We will continue with the Special Infant Feeding and now we are addressing the question of how to prepare a balanced and complete children's menu that covers the nutritional needs of children aged one to two.
At six months we will have started with the supplementary feeding, always introducing new foods gradually and prioritizing the milk that remains the basis of babies' nutrition.
By the time of the year, the baby will eat almost everything (vegetables, cereals, meat and fish) and it will be time to include the egg and some vegetables or fish. The recommendation to do it little by little is maintained, as they will be products that are delayed a year due to their greater allergenic potential.
With the egg, it is better to start after twelve months with the yolk, and then, with caution, add the white
The breastmilk It should continue to be the basis of the child's diet and it is not necessary, in principle, if breastfed, to include continuation milk preparations. In fact, you should continue breastfeeding for at least two years and ensuring that the milk is not eliminated by other foods, but supplemented.
For non-breastfed children we will consider that, from the year on, and with the necessary precautions to detect intolerances or allergies, they can already take cow's milk and other dairy products, provided that it is not fatty, very cured or very salty cheeses.
From the year on, the child's food can carry some salt, but with a lot of moderation and sugar, but always trying to avoid it. What we should not give them is nuts until later.
At this age they can, if we cook for everyone, eat the same as the family, and it would be convenient, if we have not already done so, to give them soft but whole foods, no porridge.
Vegetables
Some vegetablesBecause of its high nitrate content, we should not have introduced them before the year. Now, little by little and always complemented with the others, we can give them beets (better natural), chard, spinach, turnip, cabbage and asparagus.
The richness in fiber, vitamins, water and hydrates of other vegetables such as potatoes, carrots, onions, leeks, sweet potatoes, squash and zucchini should be important in the child's diet and be included in the daily diet.
Fruits
After six months the child can already take fruits, but it is after twelve when we will expand the range of fruits that we are going to offer: peach, apricot and, in my opinion, orange and tangerine. Strawberries and other berries are better to delay them a little, at 18 months or better, at two years, as they are the most allergenic foods.
Meats
If we have decided to give our son meat before the year they should be low fat meats and, of course, without adding salt. Now we can include lamb, cow and pork, even the ham (good quality, which does not have added) and the serrano (always better the Iberian for the quality of its fat even if we go to remove the bacon).
Cereals and legumes
Children of twelve months can now eat all kinds of cereals, always, better, in natural preparations and without added sugar or salt. Industrial porridge, if we have given it before, is now completely unnecessary. Children can eat bread, rice, cookies, noodles, gurullos, pasta and wheat or corn semolina.
The vegetables They are an important food both for their protein quality, their shortage of saturated fats, fiber and energy, minerals and vitamins. It is time to put them on the menu at least three times a week in different preparations.
How much should the child eat?
If we review the table we realize that the caloric needs of the child are very variable, so, in general, the best advice is not to force the amounts and rely on the natural appetite.
However, if we talk about menu composition, we must take into account that good nutrition will be the one that favors healthy habits, prioritizes non-industrial natural foods, is based on fruits, vegetables, cereals and legumes and introduces animal proteins in quantities adequate and not necessarily at all meals.
Proteins, fundamental but without excesses
We must take into account, then, the idea that we ourselves and our children eat too much protein and that causes problems in our bones and our kidneys.
WHO and the Nutrition Committee of the American Academy of Medicine (Food and Nutrition Board) recommend a consumption of 1.6 g / kg / day of protein or 20 g / day in babies between 6 and 12 months of age and It is estimated that they may be taking about 30 g / day.
Children between 2 and 5 years old, who need even less protein than babies because they no longer have to grow so much (they need between 14.5 and 16 grams of protein a day) are taking no less than 65 grams daily.
That is, children should eat only one serving of animal protein per day, not at lunch and dinner, and not eat dairy dessert if they have already eaten meat or fish. In addition, we can play with the protein content of legumes and cereals, which would be enough to offer children animal proteins at most in a daily meal or less if we use legumes two or three times a week. Keep in mind that about 100 grams of meat has, on average, 20 grams of protein and about 15 grams of fish or egg. Cereals have a content of about 8 grams of protein per 100 grams and legumes and cheeses reach an average similar to that of meat.
A suitable menu for a child between one and two years old It should be, respecting the times of introduction of the new foods, similar to the adult menu. Many vegetables, fruits and cereals, milk as a base and animal proteins with control.
