Child nutrition is one of the most pressing issues for a modern mother. Everyone is concerned about the quality and composition of the food in their refrigerator. The menu should be balanced and varied.
Breast milk is the diet in the first six months of a child’s life. It is rich in vitamins and microelements and has no analogs in its composition.
When a baby grows the nutritional needs increase. Mother’s milk becomes insufficient to fully compensate for the increased activity and loss of energy. From the age of six months introduced complementary foods. Gradually and very carefully introduce the child to new products.
The mother and pediatrician monitor the nutrition of the baby. To control the weight and height of the child until the first year of life is the main task of the doctor. It also helps the mother consistently supplement the baby’s diet with certain foods.
Children should consume a sufficient amount of protein, vegetable fats and vitamins in food. Many foods are rich in all the necessary elements at once, such as nuts. This product is not always and not immediately possible to give to a child. It is worth figuring out at what age and how to include nuts in the baby’s diet.
At what Age should Babies be introduced to Nuts
Gastroenterologists recommend using snacks in addition to the main meal. Snacks should be nutritious and healthy. The best options are dried fruits, fresh fruits, and nuts.
So when can babies eat nuts? Nuts can be given to a child from 6 months -They must be grated. So the child will not choke on them. You can gradually and very carefully give whole nuts from the 3 years. This product is high in nutrients.
Specialist consultation is required before you start giving nuts to the baby. Self-administration of the product can lead to an unexpected reaction of a fragile child’s body. If no allergic reactions are detected, nuts can be given as a snack.
Nuts Nutrients And Minerals
Nuts are just a storehouse of nutrients and trace elements. They take pride in place in the diet of children and adults. For example, consider the nutritional value of a walnut.
100 grams of nuts contains:
| Fats | 50,8 g |
| Protein | 16,2 g |
| Carbohydrates | 11,1 g |
| Vitamin A | 8 mcg |
| Vitamin B | 40 mg |
| Vitamin C | 5,8 mg |
| Vitamin E | 2,6 mg |
| Vitamins PP | 4,8 mg |
| Potassium | 474 mg |
| Calcium | 89 mg |
| Magnesium | 120 mg |
| Sodium | 7 mg |
| Phosphorus | 332 mg |
| Iodine | 3,1 mcg |
| Iron | 2 mg |
| Fluorine | 686 mcg |
| Omega 3 fatty acids | 7,1 g |
| Omega 6 fatty acids | 25,3 g |
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Development and Body Benefits of Nuts for Babies?
The diet of the child should always be rich in all vitamins and minerals. With the growth and development of the child, his diet must be enriched with new foods.
As children grow older they begin to expend more energy. With malnutrition malfunctions of organs and systems occur. Symptoms of lethargy, poor academic performance, and reduced immunity appear. More serious health problems may also arise. It is better to prevent a possible problem in advance by expanding the diet.
No one product can fully cover the daily need of a child. The children’s menu should be varied and include a lot of fruits, vegetables, cereals, and nuts.
Benefits of nuts for the child’s body:
1. Improve brain function
Nuts contain a large number of amino acids essential for a growing child. Such an amount of omega-3 and omega-6 is rarely found in a single plant product.
Fatty acids are responsible for the coordinated work of the brain and the entire nervous system. This is very important for a constantly growing organism.
Proper brain function allows you to concentrate and learn well. Calmness and healthy sleep work for the benefit of the mental state of the child. Emotional instability is often the result of a poor diet.
To support brain development and nervous system stability, it is necessary to enrich the diet of toddlers and adolescents. Nuts of different varieties can be used as a snack or as part of a separate dish.
2. Saturation of the body with proteins
If the child cannot eat animal products – nuts will help. Protein is an indispensable part of the diet of any person. It is involved in the building function of the body. People who do not eat meat and eggs deprive themselves of a huge amount of high-quality protein food.
Lack of protein in a child’s diet can adversely affect growth and development. Nuts contain a sufficient amount of proteins in their composition. They can serve as an alternative option for people with limited diets. The use of nuts, as the main source of protein, should be calculated. Should consult a doctor before starting such a diet.
3. Increase energy
The energy value of nuts is an indisputable plus of their use. Each type of nuts contains a wide range of minerals, trace elements, vitamins, fatty acids, protein, fats, carbohydrates. All these elements fill the child’s body with strength for the whole day. Nuts can be a healthy snack and a great breakfast addition. Delicious porridge with nuts and dried fruits will be a great dish for a filled children’s day.
4. Improve bowel function
Vegetable fibers contained in nuts ensure proper bowel function. Peristalsis in children of any age is extremely vulnerable. A child of younger, preschool and school-age gets sick much more often than an adult. High viral load on the body. It can adversely affect the immune system.
The intestines are responsible for immunity in our bodies. A sufficient amount of plant fibers in the diet allows the intestines to work smoothly and fight unfavorable microflora in time. Plant food is accepted by our bodies much easier than animal food. It also contains more vitamins and nutrients.
Excluding plant foods from the diet mean exposing the intestines to high loads and interruptions in work. That is why eating nuts is so beneficial.
The mother should take care of the health of the child while he is still small. It is worth paying special attention to the diet. Nuts are amazing in that each species can be a reinforcing source of nutrition when a specific element is deficient.
For example, hazelnuts are a good additional source of protein and iron. It improves heart function and prevents the development of anemia. Pine nuts are a good source of iodine. Vegetable proteins of nuts improve the condition of blood vessels, strengthening their walls and protecting them from destruction.
Baby Nuts Allergies
An allergy in a child to food is formed as a result of the body’s reaction to the proteins contained in food. An allergic reaction to nuts is very common among children of all ages. Any kind of nuts can cause an allergic reaction in a child. This is possible even if a small amount has been used. The most allergenic nuts are peanuts, walnuts, and hazelnuts.
The most common child allergic reaction to nuts is swelling of the mouth and throat. Sometimes there is itching and pain in the abdomen. Allergy to nuts is more difficult for children than adults. The main defense of a child against nut allergy is the complete exclusion of this product from the diet. It is also worth removing products that may contain a minimum amount of nuts. This should be spelled out in their composition.
Popular Dishes with Nuts
Children become picky eaters from the age of 2-3 years. Taste preferences are formed that are difficult to put up with. Parents are turning to the internet to find new foods and ways to feed their children. When introducing nuts into the diet, mothers often use them as a separate type of snack. If the child resists, then this product can be used in separate dishes.
1. Oatmeal with nuts, dried apricots and raisins
This is a very simple and vitamin-rich breakfast. Children usually like it. Dried fruits and nuts are best selected individually for each child. You can add a spoonful of good honey for more attractiveness. It will give a tart sweetness and delight your child with a bright taste.
2. Chicken chop in peanut breading
A very tasty and original dish that will help you feed your child with meat and add nuts to the diet. It is better not to use the frying method when cooking. The dish will become even healthier if you bake it in the oven. Chicken fillet can be pre-marinated with garlic for a brighter taste. Crispy nut crust is very popular with both kids and adults.
3. Nut cookies
All children love sweets. You can pamper your child with delicious and sweet nut cookies if there are no dietary restrictions for health reasons. You need to pick up a mixture of nuts and chop them. You will also need butter, flour, powdered sugar, a pinch of salt, and an egg. The stiff dough is kneaded which needs to be infused for 15 minutes. After that, the cookies are baked for 10-15 minutes at 180 degrees.
