In this article

• What are dry fruits?
• Are dry fruits safe for children?
• When do you give dry fruits to children?
• Health benefits of dry fruits for your baby
• How to make dry fruit powder for kids?
• Delicious recipes with dry fruits for your child

New mothers are always interested in what kind of food their babies eat. Babies have a delicate digestive system that develops slowly. Therefore, it is a warning for parents to be careful about any new food item. But once your baby reaches 6 months of age, you need to start introducing him to solid foods gradually to help his overall growth and development. But are dry fruits a good choice for a 6-month-old baby?

What are dry fruits?

Dried fruits are dried fruits. The water content of some fruits is removed using natural methods or other methods such as sun drying or dehydration. The nutritional content of this fruit remains the same even after dehydration. Dried fruits are popular because they can be stored longer than fresh fruits.

Are dry fruits safe for children?

Yes. Dry fruits are safe for your baby and have many health benefits. However, make sure not to give dried fruits with sugar to your child as it can give way to tooth decay. Also, cut the dried fruits into bite sized pieces and always watch your child while they are eating to avoid any lingering danger. You can soak it in water to soften it before giving it to your baby. It also helps in better absorption of nutrients. It is recommended to exfoliate the skin of the almonds to avoid any irritation in your child’s throat.

When do you give dry fruits to children?

The best time to start introducing dried fruits to your baby is when he is 7 to 9 months old. This is the perfect time to get him to start eating finger foods, and introduce dried fruits as well. Since dry fruits are heavy on the digestive system, before introducing dry fruits to your baby, allow him to get used to solid foods for some time.

You will also need to consider the possibility of an allergen that could be causing your child’s reaction. Some children are allergic to some nuts. You can introduce one dry fruit at a time and wait a few days to avoid any allergic reactions.

Health benefits of dry fruits for your baby

Dry fruits come with great benefits for your baby’s health. Some of them include,

1. Prevent anemia

They are rich in iron, which is necessary to increase hemoglobin levels in the blood. This, in turn, prevents the risk of anemia in children.

2. Energy booster

As a rich source of fiber, protein, zinc, iron and other minerals, dried fruits can help you boost energy. This will keep them energetic and healthy.

3. Prevent constipation

Dry fruits contain a good amount of fiber which helps in bowel movement in children and helps prevent constipation.

4. Promotes a healthy digestive system

They contain a lot of probiotics or good bacteria that can keep children’s digestive system healthy. Probiotics aid in the development of the digestive system and also aid in the digestion of food.

5. Promotes bone and eye health

Dry fruits are rich in vitamin A and calcium. Vitamin A is essential for maintaining healthy vision and calcium can help with bone growth and maintenance.

6. Helps brain development

The omega-3 fatty acids found in dry fruits like walnuts are essential during the brain development process in children.

7. Prevents DNA damage

As your child starts eating more and more, free radicals build up in his body which can damage his DNA. These free radicals are also called the cause of cancer. The antioxidants in dry fruits can prevent this from happening.

How to make dry fruit powder for kids?

You can easily make dry fruit powder for your baby at home with the following steps.

Material

• 100 grams of almonds
• 100 gm pistachio
• 100 grams cashew
• teaspoon saffron threads
• 1 teaspoon of nutmeg
• 1 teaspoon turmeric powder

How to prepare

• Fry cashews, pistachios and almonds on a tray without oil.
• In a separate frying pan, fry the saffron threads until slightly darker in color.
• grinding nutmeg
• Powder all ingredients in a blender. Finally add nutmeg and turmeric powder.
• The powder you get will not be too dry because the dry fruits have an oil content. To prevent too much oil from getting into the powder, avoid grinding for a long time.
• You can store this powder in an airtight container in the refrigerator for about a month.

Delicious recipes with dry fruits for your child

Here are some simple recipes to include dry fruits in your child’s diet.

1. Dried Fruit Milkshake

The best way to serve dry fruits is to powder them and make delicious dry fruit shakes for kids.

Material

• almonds
• cashew
• pista
• FIG
• raisins
• Date
• throat saffron
• honey or jaggery
• cardamom powder
• Leben

How to prepare

• Soak all dried fruits in a little warm water for 30 minutes. You can keep a few spoons of saffron soaked in a spoonful of milk.
• Mix dried fruits and saffron with honey and a cup of milk.
• Once you see a smooth texture, add another 2 cups of milk and mix again.
• Once it is well mixed, you can serve the milkshake.

2. Baby cereal with dry fruit puree

This simple breakfast recipe can add more flavor to your breakfast cereal.

Material

• banana
• apricot
• peach
• Flattery
• dried plum
• baby cereal
• Leben

(The pictures show coarse nuts and dried fruits. Make sure you mix them properly to prevent your child from choking on them.)

How to prepare

• Mix all fruits, dry fruits and apples into a puree.
• You can make the mash thinner by adding some milk to it.
• Pour it over the baby and serve it.

There is no doubt that dry fruits are full of nutrients that are beneficial for your baby. Introducing them to your baby, at the right time and in the right way, can allow him to fully enjoy the taste and health benefits of dried fruits.