Lentil
- First taste
- 6 months
- Choking risk
- low
- Common allergen
- yes
- Iron
- high
Iron source, pair with vitamin C
Contains allergens
Each new allergen is offered on its own and watched for two hours. Our allergen introduction guide is available in Turkish for now.
When can babies eat lentil?
Lentils can start when your baby is ready for solids, usually around 6 months. There are many kinds, and each has its own color, taste and texture. This small legume is native to the Mediterranean area. Today it is among the most used legumes. In Africa and South Asia it is a daily staple, called dal, and appears at every meal.
It is rich in B vitamins, folate, protein and fiber that feeds the gut microbiome. It also adds small amounts of nearly all the vitamins and minerals a growing child needs. It is rich in iron and zinc, two nutrients that often run short in babies' diets.
How do you prepare lentil for babies?
Spoonable dishes
Soft Indian-style lentil dishes like khichdi, masoor dal or parippu work from 6 months. You can also mix cooked lentils into mashed vegetables, porridge or yogurt.
Iron absorption
Pair lentils with vitamin C-rich foods like berries, broccoli, cauliflower, citrus or bell pepper, and more of the lentil iron gets absorbed.
Soaking
Dried lentils do not have to be soaked. Soaking still cuts the cooking time, reduces lectin and helps with digestion. For an overnight soak, use 454 g of lentils to 2.5 liters of water and leave for at least 4 hours. For a hot soak, boil with the same ratio for 2 to 3 minutes, turn off the heat and wait a few hours. With both methods, drain and rinse before cooking.
Preparation by age
The same food is served differently at each age. What matters is how your baby sits, grasps and chews, more than the calendar.
6 months
6 months · How to prepare as a mashmash
Cut: Fork mashed
Cook lentils until very soft and mash them. Serve them alone or mixed into mashed vegetables, porridge or yogurt. Pre-load the spoon for your baby to grab, or let your baby scoop by hand. Cooked lentils also make large, soft patties and burgers, whose round shapes are easier to hold. Add a vitamin C vegetable or fruit on the side.
9 months
9 months · How to shape for baby-led weaningcube
Mix boiled red lentils with a little boiled potato or oats and roll the mixture between your palms into balls. Loose single lentils are small and slippery, so always serve them in a sticky, held-together texture. Lentil dishes such as khichdi or dal can still be served by the spoon. A single lentil is tiny for a pincer grasp that is still forming.
12 months
12 months · How to serve in salads and soupscube
Serve lentils in whatever form you like: mashed, in a lentil salad, soup or patties. Let your child eat by hand or hand over an age-appropriate spoon. Loose lentils slide off a spoon, so pair them with a binder such as yogurt or a mash. Spoon use is tiring, so your child may switch between fingers and spoon. Do not pressure.
Is lentil a choking hazard for babies?
Choking risk: low
Well-cooked lentils carry a low risk. Single lentils are too small for a young baby to grasp, so serve them mashed or as a clump held together.
Well-cooked lentils carry a low risk when prepared to suit your child's age. Even so, in theory any food can cause choking. Serve them mashed or as a sticky clump that suits your child's age. Stay close at meals, within arm's reach.
Is lentil a common allergen?
In the US lentil is not on the common allergen list, yet a lentil allergy can happen. In Spain it affects a notable share of children. Allergy to pea and chickpea (to a lesser extent peanut) may raise the chance of lentil allergy. Still, cross-reaction among legumes shows up more on blood and skin tests than in daily life. A child with lentil allergy does not have to avoid every other legume.
People with birch pollen allergy or oral allergy syndrome may react to lentils. The sign is usually brief itching, tingling or burning in the mouth. Cooking lentils all the way through lessens the reaction. Keep the first few servings small.
Key nutrients
Frequently asked questions about lentil
When can a baby eat lentils?
Once ready for solids, usually around 6 months. Cook well and mash.
Do lentils need soaking?
Not required, but soaking shortens cooking and eases digestion. Drain and rinse before cooking.
Are lentils a choking risk?
Well-cooked lentils are low risk. Single lentils are tiny, so serve a mash or sticky clump.
How can I help iron absorb better?
Serve with vitamin C foods such as berries, broccoli, cauliflower, citrus or bell pepper.
Sources for this page
- Dünya Sağlık Örgütü. (2023). Guideline for complementary feeding of infants and young children 6-23 months of age.
- NHS. (n.d.). Preparing food safely for babies.
- CDC, Infant and Toddler Nutrition. (n.d.). Choking Hazards.
- Türkiye Ulusal Alerji ve Klinik İmmünoloji Derneği. (n.d.). Besin Alerjisi, öncelikli 10 besin.
- San Ireneo MM, Ibáñez MD, Sánchez JJ, Carnés J, Fernández-Caldas E. (2008). Clinical features of legume allergy in children from a Mediterranean area. Annals of Allergy, Asthma and Immunology. doi:10.1016/s1081-1206(10)60207-4
- Lyons SA, Clausen M, Knulst AC, Ballmer-Weber BK, Fernandez-Rivas M, Barreales L, et al. (2020). Prevalence of Food Sensitization and Food Allergy in Children Across Europe. Journal of Allergy and Clinical Immunology In Practice. doi:10.1016/j.jaip.2020.04.020
- Chan ES, Greenhawt MJ, Fleischer DM, Caubet JC. (2019). Managing Cross-Reactivity in Those with Peanut Allergy. Journal of Allergy and Clinical Immunology In Practice. doi:10.1016/j.jaip.2018.11.012
- Shi L, Arntfield SD, Nickerson M. (2018). Changes in levels of phytic acid, lectins and oxalates during soaking and cooking of Canadian pulses. Food Research International. doi:10.1016/j.foodres.2018.02.056
Guides on iron, allergen introduction, gagging and drinks. Read the starting solids guides
Medical note
This page is for information only and is not a substitute for medical advice, diagnosis or treatment. Talk to your pediatrician before any feeding decision, especially about allergen introduction and reactions.
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Astro Tasarım Simay Yenice · Türkiye · merhaba@lokmini.com