a strong allergen.

Barley porridge and other dishes with barley are digested for a long time and are difficult, so they can cause indigestion, pain and heaviness in the abdomen, increased gas formation, flatulence, problems with stool, and so on. You can find a complete list of gluten-containing foods here.

How is pearl barley useful, and what are its disadvantages?

Pearl barley is a cereal made from round barley grains. This is a real storehouse of nutrients that a baby needs for development and full growth.

The cereal contains many vitamins:

1. A and group B.
2. S and E.
3. RR and D.

In addition, pearl barley contains microelements, such as:

• aluminum and iodine;
• iron and potassium;
• cobalt and calcium;
• copper and magnesium;
• selenium;
• fluorine and phosphorus.

A third of the product is carbohydrates, so it is very filling. Pearl barley also contains amino acids, fiber and dietary fiber.

The benefits of pearl barley are as follows:

1. Strengthens the immune system and fights germs;
2. Gives the body vigor and improves mood;
3. An excellent remedy for constipation and stool disorders (read more about constipation in infants during breastfeeding>>>
4. Good for the kidneys and liver;
5. Normalizes blood levels of insulin and sugar;
6. Strengthens joints, bone tissue and teeth;
7. Participates in oxygen metabolism of tissues;
8. Improves brain activity and memory;
9. Regulates water-salt metabolism and alkaline-acid balance.

At what age should pearl barley be given?

Since pearl barley is difficult and takes a long time to digest, and also contains gluten, dishes with this grain should strictly not be given to a baby under one year old. If the child does not have food allergies or digestive problems, the baby can be given pearl barley porridge for the first time at 1 year of age. However, experts advise postponing the introduction of porridge into complementary foods until 1.5-2 years, and other dishes with pearl barley until three years.

Start complementary feeding with dairy-free porridge. For the first time, the baby is given a teaspoon of ready-made cereal and then the baby’s condition is monitored. If the baby feels well, the dish can sometimes be prepared for the child. If symptoms of a food allergy appear, eliminate porridge from your diet and consult a doctor.

First, children are prepared with one-ingredient porridge using water. Later, new ingredients are added to the recipes, including other cereals, dried fruits, fresh fruits, vegetables and berries. After three years, you can add honey, jam or jam. We prepare pearl barley porridge for children after two or three years of age. We also give children soups and other dishes with barley after three years.

Dishes with pearl barley should not be consumed if you have gastritis, ulcers or other digestive problems. They are prohibited if you are allergic to gluten or have an individual intolerance.

At what age can a child have pearl barley?

At what age are children allowed pearl barley porridge? It is important to take into account that despite the enormous benefits, cereals are quite “heavy” products. Many doctors believe that the first portion of porridge can be added to the menu only when the child is over a year old, and multi-ingredient dishes with this cereal - after 3 years. At this age, his digestive system can already fully produce the enzymes necessary to digest gluten.

When introducing pearl barley into complementary foods, several rules must be followed:

1. “Getting acquainted” begins with a minimal portion – about one teaspoon of porridge without added sugar and milk.
2. After use, you need to carefully monitor the child’s well-being. Loose stools, painful colic, and skin rashes may indicate gluten intolerance.
3. Is it possible for children to eat pearl barley porridge - such a dish is allowed only at 2-3 years old.
4. It is better to give the dish to the baby during the first half of the day.
5. When can a child be given pearl barley? A baby under 12 months old, especially if breastfed, should not eat pearl barley, as this can lead to digestive problems.
6. If well tolerated, the portion of porridge can be increased to 80-120 g per day.

At what age is pearl barley allowed to be included in the menu for children? For children over 3 years of age, you can prepare new, multi-component dishes with the addition of cereals - with vegetables, chicken, used for pilaf or as a filling for cabbage rolls.

How to choose and prepare pearl barley

For cooking, choose medium-sized grains of approximately the same size that are yellow, white or slightly greenish in color. The cereal should be free of pebbles and other foreign objects or contaminants, and without a rotten smell. If you do find any debris, the grains must be carefully sorted before cooking.

When cooking, keep in mind that the grains increase in volume five times. If you cook the porridge correctly, it will be soft and swollen, but not sticky. Porridge can be cooked on the stove, in a slow cooker or in the oven. By the way, in the latter case it turns out to be aromatic, very tasty and at the same time retains its beneficial properties as much as possible.

Store pearl barley in an airtight, opaque container in a dry place for up to two years. It is better to pour the cereal from the store pack into a suitable container. Below we offer recipes for dishes with barley for children.

Dishes with pearl barley for children

Porridge on the water

• Cereals – 1 cup;
• Water – 4 glasses;
• Vegetable oil – 2 tables. spoons.

We sort the pearl barley and rinse it several times until the water becomes clear. Bring the water to a boil, add salt to taste, add vegetable oil and carefully add the cereal. Cook for about an hour and a half under a closed lid and over low heat, without stirring. This recipe for pearl barley porridge is suitable for a baby's first complementary feeding. Subsequently, you can add berries, fruits and vegetables, honey, nuts, jam, and so on to the dish.

Milk porridge in the oven

• Cereals – 1 cup;
• Milk – 1 liter.

We wash the grains, sort them and fill them with cold water for 4-8 hours or boiling water for one hour. After soaking, fill the pearl barley with fresh water, cook for 15 minutes and drain in a colander. Separately, bring the milk to a boil, add a little salt.

When the water has drained from the cereal, transfer it to boiling milk and cook for twenty minutes, stirring the mixture periodically. Then add sugar to taste and transfer to a baking container. Place in the oven for 25 minutes at 180 degrees. After cooking, leave the dish in the oven in the cupboard for some more time to finish cooking.

Milk cereal soup

• Water – 0.7 l;
• Milk – 1.5 l;
• Cereals – 170 grams.

Pour pearl barley into boiling water and cook until tender, then transfer to a colander. Heat the milk, add the cereal and cook for another twenty minutes, stirring constantly. You can add a small piece of butter to milk soup with barley. By the way, instead of pearl barley, you can also put oatmeal, barley or corn in the recipe. Such soups diversify your baby's diet.

Hearty vegetarian salad

• Pearl barley – 1⁄3 cup;
• Tomatoes – 1 piece;
• Cucumbers – 1 piece;
• Bell pepper – 1 piece;
• Parsley - 1 sprig;
• Olive oil and lemon juice for dressing.

We wash and sort the pearl barley and place it in a colander. Pour the cereal into boiling, salted water and cook for half an hour. Transfer the cereal to a separate container. Wash and cut the vegetables, place in a salad bowl, add cooled pearl barley and chopped parsley. If desired, add salt and pepper, season with oil and lemon juice, mix thoroughly.

"Disadvantages" of pearl barley

The main disadvantage of pearl barley is the presence of gluten (a special vegetable protein in cereals, which contributes to the development of allergic reactions). The absence of an enzyme to break down gluten in a child’s body (celiac disease) is considered a hereditary pathology. Most often, the diagnosis is made in infants, but sometimes the disease manifests itself at an older age.

For children with gluten intolerance, eating dishes with barley is contraindicated.

• Pearl barley requires a long time to prepare, and long-term heat treatment leads to the loss of some useful substances.
• Barley is difficult to digest in the digestive tract, which is why there are age restrictions for its use.
• Due to the high calorie content, dishes made from this cereal are contraindicated for children with excess body weight (obesity).
• You should give pearl barley porridge with caution to children with a tendency to flatulence (increased gas formation and bloating) and diarrhea. Such phenomena can be caused by too large portions of porridge or too frequent consumption.
• It is not recommended to give pearl barley to children suffering from gastritis with high acidity of gastric juice.

Recommendations for selecting and storing cereals

The main disadvantage of pearl barley is the presence of gluten in its composition. This is a special plant protein from cereals that can cause allergies in some people. The lack of an enzyme to break down gluten in the body is a hereditary pathology. Most often the diagnosis is made in an infant, but sometimes the disease is diagnosed at an older age.

Mothers ask when it is safe to give pearl barley to their children. It has some drawbacks, so rushing is not recommended. Children with gluten intolerance are contraindicated from eating dishes with barley. Disadvantages also include the following:

• Pearl barley requires a long time to cook. And heat treatment leads to partial loss of nutrients.
• Porridge is difficult to digest, so there are restrictions on eating barley dishes.
• It is a high-calorie product and is contraindicated for overweight children.
• Be careful when giving pearl barley porridge to children who are prone to flatulence and diarrhea.

Such manifestations can be caused by large portions of porridge, so barley should not be given to children suffering from gastrointestinal diseases.

Contraindications to the use of pearl barley

Children should not eat pearl barley with:

• Gastritis, which is accompanied by increased acidity.
• Tendency to form gases and bloating.
• Overweight.
• Gluten intolerance.

Barley porridge is also contraindicated for very young children, as it is difficult for the body to process. Pearl barley is, of course, a very healthy cereal, but it should not be given to small children under 3 years old. In addition, you need to know how the child’s body reacts to gluten.

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Male name: Ivan

INNA

22.11.2018

I REMEMBER IN CHILDHOOD, PEARL GRAIN REMEMBERED MY TEETH AND I REFUSED TO EAT IT. AND MY KIDS GOGGLE IT WITH GREAT PLEASURE.

answer

Lyudmila

03.10.2018

But my husband doesn’t allow me to cook pearl barley, he says the smell alone makes him sick, he ate too much in the army;)) and the child is not particularly upset, just as dad does not perceive it in any form.

answer

Vicki

03.10.2018

I have two children, and no one likes this porridge. No matter how many times I tried to cook it, everything went to waste ((

answer

Vasyuta

02.10.2018

For some reason, this cereal has been disgusting to me since childhood; my child is already 1.5 years old, and I haven’t tried offering it to him yet. I think we can do without it.

answer

mile

02.10.2018

Pearl barley porridge with milk is our favorite dish. My son also loves barley soup. Very healthy cereal!

answer

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When can you give your baby pearl barley?

This porridge is one of the dishes that are quite nutritious. The thing is that it contains quite a lot of “slow” carbohydrates, which are gradually absorbed into the blood and saturate the body with energy. Additional energy, and at the same time calories, is provided by butter, which is a frequent addition to this dish. A baby who has eaten pearl barley porridge usually feels full and energetic for a long time.

People have known about pearl barley’s ability to saturate the body with energy for quite some time now. It’s easy to include pearl barley porridge in the diet of adults. When adding this dish to a children's menu, caution should be taken. Barley cannot be classified as an easily digestible product. That is why, before including pearl barley porridge in their children's diet, parents should consult with their pediatrician.

The diet of a one-year-old baby, as a rule, is prepared quite carefully. It includes foods that are quite easily digested and cannot harm the child’s gastrointestinal tract. During the first year of life, the baby is gradually introduced to new foods. This is necessary so that the child’s body gradually adapts to a diet different from mother’s milk.

Doctors do not recommend preparing pearl barley porridge for infants and children in the very first months of life. It is recommended to introduce this dish into children's menus only after three years.

Parents should remember that before introducing a new dish into their baby’s diet, they should definitely assess whether the child has certain contraindications. If the baby has any of them, then you shouldn’t prepare pearl barley for him.

Pearl barley contains quite a lot of substances that have a beneficial effect on maintaining immunity. It is believed that it contains components that even have antiviral and antibacterial effects. That is why doctors advise including pearl barley dishes in the diet of children during periods of onset of respiratory and cold diseases.

Also, pearl barley is rich in fiber. This important component helps the organs of the gastrointestinal tract work like a “clock”. In combination with vegetables, pearl barley can have a more pronounced effect on digestive processes. It is believed that consuming enough fiber daily helps normalize stool.

Types of cereal processing

Types of pearl barley processing

According to the processing method, three types of pearl barley can be distinguished: regular, barley and Dutch. Each of them has its own characteristics:

• Ordinary pearl barley is barley grains that have been subjected to mechanical processing. The outer pityriasis-like hard shell is removed from them, which is why the cereal becomes suitable for consumption after prolonged heat treatment, but loses some of its valuable substances.
• During deeper cleaning of barley grain, in addition to the outer shell, the awn is also removed. After which the grain takes on a spherical shape and boils very quickly. Dutch barley has a more delicate texture and lower nutritional value than regular pearl barley.
• Barley groats are obtained by grinding barley grains. This cereal has all the qualities of pearl barley, but cooks much faster. Due to this property, it is often used to feed children in preschool institutions.

Precautionary measures

Barley porridge contains quite a lot of calories. This indicator increases noticeably if butter was added to it during cooking. Such a high-calorie, nutritious dish should not be included in the diet of a child who has been diagnosed as obese or who is simply overweight. In this case, you should choose lower-calorie foods. This is necessary so that the child can normalize his weight and improve his physical fitness.

Another limitation for including pearl barley in a child’s diet is the presence of allergies or individual intolerance to this cereal. Sometimes it happens that parents find out that the baby cannot tolerate some food only after the child has already eaten this or that product. In this case, it should be remembered that if a child has an allergy, then in the future this allergen product cannot be included in his diet.

When to give pearl barley to a child

Porridge is a difficult-to-digest dish. Therefore, there are features for including it in the diet of children.

Mothers are interested in when they can give their child pearl barley. Experts recommend starting to include it in your child’s diet when he or she reaches 3 years of age. Over time, the digestive system will be more developed, and the supply of the gastrointestinal tract with enzymes will improve.

At what age can a child be given barley, mothers ask. Usually this can be done no earlier than 3 years. Like any new product, porridge on the first day is given no more than one spoon in the morning. During the day, parents monitor the child to exclude an allergic reaction. In the absence of undesirable symptoms, the portion of porridge can be increased to 100 g per day.

Benefit

The grains of this cereal resemble pearls (pearls) in appearance - hence its name.

The beneficial effect of pearl barley on the body is associated with its biochemical composition:

1. Barley dishes can be called a source of energy for the body for the whole day due to the predominant content (2/3 of the composition) of complex carbohydrates.
2. Due to the presence of the amino acid lysine, pearl barley promotes the synthesis of antibodies to pathogens of viral infections, which increases the resistance of the child’s body to ARVI and herpes.
3. Amino acids are involved in the synthesis of collagen, which leads to strengthening of ligaments and joints.
4. Phosphorus and calcium contribute to the development and strength of the skeleton and the strength of tooth enamel.
5. Phosphorus and B vitamins are essential for maintaining normal brain function.
6. Thanks to the fiber, pearl barley improves the digestive process, helps cope with chronic constipation in children, and helps remove waste and toxins from the intestines.
7. Cleansing the body helps cope with allergies and improves liver and kidney function.
8. Iron, vitamins B6 and B9 are involved in the synthesis of red blood cells (erythrocytes), which supply tissues with oxygen.
9. Minerals (potassium, sodium, phosphorus, etc.) regulate acid-base balance and water-salt balance.
10. Vitamins PP, group B are involved in metabolic processes, in redox metabolic reactions.

The benefits of pearl barley

Porridge has a positive effect on the child’s body, which is due to its composition:

1. Cereal dishes can be called sources of energy due to the complex carbohydrates they contain and the presence of amino acids. Lysine synthesizes antibodies to pathogens of viral infections, which prevents acute respiratory viral infections and exacerbations of herpes.
2. Amino acids are involved in the production of collagen, which strengthens ligaments and promotes skeletal strength.
3. The strength of teeth increases due to phosphorus and calcium.
4. B vitamins are needed to maintain normal brain health.
5. Thanks to dietary fiber, porridge improves the digestion process and prevents constipation in children. Helps cleanse the body of waste and toxins. This helps prevent allergies and improve kidney and liver function.
6. Minerals regulate acid-base and water-salt balance.
7. Vitamins PP and group B take part in metabolic processes.

How long can you start giving pearl barley to a child, many mothers ask. It has many benefits, but can also harm the baby’s body.

Secrets of preparing a delicious dish

Many parents do not consciously choose pearl barley as a product for preparing children's dishes. They are certainly understandable. The preparation time for pearl barley without special pre-treatment can be several hours. This is why many fathers and mothers prefer to cook faster-cooking porridge for their child.

However, the cooking time for pearl barley porridge can be accelerated, as well as the entire process of cooking the dish. The following tips will help with this.

• Before preparing the dish, it is better to soak the grains and leave the grains to swell overnight. If you do this, the cooking time for porridge or a cereal side dish will be noticeably reduced.
• Delicious pearl barley porridge can be prepared in a slow cooker. This modern device will not only help you save a lot of time when preparing a dish, but will also allow you not to concentrate on the cooking process itself, but to do some other things. Barley porridge cooked in a slow cooker usually boils well and is quite tasty.
• Before preparing the dish, the cereal should be thoroughly sorted and washed. In this case, the risk of foreign inclusions getting into the finished porridge is minimized. It is better to rinse the cereal by changing the water several times. This will make it cleaner.

How to introduce pearl barley into your baby's diet

Parents of infants who are ready to introduce complementary foods are primarily interested in two questions:

• What product can you start complementary feeding with?
• At what age should a child be given cereals, including barley?

You should start with gluten-free cereals. They are usually administered through the

About pearl barley

syats after vegetable complementary feeding. The famous pediatrician Komarovsky advises starting complementary feeding with cereals at the age of 7 months, but if the child has reduced body weight, then it is possible earlier.

Porridges that contain gluten are recommended to be given when the baby is one year old. Barley can be consumed per year, and pearl barley - at 2-3 years.

Pearl barley is a rather heavy food for a child in the first year of life. According to nutritionists, it should be introduced into the diet of children only after they are already accustomed to other types of cereals and have mastered the common table. Under no circumstances should it be introduced as the first complementary food and in large quantities at once. Barley has a dense consistency, and you need to monitor the child’s body’s reaction to the new product.

Comparison of calorie content of cereals

The first porridge that a baby eats should be rice, because it is the most nutritious and neutral. Nutritionists advise parents of an overweight child to start complementary feeding with buckwheat. It is better to use adapted cereals, but when preparing it yourself, you should carefully grind it in a coffee grinder or puree the cereal.

Microelements in pearl barley

Initially, take 5 g of cereal per 100 ml of liquid, gradually making the porridge thicker. The mixture should be added after cooking. You should start introducing complementary foods with 1 teaspoon, increasing to 150 g (portion for a child who is one year old).

Nutritionists consider pearl barley a difficult-to-digest product, so if you have digestive problems, it is better not to use it in the first year of a child’s life. It contains gluten and a large amount of starch. It is optimal to start giving pearl barley after the child reaches the age of 2-3 years, while the crushed version (barley groats) can be given as early as a year.

You should start giving pearl barley in its pure form, and when the body adapts, try a multi-component recipe.

Tasty and simple: Pearl barley porridge

Composition of cereals

Pearl barley contains many active components that are beneficial to the human body. It is rich in complex carbohydrates (dextrins and starches). A special feature of pearl barley is its high content of unsaturated and saturated fatty acids Omega 3, Omega 6 and Omega 9.

Pearl barley contains:

• vitamin group B1, B2, B5, B6, B9, E, PP;
• minerals - iron, phosphorus, potassium, magnesium, zinc, calcium, selenium, copper;
• amino acids – replaceable and essential types.

The product contains a large amount of plant fiber, which is completely absorbed by the digestive system, improves the functioning of the stomach and helps with constipation. That is why pearl barley must be present in baby food.

How to choose pearl barley for baby food

“Pearl” grains vary depending on the processing of the barley grains. There is a regular one, after minor processing. It takes a long time to cook and it is coarser, but after deeper processing it becomes lighter and more delicate in taste, the grains are round in shape. When you buy pearl barley, pay attention to:

• Smell. It shouldn't exist at all.
• The color depends on the processing of the grains. White, green, yellow are allowed.
• Cleanliness. The cereal should not contain impurities, dust, dirt, specks, or solid particles.
• Size. The cereal is the same, not different sizes.

Children's cuisine

Barley in a slow cooker (recommended for children 2-3 years old). The same recipe should be used to prepare a dish from barley, which babies are allowed to eat per year.

Pearl barley porridge, intended for children, is prepared faster in a slow cooker than on a regular stove. Recipe:

Barley in a slow cooker with butter

• Rinse the grains in running water, after sorting and removing debris.
• If time permits, you should soak it for an hour and a half in cold water, then drain it and transfer the cereal to a slow cooker.
• Add 2 parts milk or water to one part cereal. Salt, add oil.
• Set the “milk porridge” mode regardless of whether it is cooked in water or milk. When setting the mode, the time is set automatically.

The end of cooking will be signaled. After which the pearl barley should be mixed and more oil added.

Stuffed cabbage rolls with pearl barley recipe

This dish can be given to children starting from the age of two in the absence of contraindications.

For a liter of chicken broth take:

Barley cabbage rolls before cooking

• 8 cabbage leaves;
• 50 g bacon;
• 200 g crumbly pearl barley;
• a little dill and a bunch of onions;
• 2 tbsp. spoons of raisins;
• medium sized onion;
• 2 tbsp. l. olive oil.

Chop bacon and herbs. Fry onions and bacon. Add raisins, pearl barley and half the broth, cover and simmer. Wrap the filling in cabbage leaves and place in a saucepan. Pour in the remaining half of the broth and simmer for another half hour. Serve with sour cream and dill.

What pearl barley to take for children

There are different ways to process barley. Ordinary pearl barley is obtained after removing the outer shells of the grains. It requires prolonged heat treatment. During the cooking process, nutrients are partially lost.

Deeper cleaning of grains with the removal of the awn makes the grain spherical in shape, called “Dutch”. The nutritional value of this porridge is slightly lower, but it boils faster. The dish has a delicate consistency.

Mothers are wondering at what age can they give pearl barley to children. To get healthy porridge, you need to choose the right product. When purchasing, the quality of cereal is assessed by its appearance and smell:

• there should be no debris or stones in the pearl barley;
• dry grains can be white, yellow and somewhat greenish in color;
• The cereal should not have an unpleasant odor.

When purchasing, pay attention to the production time. Although it is more than 2 years old, it is advisable to use cereal for children earlier. Store pearl barley in a closed container.

How to cook pearl barley porridge

To make your baby like pearl barley porridge, prepare it like this:

1. To cook pearl barley with milk, take 1 glass of pearl barley and 1 liter of milk, as well as salt and sugar to taste.
2. Rinse the cereal and soak it in water for at least 4 hours, or preferably overnight. If you pour boiling water over pearl barley, the soaking time can be reduced to 1 hour.
3. Drain the water and add new water, then boil the pearl barley for 15 minutes.
4. While the cereal is cooking, bring the milk to a boil and add salt.
5. Throw the pearl barley into a colander, let all the water drain, then dip the barley into the boiled milk.
6. Cook the porridge for about 20 minutes, remembering to stir occasionally.
7. Next, add sugar to the dish and stir.
8. Transfer the porridge to a heat-resistant form, which place in the oven for 25 minutes.
9. Turn off the oven and leave the porridge there for a while.

Remember that pearl barley increases in volume 5 times when cooked, so choose a suitable container. Determine the readiness of the porridge by its consistency and appearance. Properly cooked pearl barley will be swollen and soft, but no longer sticky. It should be given to the child warm, since cooled porridge is less digestible and contains fewer nutrients.

When and how to introduce pearl barley porridge into a child’s diet

There are many opinions regarding the introduction of barley into the child's menu. Some advise giving it to one-year-old infants, while others argue that pearl barley should not be eaten until children are 4 years old.

The optimal age for introducing pearl barley dishes is 2-2.5 years. By this age, the enzyme system of the child’s body has almost formed, and the gastrointestinal tract has adapted to various products.

And yet, when introducing pearl barley into complementary foods, we must remember that it can cause an allergic reaction, since it contains gluten. For the first time, it is enough to give the baby 0.5 teaspoon of pearl barley. After introducing a new food for 24 hours, it is necessary to observe whether the child has an allergic reaction. If everything went well, then each subsequent time you can double the portion.

If after barley the baby develops a rash on the body, or constipation, or abdominal pain, or another bad symptom, then you need to forget about the cereal for a while.

For the very first time, you can cook not porridge from barley, but soup with cereals. There will be a low concentration of the new product, which will be safe for the baby.

Cooking method

To obtain crumbly porridge, you should remember the recipe for its preparation:

Soaking pearl barley

• The cereal takes several hours to cook; to reduce the cooking time, it must be pre-soaked.
• First, you need to sort out the cereal and rinse it well.
• Soak overnight, preferably 12 hours, although 4 hours will speed up cooking.
• For one glass of dry product, take a liter of liquid.
• In the morning, drain the water, rinse the cereal, add a liter of water and cook for 1.5 hours.
• Remove from the stove and, covering with a napkin, leave to rest for 0.5 hours.

Recipe without soaking overnight:

Pearl barley increases in size a couple of times when cooked in the oven.

• Pour boiling water over a glass of dry product and leave for an hour.
• Boil for 10 minutes, drain the water.
• Pour in 3 cups of cold water and cook after boiling for an hour.
• Remove from heat, cover with a napkin and leave to rest.

Pearl barley will be very tasty and crumbly if you use this recipe: put it in the oven for 40 minutes, and then leave it to simmer inside the switched off oven. It should be taken into account that as a result of cooking, barley increases in volume five times; this must be kept in mind when choosing a container for cooking.

The readiness of pearl barley is determined by its appearance and consistency; it should be soft, swollen, but not viscous. It should be eaten warm, as it is better absorbed and tastes much better than when it has cooled.

Pearl barley porridge with meat

Recipe for children

Preparing delicious porridge for a child is quite simple. This requires very few ingredients:

• pearl barley - 1 part;
• water - 4 parts;
• salt (to taste);
• butter (to taste).

The cereal should be washed well and left to swell. The minimum time for this is usually around 4 hours. However, for better swelling, the grains should be left in water overnight. After this, they should be rinsed well, filled with enough water and placed on the stove. After boiling, cook the porridge over medium heat until cooked. The cooking time is approximately 1-1.5 hours. After the grains are well cooked and soft, the dish can be considered ready.

Housewives who often cook pearl barley porridge advise that after the fire on the stove has been turned off, leave the porridge for a better “swelling” for another 30-40 minutes. In this case, the grains become even more tasty and “steamed”.

The finished dish must be salted and butter added to it. Pearl barley porridge, which is prepared especially for a child, does not need to be heavily salted. A large amount of added salt can harm the child's body. A small portion of tasty porridge is a good source of energy for a child.

To learn how to prepare pearl barley porridge, watch the following video.

Pearl barley, like barley, is made from barley. The name pearl barley is associated with the external similarity of the grains of such cereals to pearls. When a child begins to introduce various cereals into complementary foods, they always talk about buckwheat and rice groats, and they mention pearl barley much less often. Therefore, many mothers do not understand at what age it is acceptable to cook pearl barley porridge for a child and how to properly cook such cereals.

Disadvantages of pearl barley

• It takes quite a long time to cook porridge from this grain, since the pearl barley first needs to be soaked.
• Barley contains gluten, which excludes this grain from the diet of children with intolerance to this protein.
• Pearl barley is quite difficult to digest, so it is not given to small children, for example, a one-year-old child.
• Pearl barley porridge is a high-calorie dish that should be limited if you are overweight.
• When consuming too much pearl barley, increased gas formation is observed.
• It is not recommended to eat pearl barley porridge if you have high stomach acidity.
• Some children do not like the taste of pearl barley porridge and refuse it.

The benefits and harms of pearl barley porridge

Pearl barley is made from barley by processing its grains by grinding. This allows you to preserve maximum beneficial properties, which makes this cereal one of the most valuable in terms of nutritional qualities in the group of grain products.

Benefits of pearl barley porridge:

1. saturates the body with nicotinic acid, which is necessary for the normal condition of the nervous and digestive systems, as well as the skin;
2. Thanks to the phosphorus, cobalt, copper, manganese, molybdenum and chromium contained in pearl barley, the product is beneficial for the heart and blood vessels, fat metabolism, teeth and bones, as well as the functioning of the hormonal system;
3. a large amount of fiber helps the intestines function properly, preventing constipation, putrefactive processes and other things;
4. a large amount of B vitamins ensures normal hematopoiesis and promotes the proper functioning of the nervous system;
5. Regular consumption of cereals improves brain function and memory ability;
6. if a child has recently suffered an illness or surgery, pearl barley will help quickly restore strength, cheer up and improve mood;
7. Regular consumption of cereals is the key to strong immunity;
8. It has been proven that pearl barley improves the functioning of many internal organs, including the liver, kidneys and others;
9. Eating cereals helps maintain healthy hair and skin.

There is practically no harm to pearl barley. It should be eaten with caution if you are prone to diarrhea, constipation, flatulence, increased stomach acidity, as well as in case of individual intolerance. Also, you should not be too zealous and cook pearl barley every day, since it contains a lot of gluten, which can accumulate in the body.

Pearl barley has emollient, antibacterial, diuretic, antiviral, antipyretic, enveloping, and antispasmodic properties. This makes it a truly invaluable food product for children.

Barley for children in a slow cooker

You can also use a slow cooker to prepare pearl barley porridge. With such a kitchen appliance in the “milk porridge” mode, the cereal will cook faster.

The process will be something like this:

• Rinse the cereal under running water to remove any contaminants.
• Soak the pearl barley for 1-1.5 hours in cool water.
• After draining the water, transfer the cereal to the multicooker container.
• Add 2 cups of milk or water for each glass of pearl barley.
• Install the “milk porridge” program, even if you cook barley without milk.
• Salt the cereal and put a piece of butter in it.
• Wait until the end of the mode, stir the porridge and add a little more butter.

Sources

• https://vskormi.ru/children/s-kakogo-vozrasta-mojno-davat-perlovku-detyam/
• https://babyfoodtips.ru/20204832-kasha-perlovaya-polza-i-vred-dlya-detej/
• https://o-krohe.ru/detskoe-pitanie/prikorm/perlovka/
• https://40-nedel.ru/1813-Perlovaya-krupa-v-detskom-pitanii.html
• https://www.pitaniedetey.ru/racion-rebenka/perlovaya-kasha-detyam.html
• https://umniki.online/pitanie/perlovaya-kasha/
• https://fb.ru/article/471151/s-kakogo-vozrasta-mojno-davat-perlovku-detyam-so-skolki-let