Nutrition for Toddlers: Seasoning & Sauce

We last discovered which nuts and seeds are safe for toddlers. Now, let's explore seasonings and sauces! Many Malaysian mummies might want to expand our little ones’ palates with a different range of flavourful ingredients with various seasonings and sauces. Not to mention, of them are nutritious and good for our toddler’s health too. Nevertheless, there are certain seasonings and sauces that you need to keep a mindful eye on. But which seasonsings and sauces are toddler-friendly and which should be avoided? Let’s find out together, shall we? Safe Seasonings & Sauces for Toddlers Curry powder You can include mild curry into your toddler’s meal. Curry powder has many nutrients like vitamins, minerals, and calcium, which helps to develop your toddler’s brain and nervous system. It can also help to build his teeth and bones. In addition, curry can also promote immunity and blood circulation. Mummies can use some curry powder on chicken or puree. Garlic Your toddlers can have some garlic. Garlic is rich in nutrients which helps improve your toddler’s blood circulation and immunity. Plus, they are also great for his digestive health and soothe skin rashes. Garlic may also relieve your toddler’s asthma! Black sesame Black sesame is safe for your little ones. It has vitamins, minerals, and calcium, which are great for your toddler’s development and growth. Black sesame can also improve his hair and skin health. Chicken stock Chicken stock is high in calcium, magnesium, minerals, and fatty acids. All of these are great for your toddler’s muscles and bone health. It can also help to promote your toddler’s immune and digestive system. In addition, chicken broth is great for children that struggle with skin issues, digestive problems, and gut inflammation. Mummies should try to make a homemade chicken broth as the store-bought ones are high in MSG and food additives. Read up to know more about chicken stock here! Cloves You can feed your toddlers with cloves too. Cloves are rich in many vitamins, iron, and calcium, which helps to improve your toddler’s bone and teeth growth. It is also great for his hair and nail growth. Additionally, cloves can promote vision, immunity, and blood circulation. It is also great for teething! Mummies may try to use clove paste to soothe their gum. Pesto Pesto is great for your little ones! It has antioxidants and healthy fats which help to boost your toddler’s immune system and development. However, avoid buying store-bought ones as it has high sodium content. Tamarind paste Tamarind paste is great for your toddlers. This paste has many nutrients like iron, magnesium, and fibre. Tamarind paste can help to aid your toddler’s constipation and diarrhoea. It is also great for your toddler’s heart and liver health. Additionally, tamarind paste has antiseptic properties which help prevent bacteria and diseases. It has inflammatory properties too. Moderation is Key Carom seeds You can add a pinch of carom seed powder into your toddler’s food like porridge as they are rich in nutrients. It can help to aid your toddler’s cold, cough and diarrhoea. Carom seeds are also great to prevent intestinal worms in kids! Cardamom powder Mums may add 1/4 – 1/2 teaspoon of cardamom powder to your toddler’s food as it contains iron, vitamins, and coopers. All of these help prevent anaemia. It can also improve your toddler’s digestion and respiratory health. Cumin powder Your toddler may have cumin powder in moderation too. It is rich in iron and other nutrients which helps to improve his blood sugar control. Cumin powder can relieve diarrhoea and gas problems. It is also a great anti-fungal! You might want to add 1/4 teaspoon of it into your toddler’s food. Nutmeg powder Your toddler may consume nutmeg powder too. It has many nutrients that can help to improve your toddler’s sleep quality. Nutmeg powder may also help to cure your toddler’s digestive issues. Mummies may add a pinch of nutmeg powder into your toddler's food. Garam masala It is fine to include garam masala in your toddler’s meal as soon as your toddler is about eight months old. It has anti-inflammatory properties which is great for your toddler’s digestive system. Mummies might try to add a pinch of it into your toddler’s mild curry! Cayenne Pepper You might want to add a scant amount of cayenne pepper to your toddler’s meal. Cayenne pepper contains vitamins, minerals, and antioxidants. All of these help promote your toddler’s digestion and blood circulation. Turmeric powder Your toddlers may consume turmeric powder in moderate quantities. It has many essential nutrients which helps to improve your toddler’s immunity and digestive health. Additionally, it also has anti-inflammatory properties which can help soothe his eczema and asthma symptoms. Tumeric powder also has antioxidant properties. According to Cancer Survivors Network, turmeric can help prevent childhood leukaemia. Just be careful with it as it is an allergen. Mummies may use it in your toddler’s soup or puree. Cinnamon Your little one can have a small amount of cinnamon. It has many essential nutrients which helps to reduce blood pressure and promote blood circulation. Additionally, it is also an antioxidant and may relieve his digestion. Mummies may try sprinkling a pinch of cinnamon powder over your toddler’s food. A Big No-no Sugar Your toddler should have limited quantities of sugar in his diet. Sugar can lead to many health risks such as obesity, high blood pressure, and diabetes. Additionally, it can also cause aggressive behavior and hyperactivity. This study discusses more on the cons of sugar for kids. Salt You may sprinkle a pinch of salt in your toddler’s meal. Don't overshare as too much salt might lead to dehydration and high blood pressure. Huge consumption of salt can also lead to asthma, obesity, and stomach cancer. Black pepper You may add a tiny amount of black pepper into your toddler’s food. Black pepper contains many nutrients which help to reduce inflammation and improve digestion. It can promote your toddler’s oral and brain health. In addition, it may also improve his skin and respiratory health. However, you need to be careful with it as it might cause diarrhoea and vomiting. It is best to wait until he is at least two years old. Red pepper Limit your toddler’s consumption of red pepper. An excessive amount of red pepper can cause diarrhoea and vomiting. Or worse, a heart attack. Especially in babies under one year old. Cooking wine Avoid putting cooking wine into your toddler’s meal as it contains alcohol which is not suitable for toddlers. Achar Mummies cannot feed achar to your toddler as it might lead to indigestion problems. Consume safe seasonings and sauces Thus, mummies need to be on the alert of certain seasonings and sauces as it might lead to unpleasant effects on your toddler. Sources: https://www.cdc.gov/nutrition/infantandtoddlernutrition/index.html https://www.hsph.harvard.edu/nutritionsource/kids-healthy-eating-plate/ https://www.yummytoddlerfood.com/100-foods-for-toddlers/ Here are some simple recipes that you can make for your little ones! Check out which beverages are safe for your little ones to consume and which aren’t here. Disclaimer: The information provided in this article is for informational purposes only and should not be considered as medical advice from Motherhood. For any health-related concerns, it is advisable to consult with a qualified healthcare professional or medical practitioner. For more insightful stories and fun recipes, stay tuned to Motherhood Story!

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