“Through Spice Spice Baby, my mission is to help elevate our babies’, kids’ and families’ palates and health by embracing spices in day-to-day cooking in simple and delicious ways.”
Kanchan Koya, Ph.D. ChiefSpiceMama & Founder: Spice Spice Baby
History
Spices are nature’s pantry and pharmacy in one. Since 3000 BC, spices have been used to flavor food and as medicine in civilizations spanning Egypt, Rome and India. The history of spices is essentially the history of modern man – our quest for spices influenced our wars, our trade, our food and our health.
Christopher Columbus was after spices when he accidentally discovered America and when the Portuguese conqueror Vasco De Gama landed in southern India, his men leapt off the ship chanting “For Christ and spices”! Spices were so valuable that they even replaced currency – in 14th century Germany, a pound of nutmeg could buy seven large oxen. Needless to say, spices have shaped human geography and destiny in a major way.
Spices today
Despite greater access and affordability worldwide, the mention of spices still evokes an association with ethnic food and incorporating them into mainstream Western cooking can feel challenging. Questions abound: does nutmeg go well with savory or sweet dishes? How can one use cumin and turmeric outside of Indian cuisine? What fruits, vegetables or meats combine well with cardamom and clove? And most importantly, can I really give my baby and kids spices? Aren’t they too spicy?!! Such doubts have led many Western households to shy away from spices until an occasional, often ethnic recipe calls for them. Babies and kids are exposed to spices much later, if at all, at which point they may find the tastes too unfamiliar for easy acceptance.
Why give babies and kids spices?
The words ‘spice’ and ‘baby’ in the same sentence may cause a few eyebrow raises but this is a reaction that is totally unfounded. There is a broad consensus among experts that the bland diet we have grown accustomed to giving babies has no scientific or health basis. Pediatricians agree that we can and should broaden babies’ palates with the use of herbs and spices starting as early as 6-8 months. Here are some compelling reasons why it’s a fantastic idea to expose babies, toddlers and kids to spices.
- Spices have a plethora of health and medicinal benefits – turmeric fights inflammation and cancer, cinnamon is an anti-diabetes superhero, paprika prevents obesity, cumin boosts digestion, cardamom reduces nausea and coriander is a powerful anti-bacterial.
- Spices can serve as natural remedies for various common ailments like colds and digestive upsets, reducing the need for antibiotics and other medications with unpleasant side effects.
- Spices expose babies, toddlers and kids to new tastes, setting the stage for a lifetime of healthy, adventurous eating. Palate development begins in the womb, continues through breastfeeding and expands once babies are introduced to flavors and textures through solid foods. Taste preferences are more challenging to alter after age 2 (as most of us with toddlers know)!
- Spices infuse food with flavor, reducing the need for excess salt and sugar.
- Spices help jazz up vegetables, which most kids don’t get enough of. 30% of children in the West eat less than one serving of vegetables a day.
How to start babies and kids on spices
- Begin with aromatic spices like cinnamon, turmeric, nutmeg, cardamom, cumin, coriander, clove and paprika. Hot spices like cayenne pepper can irritate young tongues and tummies and can wait
- Cook the spice thoroughly with the food to get rid of any bacterial contamination that can sometimes be present in spice batches. If using a spice in a cold dish like these amazing mango lassi popsicles, you can dry roast the spice over medium heat for 1-2 minute to kill any contaminants
- Allergies to spices are rare but can happen. If you are concerned about allergies, follow the 4 day rule like you would for any new foods
- Start with small amounts of spice and build from there
- Don’t give up if baby, toddler or kid rejects the new flavor. Remember, it can take up to 10-15 exposures to introduce a new flavor or food to kids!
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