Parents are very concerned about the feeding of our children, and we ensure that this is always as healthy and balanced as possible, fleeing food with little nutritional value or harmful to their health, both short and long term. But in addition to not recommended foods, also there are prohibited foods in the children's diet, depending on the age of the child.
We have prepared a list with the food restrictions that you must take into account, and the reasons offered by the experts. It is organized by age groups, so that what a six-year-old child cannot consume, nor can a younger one take it.
Children under one year old
1) Cow's milk
Until the first year, the baby's main food is milk, both maternal and artificial. But babies under one year old should not be offered cow's milk for excess protein and minerals they contain, and that can cause overload in your kidneys.
The proteins in human milk, as well as in milk of adapted formula, have the exact qualities and proportions for babies, so it is not only not necessary to incorporate any other beverage into their diet, but it can also be harmful for your health.
In Babies and more Continuation milk is not really necessary for babies of six months or more2) Vegetable drinks
Vegetable drinks of oats, quinoa, rice, soybeans, coconut, almonds ... should not be included in the diet of children under one year of age according to the Spanish Association of Pediatrics (except, logically, of vegetable formulas adapted for infants who they are sold in pharmacies under medical prescription).
Above this age, pediatricians advise offering it in a timely manner and as one more food within a varied and balanced diet, that is, without replacing others with greater nutritional value such as cow's milk, and of course breast milk.
When for a health issue, cow's milk is replaced by vegetable drinks, The diet should be supervised by a doctor or nutritionist, which ensures a correct protein and calcium intake.
In Babies and more Children who drink vegetable drinks are shorter than those who drink cow's milk, according to a study3) Salt
Salt is not suitable for the kidneys of babies in the middle of the ripening process, in addition to altering the taste of the foods they are discovering for the first time. So when we cook for our baby, remember that it is not necessary to salt your meals and in case of offering processed foods (for example, the pots), we must take into account the labeling:
- High salt content: 1.25 gr. of salt or 0.5 gr. of sodium per 100 gr. of product.
- Low salt content: less than 0.25 grams. of salt or 0.1 of sodium per 100 grams. of product.
4) Sugar
Sugar, under any of its names, is a totally unnecessary food, both in the diet of children and that of adults.
It is cariogenic, demineralized, does not contribute anything nutritionally, is addictive and is also directly associated with childhood obesity. So, the goal is delay its introduction as much as possible, and never offer it before the first year.
In Babies and more The figures of obese children in the world have multiplied by 10 in the last 40 years5) Honey
The Spanish Association of Pediatrics, the American Association of Pediatrics and the National Institute of Health in the US recommend not giving honey or cane to children under 12 months, due to the risk of botulism, a disease of low prevalence, but potentially fatal.
But it is not advisable to offer this food to children under three years, since honey is highly cariogenic, that is, it increases the risk of caries. If you still decide to give the child over 12-18 months some honey, it is important to take the oral hygiene measures below.
6) Spinach
The Spanish Agency for Food Safety and Nutrition and the Spanish Association of Pediatrics recommend not including spinach as a single dish in the baby's diet, as contain high levels of nitrates They can be very harmful to your health.
Its toxicity is determined by its reduction to nitrites in the human body that, in high concentrations can cause methemoglobinemia. In children and especially in babies, minimum amounts would be sufficient to trigger serious disorders. Those babies and young children who are exposed to high concentrations of nitrates through the diet, may suffer from the "blue baby syndrome."
7) Chard
As with spinach, Swiss chard also contains high levels of nitrates harmful to the health of children, and should not be offered as a single dish to children under 12 months.
But if you want to include chard (or spinach), in the diet of a baby, the Spanish Agency for Food Safety recommends that the content of these vegetables is not more than 20% of the total content of the food ration.
In Babies and more of all but this: prohibited foods in the diet of babies under one year old8) Beet
Beet is another of the vegetables prohibited by the Nutrition Committee of the Spanish Association of Pediatrics during the first year of the baby's life, for the same reason as the previous two: their high nitrate levels.
From this age, and up to three years of life of the child, it is recommended not to give more than one serving of these vegetables a day, and avoid consumption in children who have gastrointestinal infections.
9) Algae
Algae are foods with large amounts of iron and calcium, but also a excess iodine, which can cause serious health problems. Therefore, they are prohibited in the diet of babies, and experts recommend that some varieties such as arame, kombu and hiziki are also not offered to children under five.
10) Spicy foods
The Nutrition Committee of the Spanish Association of Pediatrics includes spicy or spicy foods within the food restrictions of children under one year. The reason is simple: just like adults do, children want to eat foods with a pleasant taste, and your palate is not used to strong and spicy flavors. In addition, they may develop adverse reactions.
From the first year of life, if spicy or spicy dishes are consumed at home, we can start offering them to our child with great caution, in minimum quantities and provided that the child does not find it unpleasant.
11) Energy drinks
Energy drinks offer large amounts of sugar, caffeine and taurine, and its consumption is associated with a higher rate of obesity, headaches, sleep problems, stomach problems and behavior disorders.
Actually, these types of drinks should not be consumed at any stage of life, because they only provide empty calories and of poor quality, but The Nutrition Committee of the Spanish Association of Pediatrics prohibits its consumption in children under one year.
12) Gasifying drinks
Drinks with gas or soft drinks are another one of the restrictions made by the Nutrition Committee of the Spanish Association of Pediatrics in children under 12 months, because they contain such an amount of sugar, which far exceeds the recommendations of the WHO.
This translates into a greater predisposition to suffer from overweight and childhood obesity, as well as other related diseases, such as diabetes, cardiovascular diseases, hypertension and high triglycerides. Further, the gas contained in this type of drinks produces gastric distention, making appetite decrease and sometimes causing abdominal pain.
In Babies and more, why is it not good for children to drink soda?Children under three years old
13) Skimmed dairy
From 12 months of age children can now start drinking cow's milk, but this should be whole, because milk fat favors the absorption of vitamins A and D, besides being important for its growth.
However, after three years, the Spanish Association of Primary Care Pediatrics recommends that dairy products become semi-skimmed, a consideration that we must also take into account if the child has cholesterol problems, consumes many dairy products or is overweight.
In Babies and more Children's foods that seem healthy but that you should not give to your children14) Swordfish, shark, and pike
The large fish such as swordfish (or emperor), shark or pike, are prohibited in the diet of children under three years of age due to their high mercury content, as indicated by the Spanish Food Safety Agency. This warning is also extended to pregnant or breastfeeding women.
He Excessive consumption of methylmercury has a toxic effect on health, which accumulates and can cause neurological and brain damage. Hence, from three to 12 years of age it is also advised to limit the intake of this type of fish to 50 grams per week, and not consume any other fish in this category in the same week.
15) Bluefin tuna
Bluefin tuna is another one of the large fish prohibited in the diet of children under three and in pregnant women, it also contains amounts of methylmercury of high toxicity to the organism, although in a lower concentration than previous fish.
In any case, it is preferable to opt for smaller fish such as anchovies and sardines, or canned light tuna.
In Babies and more Attention to fish methylmercury if you plan to get pregnant16) Prawn heads, prawns and crayfish
According to the Spanish Agency for Consumer Affairs, Food Safety, the heads of shrimp, prawns and crayfish contain cadmium inside, so you should avoid consumption in children under three years and limit it to the maximum in the rest of the population.
Cadmium is a metal that It accumulates in the body and can cause damage in the long term, both in the liver and especially in the kidneys, and can cause renal dysfunction.
In Babies and more When to introduce seafood in the children's diet17) Crab and spider shells
But cadmium is not only found in the heads of certain seafood, but also present in the shells viscera of the body of crabs and spider crabs, thus being another of the prohibited foods in children under three years old.
"Consumers of these types of products should be aware that the consumption of these parts of crustaceans can lead to an unacceptable exposure of cadmium, particularly when consumption is common" - we can read in a report prepared by the Spanish Consumer Agency , Food safety.
Children under six years old
18) Whole Nuts
They are small, round and do not melt in the mouth, so Nuts are one of the foods most likely to cause suffocation. The Spanish Association of Pediatrics recommends not offering them to children, at least until five or six years, and always with caution. However, this food can be ground from six months, as it is an excellent source of calcium and other nutrients.
In Babies and more These are the foods that children drown more easily19) Game meat
Children under six years of age and pregnant women should not consume meat from animals hunted with lead ammunition, as lead is not absorbed directly and could cause neuronal damage.
Children at any age
20) Raw fish and seafood (without prior freezing)
Raw or undercooked fish and shellfish (for example, sushi) should not be consumed at any stage of life, but we should avoid it especially in children and pregnant women, since it makes digestion and entails risk of transmission of anisakis, a worm-shaped parasite that nests in marine mammals, fish and crustaceans, and can cause severe allergic reactions and infections.
The most effective measure to kill anisakis larvae and prevent their spread is buying frozen fish (deep-sea deep freezing) or freezing it at home for a minimum of 72 hours at -20º.
In Babies and more Anisakis allergy: everything you need to know about its prevention, symptoms and treatment in children and pregnant women21) Raw meat
Meat is a very perishable food that needs refrigeration and a correct cooking to eliminate any germ that can cause food poisoning.
Toxoplasmosis, trichinosis, salmonellosis, listeria and E.coli are the main diseases that can be transmitted with the consumption of raw or undercooked meat, so it is essential that when cooking, the temperature inside reaches 65-70º.
22) Raw milk
Raw milk, that is, that has not been pasteurizedIt contains bacteria such as E.Coli, Salmonella or Listeria that can cause serious damage to health, especially in the case of pregnant women, children and people with weakened immune systems.
It is very important to be aware of serious risks involved in the consumption of this type of and unpasteurized dairy products (such as soft cheeses made with raw milk), in addition to knowing that boiling raw milk is not enough to make it safe.
In Babies and more, Catalonia approves selling raw milk: the dangers for children and pregnant women23) Raw Egg
Raw egg consumption is one of the main sources of contagion of salmonella, a bacterium that can be life-threatening, especially if we talk about babies or very young children. Among its many symptoms, salmonellosis causes severe vomiting and diarrhea, which can lead to dehydration and urgent medical attention.
So raw eggs (in mayonnaises, sauces, meringues) or undercooked eggs (for example, water-passed eggs or low-curd tortillas) are not safe in children's diets.
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