Wonderful Wheat Germ – An ideal ingredient for your baby food!

Would you believe me if I told you there’s a secret ingredient you could add to your baby’s food that would provide a massive nutritional boost? An incredibly healthy ingredient with a flavor so subtle your baby wouldn’t even notice?

Sounds too good to be true, right?

However, that secret ingredient DOES exist, and YOU can increase the nutritional value of many of your baby’s foods simply by adding wheat germ.

Note: Before including wheat germ (which contains gluten) or any wheat products in your baby’s diet, remember to check with your doctor.

What is wheat germ?

Nutritionally speaking, wheat germ is one of the most valuable products available. It is the smallest part of the whole grain, which is made up of 4 parts

• the shell (outer layer)
• bran (a nutritious, high-fiber part of the grain)
• the endosperm (the bulk of the grain, used in processed grain foods)
• the germ (the smallest part of the grain, packed with nutrients)

Why is wheat germ good for my baby?

The list of nutrients that wheat germ contains is impressive; in fact, wheat germ provides more nutrients per ounce than any other grain or vegetable. By adding it to your baby’s food, you are providing

• folic acid
• phosphorus (needed for healthy teeth and bones)
• fiber
• Vitamin A
• vitamins B1 and B3
• vitamin B5 (also known as pantothenic acid, which helps the body assimilate energy from food)
• vitamin E (which strengthens the immune system)
• protein (the protein content of wheat germ is actually higher than most meats)
• iron
• potassium
• riboflavin
• calcium
• magnesium
• zinc

Purchase and storage of wheat germ.

You can buy wheat germ at health food stores and it is becoming more widely available at major supermarkets. It is sold both fresh and roasted; fresh is best, if available.

You may note on the packaging that it is recommended to keep wheat germ in the refrigerator (fresh should be refrigerated immediately and toasted should be refrigerated once opened). This is important, as wheat germ contains fat and will spoil if stored improperly. To maintain freshness, always keep opened wheat germ in an airtight container.

Adding wheat germ to baby food

Wheat germ has a very subtle, slightly sweet flavor, which means you can easily add it to sweet and savory baby food dishes. If your baby is a fussy eater and you’re concerned that they aren’t getting adequate nutrition from their solid foods, then the addition of wheat germ ensures they get an extra dose of valuable nutrients with everything they eat. It can be included in practically any dish…

• sprinkle some on baby cereal or fruit purees
• use it to cover cooked vegetables
• stir it into your baby’s casseroles and stews or soups
• stir some into your baby yogurt
• mix with breadcrumbs when breading chicken, tofu, etc. for your baby
• use as a “powder” to coat slippery foods for your baby.
• when baking for babies, use small amounts of wheat germ instead of equal amounts of flour

Remember that wheat germ helps with constipation, which means giving your baby too much can have the opposite effect! Sprinkle some on their food and don’t use wheat germ if your baby has diarrhea.