Many parents don’t know which nutrients are needed for healthy growth of their babies and toddlers or which foods contain them to promote healthy eating habits as children shift from toddler-ship towards have a will of their own.Organic, chemical free nutrients are important to stimulate growth and enhance brain development. KEY MINERALS REQUIRED TO STIMULATE GROWTH AND BRAIN DEVELOPMENT ARE IRON AND ZINC. BREAST FED BABIES ARE NOT GENERALLY NUTRIENT DEFICIENT BUT BABIES THAT ARE FED FORMULA MAY NEED SUPPLEMENTS TO BOOST THEIR INTAKE OF THESE MINERALS.Once babies start eating pureed or solid food, it is important for them to get adequate nutrition. Iron is important for production of red blood cells and zinc is necessary to boost the immune system. Good sources of iron include beef, pork, tofu, beans, soy beans, shellfish and whole grains, but there are two types of iron, haem iron and non-haem iron. Haem iron is more easily absorbed than non-haem iron and can be found in meat and fish. To increase the absorption of non-haem iron, food containing vitamin C, like bell peppers, tomatoes and oranges, should be eaten with beans and whole grains.Omega 3 fatty acids are needed for vision and brain development and are present in seafood, especially oily fish and rapeseed oil. Many foods are also enriched with Omega 3 fatty acids like eggs, juice and dairy products, bread and cereals. Calcium is necessary for strong bones and teeth in toddlers. Yoghurt, sardines and cheddar cheese are top sources of calcium closely followed by milk which should be whole milk for toddlers. Orange juice, tofu and salmon are also good sources of calcium.Babies and toddlers also need protein in their diets for growth of bones, muscles, skin, hair and organs and to boost immunity. The best sources of protein are meat, beans, eggs and dairy products.Image: Lilli Noonan | Lilli NResources: Guide to Nutritious Family Meals for Infants and Toddlers – TheFoodCoach | Foods with Iron and Zinc – Natalie Stein | Your Omega-3 Family Shopping List | Calcium – Dietary Supplement Fact Sheet | The Importance of Protein in Infants and Toddlers
I don't think we have a Natural Veggie Wash recipe posted actually. We better put one up. Thanks for the heads up Judy Davie. Monday, 25 September 2017
Thanks so much. I did see that page and it was really helpful. There are two actually. There is one for the worst fruit and veggies and one for the the least. One comment I would make is that I find in supermarkets that it is often cheaper to buy organic processed food than fresh. But tons of packaging. So we won't go there. Monday, 25 September 2017
Hi Kelly - what a great question. In an ideal world organic food is all we'd eat to ensure the health of the planet and ourselves. Sadly we don't live in an ideal world and the last thing I want to do is pressure young mums into thinking organic is the only way to feed our kids. First and foremost we should ensure they eat as much fresh natural food and a little packaged processed as possible. If budget allows organic is great otherwise if you can buy from your local farmers markets you can talk to the farmer about what he uses on the crop. There is a deadly dozen list published on Ekko world which comes from the USA but which you could use as a guide if you want to mix your weekly fresh shop with a little organic and conventional . Finally a golden rule is to wash all your produce with a natural veggie wash - I think there's a recipe for this in the site too. Monday, 25 September 2017
Judy, how important do you really think it is to eat organic food? I have a new born and a 2 year old. I find myself getting more concerned about the amount of chemicals kids eat and that is before you consider nutrients.ps - that little girl looks so healthy! Monday, 25 September 2017