Makhana, also known as Phool Makhana, serves as a superfood for the growing body of your baby. Also known as fox nuts or Lotus seeds, these power-packed seeds have been used since ancient times in Ayurvedic medicine and Asian cuisines. Packed with fiber, protein, healthy fats, calcium, magnesium, iron, phosphorus, and many other minerals, it is the perfect weaning food for your little one. It can also be given to your preschooler as a nutritious snack option. Makhana for infants serves as a superfood, and it can be easily given to your baby after 6 months of age.

Makhana Nutrition for Infants

According to the USDA, 100 grams of makhana (fox nuts) have the following approximate nutritional values:

• Calories: 350 kcal
• Protein: 9.7 g
• Carbohydrates: 77 g
  • Fiber: 7.6 g
  • Sugar: 0.4 g
• Fat: 0.1 g
  • Saturated Fat: 0.0 g
• Cholesterol: 0 mg
• Sodium: 5 mg
• Potassium: 500 mg
• Calcium: 60 mg
• Iron: 1.4 mg

Makhana Benefits for Infants

• Healthy Brain: Fox Nuts for infants are a good source of thiamine, which helps in the development of cognitive function. It also aids in the formation of acetylcholine, which is essential for neurotransmission.
• Prevents Constipation: Makhana is a good source of dietary fiber. There are 7.6 grams of dietary fiber in every 100-gram serving of popped lotus seeds. This fiber helps keep your baby’s gut healthy and also prevents the problem of constipation.
• Gluten-Free: Makhana is an ideal food for babies who are intolerant to gluten, a type of protein found in wheat and wheat products. It is completely gluten-free and can be combined with milk to make a gluten-free porridge. Nutritional profile of Makhana.
• Better sleep: Makhana works wonders in terms of sleep betterment in babies as it is a rich source of terpenoids, flavonoids, saponins, and alkaloids. These help in inducing sleep in babies.
• Energy booster: Makhana is a good source of calcium, iron, etc. nutrients, which help boost energy levels in infants. These are known to prevent hidden hunger, which is often experienced due to the deficiency of vital nutrients.

What is the right age to introduce makhana  to infants?

You may introduce makhana for babies as soon as they reach six months of age. Start with just a teaspoon of any soft, cooked makhana-based recipe. Then, wait for three to four days and observe for any makhana allergy in the baby. If no adverse effects are seen, you can gradually increase the quantity of makhana. 

Makhana Recipes For Infants

1. Makhana And Nuts Pre-Mix

This ready-to-serve cereal mix can be stored for over a month in an airtight container and used as a premix for making any healthy makhana meal option for your baby, when you’re in a hurry.

Ingredients:

• Makhana : 50 grams
• Dry roasted Cashew : 5 pieces
• Dry Roasted Almonds : 5 pieces
• Ghee : 1 tablespoon

Servings

This will give you ½ cup mixture. Store in an airtight jar. This has a shelf life of up to a month.

How To Make

1. Cut the popped lotus seeds (makhana) in half and check for any warm or rotten parts.
2. In an iron pan, heat one tablespoon of ghee (clarified butter).
3. Add the chopped makhana to the pan and stir continuously until they turn golden brown.
4. Take them out on a plate and keep them aside.
5. Add cashews and almonds to the pan with the remaining ghee.
6. If all the ghee has been used up for roasting the makhana, add 1/4 tablespoon of ghee to the pan.
7. Stirring in between will turn the seeds golden brown evenly.
8. Remove them onto a separate plate.
9. Place both the makhana and roasted nuts in a grinder and grind them into a fine powder.
10. Store the mixture in an airtight jar.
11. Bring half a cup of water to a boil.
12. Add one tablespoon of the makhana and nuts premix prepared.
13. Cook it for 2-3 minutes, until it starts to thicken.
14. Serve warm to your infant.

2. Vegetable Makhana Puree

Ingredients:

1. Makhana powder: 2 tbsp
2. Carrot/pumpkin puree: 1 small piece
3. Water: ½  cup

How to Make:

1. In a pan, roast the makhana without using any ghee or fat.
2. As soon as the makhanas  turn golden brown and crisp, turn off the flame.
3. Take out these roasted makhanas in a blender jar.
4. Grind them to make fine powder.
5. Meanwhile, boil and mash a small piece of either carrot or pumpkin.
6. In the same pan, boil water and add the grounded makhana to it.
7. Cook the mixture of makhana powder in water at low flame for 2 minutes, till it starts thickening.
8. Now mix the boiled and mashed vegetable puree in it.
9. Cook the makhana and veggie puree for another 2 minutes.
10. Serve warm to your little one.

3. Sproutling’s Jowar Makhana Phirni Powder

Our sproutling’s Jowar Makhana Phrni Powder provides the purest form of nutrition to your infant as we use Freeze dried ingredients. The baby food is absolutely free from any kind of preservatives or added sugar and refined flour, so it is easy on your little one’s tummy.

Ingredients:

Sproutling’s Jowar makhana Phrni Powder: 20 grams (2 tbsp)

Water/breast milk: 120 ml (½ cup)

How to Make:

1.  Clean your hands and the cutlery to be used before preparation.
2. Measure 20g (2 tbsp) of jowar makhana phirni from the packet.
3. Then add in 120 ml (1/2 c) of hot water or breastmilk. 
4. Stir thoroughly to make the baby food (jowar makhana phirni) lump-free.
5. Once it is at room temperature, use a clean spoon to feed your baby. 

Each packet of Jowar Makhana Phirni weighs 200g and serves 10 portions, with each serving size being 20g. 

Read Also: Jowar Phirni: Healthy Version of Rice Phirni

4. Makhana and Ragi Porridge

Ingredients:

• Ragi flour: 1 tablespoon.
• Makhana powder: 1 tbsp
• Water: ½  cup
• Ghee: ½ tsp

How to Make:

1. In a pan, roast the makhana without using any ghee or fat.
2. As soon as the makhana turns golden brown and crisp, turn off the flame.
3. Take out the roasted makhana in a blender jar.
4. Grind them to make fine powder.
5. In the same pan, heat up ½ teaspoon ghee and then add ragi flour to it.
6. Roast the ragi flour in ghee till it starts giving a nice fragrance.
7. Add water to this cooked ragi flour and makhana powder to it.
8. Let the mixture cook on a low-medium flame and stir continuously.
9. As soon as the mixture starts turning thick, turn off the flame.
10. Serve when the porridge gets a little cooler to be bearable by your little one.

4. Makhana and Banana Mash:

Ingredients:

Makhana: 2 tbsp

Banana: 1 small

Water: ½ cup

How to Make:

1. In a pan, roast the makhana without using any ghee or fat.
2. As soon as the makhana turns golden brown and crisp, turn off the flame.
3. Take out the roasted makhana in a blender jar.
4. Grind them to make fine powder.
5. Boil some water in a pan and then add the makhana powder.
6. Cook at low-medium flame with stirring in between to avoid burning.
7. As soon as you get the desired consistency of this mixture, turn off the flame.
8. Peel and mash the banana.
9. Add this mashed banana to the serving bowl. 
10. Mix everything well with a spoon and serve.

Safety Considerations

• Start by feeding your baby only one teaspoon of any makhana recipe for the first time, then wait at least three days to watch for any allergic reactions. Gradually increase the quantity if no reactions occur.
• Feeding too much makhana is not advisable. There should be a one-day pause after giving any makhana recipe. Excessive feeding may cause constipation. Follow our detailed meal plan to get the best results for your baby.
• Bloating may occur if babies are fed makhanas in excess. Encourage parents to incorporate makhana into their baby’s diet.

Conclusion

Incorporating makhana into your baby’s diet is a wonderful way to provide essential nutrients, helping them grow strong, healthy, and happy. These simple, nutritious recipes offer versatile options for introducing makhana safely, from porridge to kheer. Remember to start slow, watch for any reactions, and use these recipes as part of a balanced diet for your little one. Makhana not only supports their developing brains, digestive systems, and overall health but also offers a comforting, tasty way to expand their diet. Enjoy creating these wholesome snacks and meals—your little one is sure to love them!