Sweetness for Babies Healthy Sugar Alternatives for Baby Food

Sweeteners for baby food are natural alternatives to white sugar that are safe for babies. The flavor is mild, not too strong, and mixes well with all types of baby porridge, fruit mash or puree. These sweetness can be made using jaggery, palm jaggery or palm mishri. Everyone has their own taste and there are slight differences in taste. It is advisable to give sugar to children only after they turn 1 year old.

Most store-bought sweeteners contain chemicals or refined sugar which is not good for young children. Making your own natural sweeteners at home is very easy and safe too. I prefer to use jaggery or palm sugar as it gives mild sweetness and also adds a little nutrition. Once you make it, it becomes very useful whenever you make baby porridge or puree.

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About sweeteners for baby food

Sweeteners for baby food are a simple and healthy way to make food tasty and easy to feed. This is one of those things that I always keep ready in my kitchen. Taste matters a lot when we start feeding solid foods to babies. Some babies only eat when their food tastes slightly sweet, so adding a mild natural sweetener really helps

Jaggery and palm jaggery are known for their iron content and rich taste. They also give warm color and nice aroma to the food. Palm Mishri, on the other hand, is mild in taste and can be powdered and stored for a long time. Jaggery and palm jaggery syrup are useful when you want to mix it quickly with any food.

The texture of these sweeteners is thick and smooth when made in syrup form and finer when made into powder. Once cooled it can be stored in the refrigerator and used whenever required. You can choose the one that suits your baby’s taste and digestion.

I always like to make small batches so that it stays fresh. This saves a lot of time during busy mornings when the baby is hungry and wants to eat immediately.

Sweeteners for baby food ingredients

• Jaggery – I use it for its rich flavor and mild sweetness. It also gives good color and adds a little iron to the baby’s food. For more purity you can use organic jaggery.
• palm jaggery – I used it because it gives deeper flavor and more nutrition. It is slightly darker and thicker than normal jaggery.
• palm sugar candy – I have used palm sugar for mild sweetness and it is good for kids who like mild taste. You can make its powder and use it whenever needed.
• Water – I just used a little water to dip and melt the jaggery. This helps in making clear syrup without burning. You can adjust the water according to how thick you want the syrup to be.

Why does this recipe work

• This recipe is natural, safe and suitable for babies above six months.
• It is easy to make and it remains in the refrigerator for many days.
• The sweetness is mild, so it doesn’t overpower the baby’s meal.
• You can make it in small or large batches depending on your need.
• It can also be used in porridge, puree or fruit mash to make it tasty.

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How to make sweetener for kids step by step

1. Measure the jaggery and put it in a pan, add water and mix it well.

2. Heat the jaggery for 2 minutes to dissolve it. Strain to remove impurities, cool and then refrigerate.

3. Crush the palm jaggery, I use my hand mortar and pestle. Put the crushed palm jaggery in a pan.

4. Add water till submersion level. Crush it well with the help of a potato masher.

5.Heat it and cook for a few minutes, till the jaggery melts completely. Strain to remove impurities.

6. Store the syrup, cool it and keep it in the refrigerator. Now take palm sugar candy in a dry mixer and make its powder and then store it.

Keep the syrup in the refrigerator, use it when needed. You can keep palm sugar powder at room temperature only.

Expert Tips

• use clean jaggery – I choose organic jaggery or palm jaggery so that it has less impurities. Always filter the syrup after melting it to remove dirt.
• cook until completely dissolved – I have seen many people overcooking it but heating it just until it melts is enough. If cooked too much, it becomes hard after cooling.
• thickness matters -The syrup should be a little thinner than honey. It helps in mixing easily with children’s food and also keeps well.
• Storage Tips – I usually cool the syrup completely and store it in a small glass jar. You can store it in the refrigerator for about two weeks.
• alternative sweeteners – When you do not want to make sugar syrup, you can use palm sugar powder. It remains fresh for a long time and comes in handy during travelling.

serving and storage

You can use these sweeteners while making baby porridge, fruit puree or any healthy mixture for babies. It mixes easily and gives mild natural sweetness. Always use small amounts in the beginning and see if your child likes the taste or not. Keep the syrup in the refrigerator and take out only the required portion each time.

general questions and answers

1.Can I give it to a 5 month old baby?

It is better to start only after one year when the baby starts taking semi-solid food. Before that, plain fruit puree is enough.

2.Can I use white sugar?

White sugar is not much recommended for babies as it only gives empty calories and no nutrition.

3.How can I store the syrup?

You can keep the syrup in the refrigerator for about two weeks. Just make sure to use a clean dry spoon every time you take it.

4.Can I mix it with milk?

Yes, you can add small amount of syrup to baby milk porridge or ragi porridge for sweet taste. Mix only after it cools down.

5.What will happen if the syrup becomes too thick?

If it becomes thick, you can add some hot water and stir well before using. It will become smooth again.

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