Babyfood, cereal, barley, prepared with whole milk
Whole food · Baby Foods
Photo: Wikipedia
This is a smooth, creamy porridge made from finely milled barley cereal, traditionally mixed with whole milk for a comforting, mild-flavored baby food. Its texture is silky and easily digestible, with a subtle, nutty sweetness from the grain. Nutritionally, it provides a balanced mix of carbohydrates for energy, protein for growth, and healthy fats from the milk.
Calorie split: 18% protein · 47% carbs · 35% fat
↓ Full nutrition💚 Why it's loved
Parents and babies love its mild, comforting taste and smooth texture, making it a reliable first food. It's a versatile base that can be mixed with fruit purées or savory broths as the child grows.
⚠️ Watch-outs & how to enjoy it better
The primary concern is the natural sugar from milk and added sugars, which can contribute to a preference for sweet foods and potential blood-sugar spikes. To counteract this, serve it as part of a varied diet alongside unsweetened purées of vegetables or proteins like mashed avocado or egg yolk, and always consult a pediatrician before introducing solids.
Key benefits
- Excellent source of easily digestible energy for infants.
- Provides protein and fat from whole milk for growth.
- Contains iron-fortified cereal, common in infant diets.
- Gentle on the stomach and often a first complementary food.
- Offers a mild, non-allergenic grain introduction.
🍽️ Popular dishes
🌍 Where it's eaten
💡 Did you know?
Barley is one of the oldest cultivated grains, and its use as a first food for infants dates back thousands of years in many cultures.
Full nutrition (USDA data · scales with serving)
| Water | 82.2 g |
| Energy | 84.0 kcal |
| Energy | 352 kj |
| Protein | 3.7 g |
| Total lipid (fat) | 3.3 g |
| Ash | 0.87 g |
| Carbohydrate, by difference | 9.9 g |
| Fiber, total dietary | 0.60 g |
| Total Sugars | 5.1 g |
| Sucrose | 0.00 g |
| Glucose | 0.00 g |
| Fructose | 0.00 g |
| Lactose | 4.7 g |
| Maltose | 0.00 g |
| Galactose | 0.00 g |
| Calcium, Ca | 162 mg |
| Iron, Fe | 3.5 mg |
| Magnesium, Mg | 18.0 mg |
| Phosphorus, P | 110 mg |
| Potassium, K | 151 mg |
| Sodium, Na | 43.0 mg |
| Zinc, Zn | 0.57 mg |
| Copper, Cu | 0.06 mg |
| Manganese, Mn | 0.00 mg |
| Selenium, Se | 5.6 ug |
| Vitamin C, total ascorbic acid | 0.20 mg |
| Thiamin | 0.24 mg |
| Riboflavin | 0.35 mg |
| Niacin | 2.7 mg |
| Pantothenic acid | 0.38 mg |
| Vitamin B-6 | 0.06 mg |
| Folate, total | 7.0 ug |
| Folic acid | 0.00 ug |
| Folate, food | 7.0 ug |
| Folate, DFE | 7.0 ug |
| Choline, total | 16.6 mg |
| Betaine | 0.60 mg |
| Vitamin B-12 | 0.42 ug |
| Vitamin B-12, added | 0.00 ug |
| Vitamin A, RAE | 43.0 ug |
| Retinol | 42.0 ug |
| Carotene, beta | 6.0 ug |
| Carotene, alpha | 0.00 ug |
| Cryptoxanthin, beta | 0.00 ug |
| Vitamin A, IU | 150 iu |
| Lycopene | 0.00 ug |
| Lutein + zeaxanthin | 12.0 ug |
| Vitamin E (alpha-tocopherol) | 0.43 mg |
| Vitamin E, added | 0.00 mg |
| Tocopherol, beta | 0.00 mg |
| Tocopherol, gamma | 0.00 mg |
| Tocopherol, delta | 0.00 mg |
| Tocotrienol, alpha | 0.00 mg |
| Tocotrienol, beta | 0.00 mg |
| Tocotrienol, gamma | 0.00 mg |
| Tocotrienol, delta | 0.00 mg |
| Vitamin D (D2 + D3), International Units | 47.0 iu |
| Vitamin D (D2 + D3) | 1.2 ug |
| Vitamin D3 (cholecalciferol) | 1.2 ug |
| Vitamin K (phylloquinone) | 0.40 ug |
| Vitamin K (Dihydrophylloquinone) | 0.00 ug |
| Vitamin K (Menaquinone-4) | 0.90 ug |
| Alcohol, ethyl | 0.00 g |
| Caffeine | 0.00 mg |
| Theobromine | 0.00 mg |
Fat & fatty acid profile (per 100g)
| Fatty acids, total saturated | 1.8 g |
| SFA 4:0 | 0.07 g |
| SFA 6:0 | 0.07 g |
| SFA 8:0 | 0.07 g |
| SFA 10:0 | 0.07 g |
| SFA 12:0 | 0.07 g |
| SFA 13:0 | 0.00 g |
| SFA 14:0 | 0.28 g |
| SFA 15:0 | 0.00 g |
| SFA 16:0 | 0.79 g |
| SFA 17:0 | 0.00 g |
| SFA 18:0 | 0.35 g |
| SFA 20:0 | 0.00 g |
| SFA 22:0 | 0.00 g |
| SFA 24:0 | 0.00 g |
| Fatty acids, total monounsaturated | 0.80 g |
| MUFA 14:1 | 0.00 g |
| MUFA 16:1 | 0.01 g |
| MUFA 18:1 | 0.79 g |
| MUFA 20:1 | 0.00 g |
| MUFA 22:1 | 0.00 g |
| Fatty acids, total polyunsaturated | 0.31 g |
| PUFA 18:2 | 0.23 g |
| PUFA 18:3 | 0.08 g |
| PUFA 18:4 | 0.00 g |
| PUFA 20:4 | 0.00 g |
| PUFA 20:5 n-3 (EPA) | 0.00 g |
| PUFA 22:5 n-3 (DPA) | 0.00 g |
| PUFA 22:6 n-3 (DHA) | 0.00 g |
| Cholesterol | 10.0 mg |
Amino acid profile (per 100g)
| Tryptophan | 0.06 g |
| Threonine | 0.16 g |
| Isoleucine | 0.18 g |
| Leucine | 0.30 g |
| Lysine | 0.15 g |
| Methionine | 0.08 g |
| Cystine | 0.03 g |
| Phenylalanine | 0.18 g |
| Tyrosine | 0.17 g |
| Valine | 0.22 g |
| Arginine | 0.11 g |
| Histidine | 0.09 g |
| Alanine | 0.12 g |
| Aspartic acid | 0.26 g |
| Glutamic acid | 0.82 g |
| Glycine | 0.10 g |
| Proline | 0.41 g |
| Serine | 0.13 g |
FAQ
At what age can I introduce this cereal?
Typically around 4-6 months, when the baby shows signs of readiness for solids, but always consult your pediatrician first.
Can I mix it with formula instead of milk?
Yes, you can prepare it with breast milk, formula, or water according to package instructions and your baby's needs.
Is barley a common allergen?
Barley contains gluten, so it should be avoided if there is a family history of celiac disease or gluten sensitivity.
Nutrient density (calculated · NRF9.3)
Nutrient Rich Foods index: beneficial nutrients (protein, fiber, vitamins, minerals) minus saturated fat, added sugar & sodium, per 100 kcal.
NRF9.3 index — Fulgoni, Keast & Drewnowski, 2009. Computed from USDA nutrients.
Weight-loss friendliness (composite index)
Energy density 0.84 kcal/g · 18% calories from protein · 0.6 g fiber · 5.1 g sugar per 100 g.
Composite of energy density (Rolls et al., 1999), protein & fiber satiety, minus sugar. A calculated heuristic — ranks satiety-per-calorie, not a clinical measure.
Dietary load (calculated from USDA values)
Potential renal acid load. Positive = acid-forming, negative = alkaline-forming.
Sodium-to-potassium ratio: 0.28 (lower is better — aim for ≤ 1)
Sodium:potassium per WHO potassium guidance. Computed from USDA nutrients.