Are you sure it’s okay to give Henry meat?

Henry tackles a slice of grilled turkey.

Henry munching on a piece of pork.

In my last post, I wrote about Henry’s first experience with a pork chop. He was a huge fan, but I’ve heard concerns about whether babies his age are ready for meat. I dug into a bit of the research, and it turns out that meat is an excellent starter food for babies. It is a good source of iron, zinc and protein. In general, vegetables and meats are great options for babies because they provide more nutritional benefits than grains and fruits.

Research suggests that breastfed babies and those who had low birth weight (below 6 ½ pounds) may need additional zinc and iron after they reach six months of age. Henry was just over four pounds when he was born, so he can probably use the extra boost. The longer his diet does not include additional sources of these nutrients, the greater his risk for being low in iron and zinc. Providing meat as part of a balanced diet to babies older than six months can make up for this deficiency.

Why are zinc and iron important? Along with other benefits, zinc supports a healthy immune system and helps with baby’s growth and brain development. A lack of iron can lead to anemia, fatigue and developmental delays.

Another study found that when children under one eat meat, there is a positive association with their weight gain. Children also benefit from improved fine and gross motor skills at 22 months. These advantages are likely due to the increased amount of protein that meat provides to young children.

While you can raise a vegetarian child, it is important to be aware of providing enough zinc and iron and protein in your child’s diet. Besides meat, good sources of zinc include wheat germ, peas, beans, hummus, yogurt, asparagus, garlic, basil and thyme. High-iron foods include sweet potatoes, prunes, mushroom, leafy greens and egg yolk.

There are a few guidelines for feeding meat to babies.

Remember to remove bones and gristle.
Be sure that meat is cooked thoroughly.
Allow meat to cool before offering it to baby.
Smoked meats, sausages, ham and bacon can be high in salt. It may be a good idea to limit these foods to once a day for baby.

Tenderizing, marinating or simmering meat can help make it easier for babies to chew and digest. These methods also improve the taste of meat. Don’t shy away from using herbs or a good spice rub to enhance the flavor either, especially if baby will be sharing off your plate.

Comments

The Baby-Led Weaning Cookbook

UPDATE (10/2/12): Unfortunately, I did not hear back from our original winner. Congratulations to our alternate winner for "The Baby-Led Weaning Cookbook" -- Robin Pfefer. UPDATE (9/29/12): I am happy to announce that Kashia Clopper is the winner of "The Baby-Led Weaning Cookbook". When I was first thinking about using the Baby-Led Weaning (BLW) model for Henry, I was unsure about whether it would really work. I was excited about BLW’s claims of less stressful meals that the whole family could share together. Plus, I was all for encouraging Henry to gain new skills by learning about the shapes, textures, colors, smells and flavors of food. This sounded ideal in theory, but would it work in practice? After some fun but ineffective attempts at letting Henry feed himself, I went in search of resources to learn more about BLW. I needed to learn how to prepare meals for our family in which Henry could participate. That’s when I found “ The Baby-Led ...

Do Your Kids Eat Everything?

UPDATE (3/15/2013): Congratulations to Kia as the random drawing winner in this giveaway! Thank you to all those who entered this contest. Before we began our food adventure with Henry, Daddy and I had many conversations about how to encourage Henry to become “a good eater.” After watching other parents constantly struggle with their toddlers, we wanted to know if there was anything we could do from the start to prevent picky eating. That’s when we read “ French Kids Eat Everything ” by Karen Le Billon . The book is an easy and enjoyable read about the year that Karen’s family spent in France and how it changed the way her family eats. The heart of the book explores the 10 French Food Rules for raising happy, healthy eaters. “French Kids Eat Everything” sparked numerous discussions at our dinner table about how our family eats. We have become more conscious of our assumptions about food and how that will influence Henry’s understanding of mealtimes. In addition,...

Tuesday Tip for Picky Eaters: Set a good example

This week’s Tuesday Tip for Picky Eaters: Set a good example. As parents, we are the first role models for Henry. He will learn from our example, so Daddy and I need to eat our fruits and vegetables too. I am not a big fan of mango, but I let Henry watch me eat it with a smile on my face. Then he wants to try some mango too. Henry is more likely to eat fruits and vegetables when he sees Mommy and Daddy eat them too. A recent study confirmed that when parents lead by example their children have a more nutritious diet. The best way to inspire healthy eating habits is to demonstrate them first-hand to your children. Another study found that when parents ate an extra serving of fruit or vegetables each day, their child ate an additional half serving. Yes, it is important to talk with kids about food. But don’t just tell your child to eat their vegetables, let them see you eating a balanced meal that includes plenty of fruits and veggies. It may not always seem like it,...

How to Feed a Henry

Search This Blog