
Fat plays a very important part in a baby's diet. How to add fat to suit the needs and ensure a healthy diet for the baby is always a concern of many parents.
How much fat should your child eat?
Generally, fat should only make up less than 30% of the calories in your baby's diet, 1/3 or less of which should be saturated fat and the rest unsaturated fat (fatty acids or not). monounsaturated). Unsaturated fats are typically liquid when placed at room temperature and are found in vegetable oils such as corn, sunflower, soybean, and olive oils.
Should you cut fat in your baby's diet?
Childhood is the best time for your baby to start heart-healthy eating habits. However, the adult's goal of cutting down on fat, saturated fat, trans fat, and cholesterol should not apply to babies younger than two years old. This is because fat is an essential nutrient for your baby's development. Fats provide the energy your baby needs to grow and function. So you should not too restrict the baby's fat absorption in daily meals.
The dangers of consuming a lot of fat
If the amount of fat, especially saturated fat your child consumes is too high, your child may experience health problems, including heart disease later in life. Saturated fat is usually solid at room temperature. This type of fat can be found in fatty meats like beef, pork, ham, veal, lamb and dairy products like whole milk, cheese and cream. For that reason, after 2 years of age, babies should eat foods with less fat and saturated fat.
What foods should a child over two years old eat fat from?
Healthy, low-fat, and low-cholesterol foods for babies over two years old may include
Poultry;
Fish;
Lean meat (grilled, baked, roasted, not fried);
Soft margarine (instead of butter);
Low-fat dairy products;
Vegetable oils are low in saturated fat.
Limit feeding your baby more eggs.
What should mothers pay attention to when feeding children foods containing fat?
Fat is also present in significant amounts in milk types. Note the following: whole milk is generally recommended for children 12 to 24 months of age. However, your doctor may recommend that you give your baby low-fat milk with a 2% fat content if your baby is overweight or obese, if your family has a history of high cholesterol or heart disease. It's best to have your baby consulted and advised by a pediatrician or dietitian before switching your baby from whole milk to low-fat milk.
Forcing your baby to eat and banning certain foods will never be an effective way to develop healthy eating habits. When children think about a food banned by their parents, that dish becomes much more attractive. It is very important for you and your baby to feel and enjoy all kinds of food and drink, but you should not overfeed your baby of any kind. Pay attention to give your child a moderate amount of sweets and servings of high-fat foods.