Safe sweeteners for babies
In this article we will be discussing sugar for babies. Once the baby completes a year we can slowly introduce sugar in their diet. White sugar or your usual table sugar is calorie dense and empty of nutrients, moreover it goes with a lot of processing and chemicals added to it. You can use healthier alternatives such as coconut sugar to introduce a sweet taste for your baby.What is Coconut Sugar?
Coconut sugar is a sugar that is produced from the flower stems of the coconut palm tree, mainly from Southeast Asian countries. It is light brown and sometimes you can find it in granulated form. Farmers extract the sap from the coconut tree and reduce it. That’s about the only processing that goes into making coconut sugar!You May Like : HOW TO MAKE COCONUT SUGAR? CAN I MAKE IT AT HOME?
That’s why coconut sugar is considered a raw food. The brown color is it’s natural color that occurs because of caramelization of the sap during the reduction process. This gives it a slight caramel taste, along with a hint of earthy and nuttiness. As the making of coconut sugar does not involve any processing nor any additives the taste of coconut sugar totally depends on the species of coconut used and where it is harvested.
Is coconut sugar good for babies?
There are many benefits of substituting coconut sugar in your baby’s diet. Babies get the added benefits of the various micronutrients, antioxidants and fiber in coconut sugar. The fiber could be related to why coconut sugar is proven to have a low glycemic index which means it won’t spike the blood sugar level caused by slowed down sugar absorption in our body.You May Like : AMAZING NUTRITIONAL AND HEALTH BENEFITS OF COCONUT SUGAR TO MAKE YOU SWITCH
Even more, they won’t get the added preservatives and additives from white sugar. Also, babies will get acquainted with the more natural flavor of coconut sugar. You’ll require less quantity than white sugar, which means a healthier dish for your childCoconut sugar gives a beautiful flavor to dishes, besides sweetening them. You’ll find that you don’t need to use as much as you would have to use with white sugar. However, please remember that while coconut sugar is certainly healthier than white sugar, it is still high in calories. By using it sensibly in your dishes, you’ll find that your little one soon develops a taste for it and won’t crave things that are high in white sugar.