Each week this month I have been sharing about topics related to your baby's eating habits. Today's post is the final week of this series and in it, I will be discussing the importance of protein and healthy fat in your baby's diet. I will answer some common questions associated with those food groups and also share a list of foods that contain protein and healthy fats which are easy to incorporate into your baby's diet.
Week 3: Fish Safety & Your Baby
Both fat and protein are extremely vital parts of your baby's diet. A baby should be eating protein at every single meal, just like an adult. Many parents feed their child fruits and vegetables on a consistent basis but forget the most important parts: fats and protein. One third of a baby's daily calories should be made up of fat -- monounsaturated and polyunsaturated fat, or what most people refer to as "the healthy fat." One third of you baby's daily calories should also be made up of protein.
PROTEIN
Why is protein so important?
Protein is needed by everyone -- for every cell in your body -- but it is especially important for babies and toddlers because protein supports growth and development -- something they are constantly doing! The amino acids that make up protein are the building blocks of a body's cells. Our bodies can only produce 13 of the 22 essential amino acids, so naturally 9 of them must come from food.
Skimping on protein can slow growth, decrease immunity, weaken the heart and lungs and zap the energy that babies need to learn, play and explore. Every cell in the body contains protein and it makes up enzymes needed for chemical reactions. Protein is needed for proper bone and muscle growth, as well as hair, skin, and all other organs. The body also uses protein to produce hemoglobin that carries oxygen in the blood.
Finally, at no other time in a child's life will he or she experience such rapid growth and development. Good nutrition in general -- and especially adequate protein -- is the key to ensuring that growth and development proceeds optimally.
Why isn't breast milk enough?
Often, a baby's body weight (from birth) doubles by age 6 months. Breast milk supplies all the protein a baby needs until 4-6 months, however when you introduce solid foods, you must also introduce protein. Because a baby's body cannot store protein the way it stores fat and carbohydrates, they need protein every day, at every meal.
How much protein is required?
Because protein is so essential for infants' tissue replacement and growth, more protein is required for infants (per body weight) than for older children and adults. During the first year of life, on average the DRI for protein ranges from 9-13 grams per day.
Healthy Sources of Protein for Your Baby
Cooked Egg Yolk // Contains choline, which is crucial for brain health and development
Fish -- especially salmon and cod // Read more about fish & your baby here
Poultry // This includes free range turkey breast and free range chicken breast
Grass-Fed Beef // Red meat provides an easily absorbed form of iron for your baby (iron helps red blood cells carry oxygen to cells throughout the body and is important for brain development)
Lentils // Find our favorite lentil recipe here
Avocados // Avocados have the highest protein content of any fruit and are rich in monounsaturated fat
FAT
Why is fat so important?
Fat supplies your baby with energy for their liver, brain, and heart. It ensures proper growth and brain development, provides energy and promotes wound healing. It also helps your child absorb certain vitamins. Fat also supplies more calories than protein and carbohydrates and because of rapid growth, a baby needs those calories for energy. Getting all the calories they need without fat would be almost impossible, simply because their small stomachs can't hold that much food!
How much fat is required?
The current recommendation for infants under age 1 is to consume a minimum of 30 grams of fat per day. This amount is often provided in milk produced by a mom and consumed by a regularly breastfed infant. If your baby is no longer breastfeeding or it has decreased significantly, it is even more critical that they get fat from food.
What types of fat are important?
Essential fatty acids, or EFAs are types of fat that are essential in the diet because they cannot be produced by the body. These fats help build cells, regulate the nervous system, strengthen the cardiovascular system, build immunity, and help the body absorb nutrients. EFAs are also vital for healthy brain function and vision.
Types of Essential Fatty Acids
Omega-6 essential fatty acid (linoleic acid) // found in breastmilk
Omega-3 fatty acid (linolenic acid) // Also known as DHA -- docosahexaeonic acid
DHA plays a critical role in neurological development and visual acuity. DHA can be integrated both into your baby's diet and into your own diet if you are breastfeeding. Examples of foods high in DHA (omega-3 fatty acid) include salmon, halibut, walnuts, and flaxseeds.
PROTEIN
Why is protein so important?
Protein is needed by everyone -- for every cell in your body -- but it is especially important for babies and toddlers because protein supports growth and development -- something they are constantly doing! The amino acids that make up protein are the building blocks of a body's cells. Our bodies can only produce 13 of the 22 essential amino acids, so naturally 9 of them must come from food.
Skimping on protein can slow growth, decrease immunity, weaken the heart and lungs and zap the energy that babies need to learn, play and explore. Every cell in the body contains protein and it makes up enzymes needed for chemical reactions. Protein is needed for proper bone and muscle growth, as well as hair, skin, and all other organs. The body also uses protein to produce hemoglobin that carries oxygen in the blood.
Finally, at no other time in a child's life will he or she experience such rapid growth and development. Good nutrition in general -- and especially adequate protein -- is the key to ensuring that growth and development proceeds optimally.
Why isn't breast milk enough?
Often, a baby's body weight (from birth) doubles by age 6 months. Breast milk supplies all the protein a baby needs until 4-6 months, however when you introduce solid foods, you must also introduce protein. Because a baby's body cannot store protein the way it stores fat and carbohydrates, they need protein every day, at every meal.
How much protein is required?
Because protein is so essential for infants' tissue replacement and growth, more protein is required for infants (per body weight) than for older children and adults. During the first year of life, on average the DRI for protein ranges from 9-13 grams per day.
Healthy Sources of Protein for Your Baby
Cooked Egg Yolk // Contains choline, which is crucial for brain health and development
Fish -- especially salmon and cod // Read more about fish & your baby here
Poultry // This includes free range turkey breast and free range chicken breast
Grass-Fed Beef // Red meat provides an easily absorbed form of iron for your baby (iron helps red blood cells carry oxygen to cells throughout the body and is important for brain development)
Lentils // Find our favorite lentil recipe here
Avocados // Avocados have the highest protein content of any fruit and are rich in monounsaturated fat
FAT
Why is fat so important?
Fat supplies your baby with energy for their liver, brain, and heart. It ensures proper growth and brain development, provides energy and promotes wound healing. It also helps your child absorb certain vitamins. Fat also supplies more calories than protein and carbohydrates and because of rapid growth, a baby needs those calories for energy. Getting all the calories they need without fat would be almost impossible, simply because their small stomachs can't hold that much food!
How much fat is required?
The current recommendation for infants under age 1 is to consume a minimum of 30 grams of fat per day. This amount is often provided in milk produced by a mom and consumed by a regularly breastfed infant. If your baby is no longer breastfeeding or it has decreased significantly, it is even more critical that they get fat from food.
What types of fat are important?
Essential fatty acids, or EFAs are types of fat that are essential in the diet because they cannot be produced by the body. These fats help build cells, regulate the nervous system, strengthen the cardiovascular system, build immunity, and help the body absorb nutrients. EFAs are also vital for healthy brain function and vision.
Types of Essential Fatty Acids
Omega-6 essential fatty acid (linoleic acid) // found in breastmilk
Omega-3 fatty acid (linolenic acid) // Also known as DHA -- docosahexaeonic acid
DHA plays a critical role in neurological development and visual acuity. DHA can be integrated both into your baby's diet and into your own diet if you are breastfeeding. Examples of foods high in DHA (omega-3 fatty acid) include salmon, halibut, walnuts, and flaxseeds.
Healthy Sources of
Fat for Your Baby
Real butter // Add this to purees for an easy way to sneak some healthy fat into your baby's food
Avocado // Olivia eats a whole avocado every morning -- Find our power baby breakfast here
Coconut Oil // I add this to almost every food Olivia eats! A great source of high quality fat and delicious too!
Kale // Full of omega-3 fatty acid // We introduced kale to Olivia around 10 months of age and she loves it!
Nuts + Nut Butters // When age-appropriate (especially walnuts for DFAs!)
Unhealthy Sources of Fat for Your Baby
Obviously, the type of fat your baby is getting matters. Your baby cannot get too much of either of the EFAs, but he can have too much fat overall if the fat is the wrong type. Avoid both trans fats and saturated fats. Trans fats -- often identified as "partially hydrogenated oils" are often found in fried foods, baked goods, margarines and shortenings; they may be found in some dairy products as well. Saturated fats come mostly from animal sources -- fatty meats, lard, and some cheeses.
Final Thoughts
1. Be sure your baby is getting protein at every single meal -- this is critical to proper growth and development!
2. If your baby can't chew on meat (lack of teeth // refuses // etc.), simply puree it. We have been pureeing meat and fish for Olivia since 6 months with her vegetables. Just because they don't have teeth doesn't mean you shouldn't offer meat!
3. If you are intimidated by pureeing beef or chicken/turkey, start with fish. Both salmon and cod are easy to bake, easy to flake and therefore super smooth when pureed into vegetables. The majority of Olivia's protein comes from her favorite fish!
4. Adequate fat should be offered to a baby every day. Add a little bit of butter or coconut oil to their food on a regular basis. Integrate an avocado into their meals. Once they are older, nuts and nut butters are also excellent sources of fat.
5. Avoid trans and saturated fats and instead focus on omega-6 and omega-3s found naturally in food.
6. Take it one day at a time -- I've learned what Olivia likes and what works best for us through trial and error. Be patient with yourself and with your baby. Every day is a new day to try a new food or technique. By investing time into what you're feeding your baby, you are investing into their health, growth and development!
If you have any questions from these four weeks of Eating Habits & Your Baby, feel free to send me an email and I'll do my best to help!
Real butter // Add this to purees for an easy way to sneak some healthy fat into your baby's food
Avocado // Olivia eats a whole avocado every morning -- Find our power baby breakfast here
Coconut Oil // I add this to almost every food Olivia eats! A great source of high quality fat and delicious too!
Kale // Full of omega-3 fatty acid // We introduced kale to Olivia around 10 months of age and she loves it!
Nuts + Nut Butters // When age-appropriate (especially walnuts for DFAs!)
Unhealthy Sources of Fat for Your Baby
Obviously, the type of fat your baby is getting matters. Your baby cannot get too much of either of the EFAs, but he can have too much fat overall if the fat is the wrong type. Avoid both trans fats and saturated fats. Trans fats -- often identified as "partially hydrogenated oils" are often found in fried foods, baked goods, margarines and shortenings; they may be found in some dairy products as well. Saturated fats come mostly from animal sources -- fatty meats, lard, and some cheeses.
Final Thoughts
1. Be sure your baby is getting protein at every single meal -- this is critical to proper growth and development!
2. If your baby can't chew on meat (lack of teeth // refuses // etc.), simply puree it. We have been pureeing meat and fish for Olivia since 6 months with her vegetables. Just because they don't have teeth doesn't mean you shouldn't offer meat!
3. If you are intimidated by pureeing beef or chicken/turkey, start with fish. Both salmon and cod are easy to bake, easy to flake and therefore super smooth when pureed into vegetables. The majority of Olivia's protein comes from her favorite fish!
4. Adequate fat should be offered to a baby every day. Add a little bit of butter or coconut oil to their food on a regular basis. Integrate an avocado into their meals. Once they are older, nuts and nut butters are also excellent sources of fat.
5. Avoid trans and saturated fats and instead focus on omega-6 and omega-3s found naturally in food.
6. Take it one day at a time -- I've learned what Olivia likes and what works best for us through trial and error. Be patient with yourself and with your baby. Every day is a new day to try a new food or technique. By investing time into what you're feeding your baby, you are investing into their health, growth and development!
If you have any questions from these four weeks of Eating Habits & Your Baby, feel free to send me an email and I'll do my best to help!
Hey :) I was wondering if you could share how you incorporate coconut oil into your daughters diet. I have an almost one year old and would love to begin doing this.
ReplyDeleteThanks!!
Hi Kellie!
DeleteDefinitely -- it is so easy! My daughter is one but still has very few teeth, so she is eating a combination of chunky purees and solid food. For purees, I just mix a spoonful of coconut oil in and the heat melts it (or in my case, it is liquid at room temperature with the 80 degree weather we've been having lately!). For solid foods, I use a pastry brush and just lightly brush coconut oil on the top of foods that it pairs well with. For breakfasts, my daughter really enjoys feeding herself pieces of steamed sweet potatoes, and I brush them lightly with melted coconut oil. It pairs really well with things like sweet potatoes, butternut and summer squash, cauliflower and roasted red peppers. For green vegetables (like broccoli, peas, zucchini and green beans), I tend to use extra virgin olive oil or avocado oil. But its all based on your baby's preference! Be sure to buy a high quality UNREFINED coconut oil (Nutiva is our favorite brand) and then start experimenting. When I puree butternut squash with coconut oil, it's like a dessert -- so good that my husband eats a bowl of it as a snack! You can also add in cinnamon to butternut squash or sweet potatoes and coconut oil and thats a delicious treat as well! See what your baby responds to and go from there. Start with small amounts and build up as your baby tolerates it. It doesn't really taste like much, it just adds an extra creaminess. But it is so easy to integrate! Hopefully this helps. Let me know if you have any other questions :) XO
This was such great information! I wish there was a parenting class that incorporated all of the need-to-knows for growing a healthy, well-developed child! I doubt many parents monitor their baby's protein and fat intake.
ReplyDelete