Apple Oatmeal Porridge

Reasons to Love This Apple Oatmeal Porridge for Babies

Nutritious and Wholesome: Packed with fibre, vitamins, and minerals from oats and apples, this porridge supports digestion, immunity, and overall growth.

Gentle on Baby’s Tummy: Oats are easy to digest and help prevent constipation, while apples provide natural pectin, which supports gut health. This makes it an excellent first food for weaning babies.

Customisable Texture: You can blend it smooth for younger babies or leave it slightly textured as they grow, making it a great transitional food for different weaning stages.

Naturally Sweet and Flavourful: With the sweetness of apples and dates, there’s no need for added sugar. You can also enhance the taste with a pinch of cinnamon or vanilla for variety.

Easy to Prepare and Store: Quick to make in under 15 minutes, this porridge is ideal for busy parents. It can be refrigerated or frozen for easy meal prep, ensuring a nutritious meal is always ready.

Versatile and Adaptable: You can mix in other fruits like banana or pear, add healthy fats like nut butter, or boost nutrition with flaxseeds or chia seeds. It’s a flexible recipe that can grow with your baby’s needs.

Apple Oatmeal Porridge Recipe

Ingredients

• 1 cup oats (rolled oats or baby oats).
• 2 apples (peeled, cored, and chopped).
• 1 pitted date (optional, for natural sweetness).
• 2 ½ cups of water.

Instructions

1. Prepare the ingredients: Peel, core, and chop the apples into small pieces to ensure they cook quickly and blend smoothly. Remove the pit from the date.

2. Cook the porridge: In a saucepan, bring 2 ½ cups of water to a boil. Add the oats, chopped apples, and pitted dates. Reduce the heat to low and let it simmer for about 8-10 minutes, stirring occasionally to prevent sticking. Cook until the oats are tender and the apples are soft.

3. Blend for a baby-friendly texture: Remove the porridge from the heat and let it cool slightly. Transfer the mixture to a baby food blender. Blend until smooth for younger babies or pulse for a slightly textured consistency as per your baby’s preference. If the porridge is too thick, add a splash of milk (breast milk, formula, or dairy or non-dairy milk) or water to adjust the consistency.

4. Serve: Pour the porridge into a baby-safe bowl. Ensure it is at a safe temperature before feeding.

Tips for Success

Pick Sweet, Ripe Apples: Naturally sweet apples like Gala, Fuji, or Golden Delicious make the porridge tastier without needing extra sweeteners.

Adjust the Consistency: If the porridge is too thick, add a little milk or water while blending. For older babies, reduce blending to keep some texture, encouraging chewing.

Enhance the Flavour Naturally: A pinch of cinnamon can add warmth and depth to the flavour.

Ensure Proper Cooling Before Serving: Let the porridge cool slightly before feeding to avoid burns. Test the temperature by placing a small amount on the inside of your wrist.

Make It More Nutritious: Add a teaspoon of ground flaxseeds, chia seeds, or nut butter (if your baby has been introduced to nuts) for extra healthy fats and nutrients. Mix in mashed banana or cooked pear for variety.

Introduce New Flavours Gradually: If this is a new food for your baby, introduce it alone first to check for any allergies or sensitivities. Avoid adding honey to babies under 1 year due to the risk of botulism.

Serving suggestions

There are various ways to enhance the meal based on your baby’s age and taste preferences. For younger babies who are just starting solids, you can serve the porridge as a smooth puree. The naturally sweet flavors from the apples and the optional dates make it a delicious and gentle introduction to solids.

As your baby gets older and starts to enjoy more textured foods, you can blend it for a slightly chunkier consistency or even leave it unblended for a more substantial meal. If the porridge is too thick for your little one, you can adjust the texture by adding breast milk, formula, or your preferred milk to achieve the desired consistency.

For added variety, you can serve this oatmeal porridge alongside soft, easy-to-eat fruit slices, such as bananas, pears, or avocados. These fruits provide additional vitamins and healthy fats, making the meal even more nutritious.

If your baby is ready for more complex flavors, consider mixing the porridge with finely chopped or mashed vegetables like sweet potato or carrots. These vegetables are not only nutrient-rich but also introduce your baby to savory tastes, expanding their palate.

Another great way to serve the porridge is by adding a dollop of unsweetened yogurt. This will introduce your baby to the creamy texture of yogurt while providing additional probiotics, which are beneficial for gut health.

As your baby becomes more accustomed to solid foods, you can sprinkle small amounts of ground flaxseeds or chia seeds on top for an extra boost of omega-3s and fiber. These seeds are easy to digest when ground, and they help promote digestion and overall health.

Always ensure that the porridge is at a safe, comfortable temperature before serving it to your baby. This will ensure that it’s both enjoyable and safe to eat. By offering different serving options, you can keep mealtime exciting and encourage your baby to enjoy a variety of flavors and textures.

How to Store

Refrigeration (Short-Term Storage)

Allow the porridge to cool completely before storing. Transfer it to an airtight container and keep it in the fridge for up to 3 days. When ready to serve, reheat gently on the stove or in the microwave, adding a little water, breast milk, or formula to adjust the consistency.

Freezing (Long-Term Storage)

For easy portioning, pour the cooled porridge into silicone baby food trays or ice cube trays. Freeze until solid, then transfer the cubes into a labelled airtight freezer bag or container. Store in the freezer for up to 3 months.

Thawing & Reheating

To thaw, move a portion to the fridge overnight or let it sit at room temperature for 30 minutes. Reheat on the stove over low heat or in the microwave, stirring frequently. Add a splash of milk or water to adjust the consistency if needed. Always check the temperature before feeding.

Equipment

• Saucepan
• Baby food blender
• Airtight container
• Baby safe bowl

Nutrition

Suitable for 6 months +

• CALORIES: 120KCAL

• CARBOHYDRATES: 25G

• PROTEIN: 3G

• FAT: 2G

• SODIUM: 2MG

• POTASSIUM: 150MG

• FIBRE: 3G

• SUGAR: 7G

• VITAMIN A: 50IU

• VITAMIN C: 2MG

• CALCIUM: 20MG

• IRON: 0.8MG

Note: Nutritional values are estimates and may vary depending on the ingredient brands and portion sizes used.