Manoomin (wild rice)
- First taste
- 6 months
- Choking risk
- low
- Common allergen
- no
- Iron
- low
Gluten-free grain · serve with a binder
When can babies eat manoomin?
Manoomin is hard for young babies to eat. It can still be introduced once baby is ready for solids, usually around 6 months. Rice can cause harmless gagging because it scatters in the mouth.
Manoomin is the edible seed of North American marsh grasses. People harvest it from the shallow lakes and rivers of the Great Lakes region. It is a staple food for Indigenous peoples of the region, such as the Anishinaabe, Chippewa and Ojibwe. Much of the 'wild rice' in stores is actually grown in commercial paddies.
It provides vitamin B6, zinc, protein and carbohydrate. It has smaller amounts of fiber, folate and iron. It also carries antioxidants called gamma-oryzanols.
How do you prepare manoomin for babies?
General tips
Make dishes that bind the grains. Sauce, purée, porridge, patties or pudding all help. Compared with brown and white rice, manoomin is chewier and tastes of herbs. It pairs well with tart fruits.
Arsenic and lead
Like rice, manoomin may carry traces of arsenic and lead, and the amount depends on the growing site. Cooking 1 part rice in 6 to 10 parts water helps lower arsenic. Eat a varied, balanced diet.
True manoomin
To buy the real thing, look for 'manoomin' or 'hand-harvested' on the label. The commercial paddy-grown product is usually sold as 'wild rice'. The two also differ in look and taste. Genuine manoomin has a paler color and a gentler flavor. Commercial grains are nearly black with a harder coat.
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 mixed into foodmash
Fold cooked manoomin into a soft, scoopable food such as pudding, porridge, fruit or vegetable purée or yogurt. The mix binds the grains. Baby scoops it up by hand more easily and the grains do not scatter. You can also work it into bean patties or grain balls.
9 months
9 months · How to prepare patties and balls in bitescube
Manoomin can be folded into patties made of beans, balls of grain, or meatballs. Offer them whole, or break into bite-sized pieces as the pincer grasp develops. Keep mixing it into porridge and soft foods too.
12 months
12 months · How to prepare on its owncube
By now your child manages loose grains better. You can serve manoomin on its own. To encourage a fork, place a pre-loaded fork next to the food. Do not push. Steady fork use usually settles between 18 and 24 months.
Is manoomin a choking hazard for babies?
Choking risk: low
The grains do not clump and can scatter in the mouth toward the airway. Serve them bound, in sauce, mash or patties.
Manoomin is not a common choking hazard. Even so, it could be inhaled into the airway. The US health agency CDC lists rice as a choking hazard. Manoomin does not clump like cooked white and brown rice. Eating several grains at once can leave a scattered mouthful. When swallowing, pieces can slip toward the airway. Baby then coughs and usually clears the piece.
Use sauce or another binder so the grains stick together. Stay beside baby, within arm's reach, for the whole meal.
Is manoomin a common allergen?
Manoomin is not a common allergen. Allergy is rare. Allergy-like reactions to other rices have been reported.
Start with a small amount for the first servings. If there is no reaction, raise the amount slowly.
Key nutrients
Frequently asked questions about manoomin
Does manoomin help baby poop?
It has some fiber and prebiotics. Within a varied, balanced diet it can support digestion and regular stools. Stool patterns differ from baby to baby. If you worry, ask your pediatrician.
Is manoomin the same as wild rice?
Not exactly. Manoomin is the hand-harvested wild seed. Store-bought 'wild rice' is mostly the paddy-grown commercial product. It looks and tastes different.
Sources for this page
- Aladedunye F, Przybylski R, Rudzinska M, Klensporf‐Pawlik D. (2013). γ‐Oryzanols of North American Wild Rice (Zizania palustris). Journal of the American Oil Chemists' Society. doi:10.1007/s11746-013-2252-x
- Rungratanawanich W, Cenini G, Mastinu A, Sylvester M, Wilkening A, Abate G, et al. (2019). γ-Oryzanol Improves Cognitive Function and Modulates Hippocampal Proteome in Mice. Nutrients. doi:10.3390/nu11040753
- Moghadasian MH, Kaur R, Kostal K, Joshi AA, Molaei M, Le K, et al. (2019). Anti-Atherosclerotic Properties of Wild Rice in Low-Density Lipoprotein Receptor Knockout Mice: The Gut Microbiome, Cytokines, and Metabolomics Study. Nutrients. doi:10.3390/nu11122894
- Jeon YH, Oh SJ, Yang HJ, Lee SY, Pyun BY. (2011). Identification of major rice allergen and their clinical significance in children. Korean Journal of Pediatrics. doi:10.3345/kjp.2011.54.10.414
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