More and more parents are considering what foods will be the healthiest for their children. On social media, people are constantly asking questions about what to feed their baby so that it is healthy and does not contain harmful additives. Pregnant women, in most cases, also think about how to create a proper diet plan so as not to gain excess weight and to get all the necessary trace elements without harming their health.
The word “superfood” is known nowadays to many healthy lifestyle fans. Such naming covers a group of foods where the concentration of nutrients reaches a maximum. With the popularity of trendy superfoods, let’s figure out which are safe for baby food and how to enrich your little one’s diet.
What are Superfoods?
More than a hundred names of plant foods are endowed with superfoods and unique health benefits. In fact, these plants have been growing for thousands of years, but they have become trendy in our time. Now more and more people are interested in a healthy lifestyle, trying to eat organic products, stick to their diet, and want their children to get used to healthy baby food.
And it is extremely important to get an accurate picture of what superfoods to choose for your baby since some can cause allergic reactions. In order to avoid adverse reactions in your baby’s body by introducing new foods, it is better to consult your pediatrician.
How to choose the right superfoods for your child’s diet?
First, it is necessary to figure out what nutrients are lacking in the diet and what can be used to enrich it. For nutrition to be complete, eating a certain amount of food and following the principle of variety is essential. The more different natural foods we include in our diet, the richer its chemical composition
An interesting fact about superfoods: A number of foods become superfoods only after being cooked. For example, broccoli or kale contains many vitamins, minerals, and easily digestible protein. But eating these vegetables raw can have a negative effect on the thyroid gland.
Parents must carefully consider their child’s diet to ensure the little one receives all the necessary substances for proper development. When choosing a superfood, even if it has many healthy ingredients, you need to study its properties and precautions and get reliable information about at what age and in what quantity it can be introduced into the child’s diet.
Most importantly, all the superfoods should be grown without pesticides or fertilizers in fertile soils and environmentally friendly areas.
Top 5 superfoods to add to your kid’s diet
Blueberries
Blueberries are among the most popular superfoods high in vitamins, macro, and micronutrients, including:
- vitamin C, B, PP;
- iron;
- potassium;
- manganese;
- phosphorus and other beneficial substances.
In addition, blueberries improve brain function and help children’s bodies to fight viruses. Pediatricians recommend introducing blueberries into your baby’s diet after 9 months to avoid allergic reactions.
Spinach
Spinach contains fiber, which cleans out the intestines, as well as:
- unsaturated and saturated fatty acids;
- beta-carotene;
- vitamins PP, A, C, H, K, and B;
- selenium;
- calcium;
- phosphorus;
- magnesium;
- copper;
- sodium;
- potassium;
- manganese, iron, and zinc.
Such a rich composition makes spinach a natural superfood, which, in addition, is available both frozen and fresh. Nutritionists recommend introducing spinach to the baby’s diet from 1 year old – gradually and carefully, watching the baby’s reaction to the green superfood.
Avocado
Many American parents introduce avocados into the baby’s diet as the first complementary food. Avocados are rich in vitamins A, C, and B, minerals, healthy unsaturated fats omega-3, which are good for the development of the child’s brain. In addition, avocados include potassium, carotenoids – lutein and beta-carotene, folic acid, dietary fiber, iron, and vitamin E, which stimulates the baby’s digestive system, reducing constipation problems and increasing appetite.
Quinoa
The grain crop from South America is known as a treasure trove of many vital minerals and vitamins, such as:
- B vitamins;
- iron;
- zinc;
- magnesium;
- phosphorus;
- sodium;
- potassium;
- calcium;
- proteins and amino acids.
Because of this extensive list of essential elements, vegetarians often use quinoa. Despite the obvious benefits of cereal, it is best to avoid introducing it to kids under two years old. After that age, quinoa may be added to a child’s menu, along with fruit, almond milk, nuts, and vegetables.
Spirulina
This brown algae, which grows in the waters of the Southern Hemisphere, has many beneficial properties. Spirulina powder helps to boost the immune system, improves metabolism, and saturates the body with vitamins and trace elements. It is available as dietary supplements, which are not drugs. A great idea for a snack can be spirulina chips and bars with the addition of healthy algae.
It is recommended to add spirulina to a child’s diet in case of low immunity or identified deficiencies of certain trace elements and vitamins.
