Babyfood, cereal, rice, dry fortified
Whole food · Baby Foods
Photo: Wikipedia
This is a finely milled, shelf-stable powder made from rice, specifically formulated as a first solid food for infants. It has a neutral, slightly sweet cereal taste and a smooth, non-gritty texture when mixed with liquid, forming a thin, easily digestible porridge. Nutritionally, it's a concentrated source of carbohydrates for energy, fortified with essential vitamins and minerals like iron to support early growth.
Calorie split: 7% protein · 88% carbs · 5% fat
↓ Full nutrition💚 Why it's loved
Parents appreciate its simplicity and reliability as a safe, nutritious first food that babies often accept readily. Its bland flavor makes it an ideal base for mixing with pureed fruits or vegetables, allowing for easy flavor introduction.
⚠️ Watch-outs & how to enjoy it better
The high carbohydrate content and low fiber/protein can lead to rapid blood sugar spikes if not balanced. It is also a low-fiber food, which may not promote optimal digestive health on its own. To counteract this, always mix it with a source of protein (like breast milk, formula, or puréed meat/beans) and fat (like avocado or a drop of olive oil), and gradually introduce higher-fiber cereals like oatmeal.
Key benefits
- Highly digestible and gentle on a developing stomach.
- Fortified with iron, zinc, and B vitamins critical for infant development.
- Provides a quick, accessible source of energy from complex carbohydrates.
- Allergen-friendly; typically gluten-free and dairy-free.
- Has a long shelf life and requires no refrigeration before preparation.
🍽️ Popular dishes
🌍 Where it's eaten
💡 Did you know?
The fortification of infant cereals with iron was a major public health innovation in the mid-20th century, directly combating iron-deficiency anemia in babies.
Full nutrition (USDA data · scales with serving)
| Water | 5.1 g |
| Energy | 390 kcal |
| Energy | 1630 kj |
| Protein | 6.7 g |
| Total lipid (fat) | 2.2 g |
| Ash | 2.9 g |
| Carbohydrate, by difference | 83.1 g |
| Fiber, total dietary | 1.3 g |
| Total Sugars | 4.8 g |
| Sucrose | 0.21 g |
| Glucose | 2.4 g |
| Fructose | 0.10 g |
| Lactose | 0.00 g |
| Maltose | 2.2 g |
| Galactose | 0.00 g |
| Starch | 55.7 g |
| Calcium, Ca | 860 mg |
| Iron, Fe | 53.0 mg |
| Magnesium, Mg | 37.0 mg |
| Phosphorus, P | 273 mg |
| Potassium, K | 281 mg |
| Sodium, Na | 32.0 mg |
| Zinc, Zn | 10.9 mg |
| Copper, Cu | 0.23 mg |
| Manganese, Mn | 1.4 mg |
| Selenium, Se | 5.0 ug |
| Vitamin C, total ascorbic acid | 2.4 mg |
| Thiamin | 1.2 mg |
| Riboflavin | 1.5 mg |
| Niacin | 23.0 mg |
| Pantothenic acid | 1.6 mg |
| Vitamin B-6 | 0.89 mg |
| Folate, total | 230 ug |
| Folic acid | 0.00 ug |
| Folate, food | 230 ug |
| Folate, DFE | 230 ug |
| Choline, total | 18.0 mg |
| Vitamin B-12 | 4.6 ug |
| Vitamin B-12, added | 4.6 ug |
| Vitamin A, RAE | 0.00 ug |
| Retinol | 0.00 ug |
| Carotene, beta | 0.00 ug |
| Carotene, alpha | 0.00 ug |
| Cryptoxanthin, beta | 0.00 ug |
| Vitamin A, IU | 0.00 iu |
| Lycopene | 0.00 ug |
| Lutein + zeaxanthin | 0.00 ug |
| Vitamin E (alpha-tocopherol) | 5.0 mg |
| Vitamin E, added | 0.00 mg |
| Vitamin D (D2 + D3), International Units | 341 iu |
| Vitamin D (D2 + D3) | 8.5 ug |
| Vitamin D2 (ergocalciferol) | 0.00 ug |
| Vitamin D3 (cholecalciferol) | 8.5 ug |
| Vitamin K (phylloquinone) | 0.50 ug |
| Vitamin K (Dihydrophylloquinone) | 0.00 ug |
| Vitamin K (Menaquinone-4) | 0.00 ug |
| Alcohol, ethyl | 0.00 g |
| Caffeine | 0.00 mg |
| Theobromine | 0.00 mg |
Fat & fatty acid profile (per 100g)
| Fatty acids, total saturated | 0.23 g |
| SFA 4:0 | 0.00 g |
| SFA 6:0 | 0.00 g |
| SFA 8:0 | 0.00 g |
| SFA 10:0 | 0.00 g |
| SFA 12:0 | 0.00 g |
| SFA 14:0 | 0.01 g |
| SFA 15:0 | 0.00 g |
| SFA 16:0 | 0.18 g |
| SFA 17:0 | 0.00 g |
| SFA 18:0 | 0.03 g |
| SFA 20:0 | 0.00 g |
| SFA 22:0 | 0.00 g |
| SFA 24:0 | 0.01 g |
| Fatty acids, total monounsaturated | 0.42 g |
| MUFA 14:1 | 0.00 g |
| MUFA 15:1 | 0.00 g |
| MUFA 16:1 | 0.00 g |
| MUFA 16:1 c | 0.00 g |
| MUFA 17:1 | 0.00 g |
| MUFA 18:1 | 0.21 g |
| MUFA 18:1 c | 0.21 g |
| MUFA 20:1 | 0.00 g |
| MUFA 22:1 | 0.00 g |
| MUFA 22:1 c | 0.00 g |
| MUFA 24:1 c | 0.00 g |
| Fatty acids, total polyunsaturated | 0.78 g |
| PUFA 18:2 | 0.36 g |
| PUFA 18:2 n-6 c,c | 0.36 g |
| PUFA 18:2 CLAs | 0.00 g |
| PUFA 18:3 | 0.03 g |
| PUFA 18:3 n-3 c,c,c (ALA) | 0.03 g |
| PUFA 18:3 n-6 c,c,c | 0.00 g |
| PUFA 18:3i | 0.00 g |
| PUFA 18:4 | 0.00 g |
| PUFA 20:2 n-6 c,c | 0.00 g |
| PUFA 20:3 | 0.00 g |
| PUFA 20:3 n-3 | 0.00 g |
| PUFA 20:3 n-6 | 0.00 g |
| PUFA 20:4 | 0.00 g |
| PUFA 20:5 n-3 (EPA) | 0.00 g |
| PUFA 22:4 | 0.00 g |
| PUFA 22:5 n-3 (DPA) | 0.00 g |
| PUFA 22:6 n-3 (DHA) | 0.00 g |
| Fatty acids, total trans | 0.00 g |
| Fatty acids, total trans-monoenoic | 0.00 g |
| TFA 16:1 t | 0.00 g |
| TFA 18:1 t | 0.00 g |
| TFA 22:1 t | 0.00 g |
| TFA 18:2 t not further defined | 0.00 g |
| Fatty acids, total trans-polyenoic | 0.00 g |
| Cholesterol | 0.00 mg |
Amino acid profile (per 100g)
| Tryptophan | 0.09 g |
| Threonine | 0.32 g |
| Isoleucine | 0.29 g |
| Leucine | 0.56 g |
| Lysine | 0.30 g |
| Methionine | 0.18 g |
| Cystine | 0.17 g |
| Phenylalanine | 0.36 g |
| Tyrosine | 0.32 g |
| Valine | 0.45 g |
| Arginine | 0.65 g |
| Histidine | 0.19 g |
| Alanine | 0.42 g |
| Aspartic acid | 0.70 g |
| Glutamic acid | 1.3 g |
| Glycine | 0.37 g |
| Proline | 0.32 g |
| Serine | 0.34 g |
| Hydroxyproline | 0.00 g |
FAQ
Is this the same as regular rice flour?
No. Baby cereal is specifically milled to a finer consistency and is fortified with a precise blend of vitamins and minerals (like iron, zinc, and B vitamins) essential for infant growth, which regular rice flour lacks.
When can I start introducing this to my baby?
Most pediatricians recommend introducing iron-fortified cereals like this around 4-6 months of age, when the baby shows signs of readiness for solids, such as good head control and interest in food.
Can I make my own version at home?
While you can grind rice into a powder, it is very difficult to replicate the precise vitamin and mineral fortification and the ultra-fine texture of commercial baby cereal at home safely and consistently.
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 3.90 kcal/g · 7% calories from protein · 1.3 g fiber · 4.8 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: 0.11 (lower is better — aim for ≤ 1)
Sodium:potassium per WHO potassium guidance. Computed from USDA nutrients.