Buzz
Traditionally, many mothers have employed bone broth for cooking porridge and baby food, believing that bone broth is rich in calcium and protein, promoting the child's growth. Moreover, bone broth is flavorful and rich, making it more appetizing for children. However, this method is not entirely accurate, mothers!
According to nutrition experts, feeding infants under 3 years old with bone broth regularly may result in stunted growth, underweight, and poor digestion. Every 100ml of bone broth contains 0.6g of protein. Considering that a child's daily protein requirement is 21g, relying on bone broth alone without adding meat, fish, eggs, etc., only fulfills 1/30 of the child's daily protein needs.
As for calcium content, bone broth doesn't provide 100% calcium. Every 100ml of bone broth only contains 33.5mg of calcium, meeting just 1/10 of a child's calcium needs. Furthermore, an imbalance in calcium-phosphorus ratio (high calcium, low phosphorus) is a drawback of bone broth. Only when this ratio is balanced can a child effectively absorb calcium. Therefore, using bone broth in a child's daily diet might lead to phosphorus deficiency, potentially causing secondary bone problems.
Another misconception is that when mothers choose bone broth for their children, they often opt for bones with a lot of marrow. In reality, marrow has less protein and more fat. Introducing excessive fat into the body can limit the absorption of other nutrients for the child.
Hence, frequent use of bone broth in the daily diet of children under 3 years old may lead to nutritional deficiencies, lack of energy, and susceptibility to certain avoidable diseases.
- Digestive issues such as indigestion or diarrhea: The high fat content in bone marrow can lead to indigestion. Using bone broth too frequently may increase the risk of diarrhea.
- Nutrient deficiency: Bone broth contains a lot of Nitrogen, providing a sweet and palatable taste. However, its low protein and calcium content hinder the absorption of other nutrients. Therefore, relying solely on bone broth to cook porridge for babies poses a serious risk of nutrient deficiency.
- Rickets: As mentioned earlier, the calcium content in bone broth is insufficient. Calcium plays a crucial role in the development of a child's teeth and bones. Hence, paying attention to calcium intake is essential for optimal height in children!
- Child's disinterest in eating, reluctance to chew: Cooking only porridge for a child with bone broth without adding other foods may lead to a child being picky and lazy to chew, avoiding other food items.
Properly making weaning porridge for children:
- Ensure all 4 nutrient groups in the meal: protein (meat, fish, eggs, etc.), starch, vegetables, and fat (oil, cooking fat).
- Choose fresh, clean, and safe food for your baby.
- Gradually introduce each type of food into the baby's diet. Grind or chop meat, fish, and vegetables finely during the early stages of weaning. Increase the coarseness of the food based on each baby's adaptive ability to help them get used to chewing.
- For children under 1 year old, avoid using salt and fish sauce when preparing food. Instead of using meat broth, vegetable broth can be a more enticing and nutritious option for cooking porridge for children.
