Babies and toddlers love the mild, sweet taste of vanilla and it’s good for them too. Vanilla beans are rich in nutrients and you only need a small amount for a powerful health punch.
Who says baby and toddler food has to be bland? Natural vanilla powder or pure vanilla extract can be added to purees, smoothies, baked goods and savory dishes for a flavor boost and is a far better alternative to using salt and sugar to make what they’re eating tasty.
The hidden health benefits of vanilla
Pure vanilla is one of the Top 10 Superfoods and contains vitamins and minerals that are good for your child’s health and well-being. The popular spice not only adds incredible flavor to food, it’s also rich in medicinal properties.
Pure vanilla – whether it’s the whole bean, vanilla powder or pure vanilla extract – helps to boost children’s immune systems, helps to protect them from life-threatening diseases, helps alleviate anxiety and depression and improves the health of their bones, hair and skin.
Vanilla is the ideal aromatic spice for babies and toddlers. It’s a far better alternative to sugar and salt to flavor food, it’s safe to use from a young age and is packed with nutritional goodness.
Anti-oxidant properties
Whole vanilla beans contain high levels of antioxidants which help protect cells against free radicals and toxins. Free radicals are bad because they cause the breakdown of cells and tissues.
The antioxidant properties in vanilla help repair your child’s body at a molecular level. Antioxidants are also linked to helping lessen the risk of various diseases, mainly cancer and diabetes.
The anti-oxidant properties in vanilla beans are also good for your child’s skin and hair. They help to repair damaged cells which promotes healthy hair growth, delays hair loss and boosts skin nourishment.
Anti-inflammatory properties
Vanilla contains a potent anti-inflammatory substance which makes a fantastic addition to skin cream and homemade soap to help soothe inflamed or irritated skin. Add a few drops of pure vanilla extract to your child’s body wash or body lotion for a mild, fragrant lotion that has healing properties.
Anti-depressant properties
Vanilla is known as a mood booster; not just because eating delicious vanilla-infused baked goods makes us happy but because the spice contains anti-depressant properties that help to lift our spirits and boost our mood.
Did you know?
You might be surprised just how much goodness is packed into a whole vanilla bean.
Vitamin B2
Promotes growth, vision and healthy skin
Vitamin B3
Essential for healthy circulation and helps to keep skin and gums healthy
Vitamin B5
Helps the body use protein, carbohydrates and fats, and is essential for healthy skin
Vitamin B6
Helps regulate the body’s natural sleep cycles and supports normal brain development
Manganese
Potent antioxidant helps support the skeletal system by forming baby’s bone and cartilage
Magnesium
Necessary for healthy bones and the skeletal system, helps regulate energy production inside the cell
Copper
An important trace mineral needed in small amounts, essential for forming red blood cells and helps support a healthy cardiovascular system
Iron
An essential nutrient for blood building, enhances the oxygen-carrying capacity of red blood cells
When can you add vanilla to baby food?
The vanilla bean is an aromatic spice (as opposed to a hot spice) and can be introduced to children from a young age. To be safe, you should wait for your baby to be 6 to 7 months old before you start adding spice to their food.
It’s best to try new food like purees as close to their natural state as possible for the first few times so you can check for any digestive or allergic reaction. If your baby or toddler has no reaction to the solid food in its original state, you can add the aromatic spices like vanilla to improve the taste.
Safety tips for using vanilla flavoring in kid’s food
It’s best to use fresh whole vanilla beans to boost the flavor of your baby or toddler’s food. Simply infuse a whole bean that has been split (leave the ends in tact) in the liquid and remove the bean when the flavor is strong enough for your child’s liking.
Make your own homemade vanilla extract or vanilla powder so you know exactly what is in it. Imitation vanilla extract is made using synthetic vanillin and contains chemicals and preservatives that your child may have a reaction to or at the least, is not pure and healthy.
When you buy fresh vanilla beans, pick ones that are moist and not dry. The highest quality vanilla beans should be bendy, you can actually wrap it around your finger. They should not make a noise when you shake them.
Store your vanilla beans in a cool, dark place in an airtight container so they don’t dry out and lose their flavor. Discard any vanilla pods that have mold on them, meaning they have fuzzy or spongy spots caused by high humidity.
Vanilla beans have a long shelf life (from 3 to 4 years) but for babies and toddlers, it’s best to use fresh beans that haven’t been in the pantry for too long.
Keep homemade vanilla extract out of reach of children because it contains naturally-distilled alcohol. The amount of vanilla extract that is used in sweet and savory dishes is so tiny that the alcohol in that amount is not dangerous. However, if a child swallows the content of a whole bottle of homemade vanilla extract, they could suffer from alcohol poisoning.
To avoid adding alcohol at all, use whole vanilla beans to flavor your child’s food or make homemade vanilla powder. It’s easy to make vanilla powder and because there is nothing else in it except natural beans ground up into a powder, it’s the safest option for babies and young kids.
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