Can Babies Eat Lentils?

Lentils are edible legumes, mostly cultivated in Canada and India for their lens-shaped seeds. There are many types of lentils, but they can be categorized in 3 main groups: red, brown or green. Red lentils have a delicate sweet flavor, and they cook relatively quickly. Brown lentils are the most commonly used, although they do not have the subtle sweetness of the red ones. Green lentils are considered to be the best ones, having a rich taste and holding together pretty well during cooking, so they are often used as ingredients in various salads.

Lentils are one of the earliest domesticated crops, their carbonized remains being found alongside human habitations in Greece dating from 11000 BC. They are indigenous to Asia.

Lentils are usually boiled, but they can be eaten soaked, fried, baked or germinated as well. Lentils with husks usually remain whole even after cooking, while lentils without husks turn soft, into a puree.

In India, lentil curry is an everyday dish, combined with rice or with their specific roti. Lentil stock is used to thicken many vegetarian curries.

Lentils are high in calories, carbs, dietary fibers and protein. They also have lutein, zeaxanthin, folate, iron, manganese, phosphorus, thiamine, vitamin B6, magnesium, copper and zinc. Lentils are on second place in terms of highest ratio of protein per calorie of all the legumes, right after soybeans.

When Can Babies Start to Eat Lentils ?

Lentils are recommended by pediatricians to be introduced into a baby’s diet between the ages of 8-10 months. Lentils are high protein food, therefore they may be hard to be digested by babies, just like kidney beans or other legumes.

Are Lentils Good For Baby Constipation ?

Lentils, peas, beans, broccoli can provoke constipation in babies. Parents should give these foods to babies only in small amounts, and as late as possible, giving the digestive system of babies’ time to get used to these gassy foods.

Veggie and Lentil Baby Food Puree

Ingredients: 1 tbsp red lentils, ¼ cup peeled and diced sweet potato, ¼ cup chopped cauliflower, 1 peeled and diced medium carrot, ¾ cup of cow or breast milk or formula.

Rinse the red lentils, and then put all the ingredients into a saucepan and bring to the boil. Lower the heat and simmer the mixture until the red lentils are well cooked and the veggies are tender. If the mixture dries out, just add some more milk. Put the mixture into a blender and blend until you get the right consistency.