sesame seeds
When can babies have sesame seeds?
Sesame may be introduced as soon as a baby is ready to start having solids, which is generally around 6 months of age. Start small by serving a scant amount at introduction, as sesame is increasingly recognized as a common food allergen.
Are sesame seeds healthy for babies?
Yes. Sesame is a powerhouse of nutrients that babies need to thrive, including B vitamins, folate, and important minerals like copper, magnesium, manganese, phosphorus, and selenium. As one of the most oil-rich seeds available, sesame is also filled with healthy fats like lignans and phytosterols that hold antioxidant, anti-cancerous, and anti-inflammatory powers.The tiny seeds also offer plenty of fiber and protein and are a good source of calcium, iron, and zinc, which are often low in infant and toddler diets.
The nutritional benefits of sesame are most accessible when the tiny seeds are ground into paste or powder, making it easier for the body to absorb.5 Consuming sesame oil is another excellent way to enjoy the benefits of sesame. Aside from the delicious flavor, it has an added superpower in its high smoke-point. That means you can use the oil for high-heat cooking without it becoming rancid
It's a fact!
Open sesame! That magical phrase opens the door to a cave filled with hidden treasure in the book of folktales, One Thousand and One Nights. It also pays homage to the sesame plant’s pod-like fruits, which burst when ripe to reveal an abundance of oil-packed seeds. Since ancient times, humans have put the tiny seeds to use as food, medicine, and oil for lamplight in Asia, where historians believe the sesame plant was first cultivated.
Sesame cultivation has resulted in many varieties that come in a range of earth-toned colors, from cream to gold to red to brown, each with nuanced flavor. For example, white sesame seeds taste less nutty than black sesame seeds and less bitter than benne, an heirloom African variety of sesame seeds that enslaved people brought to the United States and grew as a staple food on the Carolina islands.