Sooner or later, the time comes when every mommy asks herself the question of including fish in her baby’s diet. At what age and with what steps you should begin to innovate in the nutrition of the baby - find out in the article! In general, fish is a product unique in nature. The percentage of protein assimilation by the body is, depending on the ingredients accompanied by the dish and eating habits, about 98%. No less stunning are the useful properties from including this product in the menu.
What are the benefits of seafood?
Magnesium, zinc, copper, fluorine and iodine contained in fish predetermined its popular name - “food for the mind”. Protein, amino acids, enzymes affect the human body positively. But its main advantage is the presence of omega-3 fatty acids. Regular eating of dishes containing seafood will prevent the occurrence of various diseases. Such an ingredient will also be able to synthesize antibodies, form and maintain the body in a healthy state. A logical question arises: when and what kind of fish can a child be given?
Recommended age for fish consumption
According to doctors, the optimal period for feeding fish to the children's table is 10-12 months. However, it is worth noting that the inclusion of a product in a child’s diet is purely individual. For kids of bold mothers, mashed potatoes, broths and meatballs with fish additions are not scary even at 9 months. Other parents remain on the side of specialists. They begin to lure children with such dishes at the recommended time or later. The allergenic nature of seafood and the experience of mothers have confirmed: from mussels, seaweed, shrimp and crab, the child should be protected up to 3 years. Remember that such organisms act as biological seawater filters!
Set off for shopping
Baby food requires special attention. At first it seems that the fish has only advantages, but this is not so. She also has significant shortcomings that cut back on the frequency of consumption by her children. Firstly, the product may act as an allergen. Secondly, there is a risk of a fish bone getting stuck in the throat. Thirdly, not every adult will like the specific smell and taste of seafood. Nevertheless, in toddlers, the gastronomic preferences of the child are not given special attention. After all, his habits are only being formed. So, it’s worth focusing on the quality and type of product being served.
Fish should be served on a child lean, lean, low allergenic and fresh. Among the low-calorie representatives of reservoirs on the shelves of stores with ease you can find perch, hake, dorado or cod. The latter and its “relatives in the family”, by the way, are rationally included in baby food when the child reaches the age of one year. Benign fish is distinguished by the integrity of the scales, fatness, carcass density or animal mobility. Gills should be pink or red. Be sure to pay attention to the shelf life of the product. The right decision will be to give preference to fresh or freshly frozen fish. Inspect the fins and eyes: there should be no films or damage!
What kind of fish do children serve? Cooking for the little eater
So, what kind of fish to give the child figured out. Now let's find out how to deal with it. So, to prepare a delicious dish you need:
- Clean the carcass, rinse and chopped, send to freeze.
- Before defrosting, thaw.
- Dip in water brought to 100 degrees.
- Boil for 30-40 minutes.
- After heat treatment, remove bones from the fish. Be careful at this point.
- Send the fillet together with boiled vegetables to a blender, where to bring the products to a state of mashed potatoes.
Fish for a child who can chew is suitable if you cook it in the form of meatballs or meatballs. It is better not to introduce broths cooked on the basis of seafood saturated with extractive substances into the diet of a baby up to 3 years old. This threatens an extra load on the young gastrointestinal tract.
Children's canned fish
Special food in jars is a great option for busy mothers. It should be borne in mind that feeding a child with such prepared food can not be attributed to cheap pleasures. And this implies additional material burden placed on the shoulders of the parents. In addition, a self-prepared lunch or dinner will never raise concerns about the quality and safety of food consumed by a child. However, it is not worth slandering baby food producers because of the following factors:
- Finished products are always certified and verified by specialists who know which fish can be children and which can not.
- As an addition to the puree, cereals and cereals are added. This not only nourishes, but also strengthens the body of the child.
- The little gourmet likes filling jars.
Attractive is the fact of saving time for busy housewives, so it's worth a try.
Frequency of eating fish
If your child is one year old, and the green light on the introduction of fish in the diet is given, do not overdo it. The first taste will be indicative. A child may simply not like fish or cause an allergic reaction. Carefully monitor the condition of the skin and mucous membranes.
Take note: allergies can spread to individual varieties. In this case, the unsuitable fish is not given to the child anymore. It should become a taboo: give up consumption of the stimulus for several weeks. After the "recovery" period, return to eating the product, giving preference to a new look.
Fish lure begins with one teaspoon. If normal tolerance is observed, then the serving may grow to normal within a few weeks. For pure fish, the indicator is 20-30 g / day. The maximum dose of vegetable and fish puree reaches 100 g. It will be rational to add a "sea" or "river" ingredient to the weekly diet of a small gourmet with a frequency of 1-2 times.