Adult people themselves have the right to decide whether to eat meat or not. For children, parents do it. And even vegetarians should understand that this is a very valuable and necessary product for every child.
Why meat is necessary for kids
The protein contained in it is a building material for cells and tissues of a growing organism. It contains the necessary amino acids and macronutrients. Being a source of iron, this product protects children from anemia.
Unreasonable refusal of meat products when feeding a baby can cause developmental disorders. The meat contains substances that have a beneficial effect on the baby's brain, contribute to its growth. There are even cases where when children refused meat dishes, serious brain underdevelopment and even progressive dementia were observed. Therefore, to think that all that a growing body needs can be taken only from vegetables, cereals, while neglecting meat, is a big mistake.
Is pork harmful to crumbs?
It is customary to give meat from a very early age. They begin to do this in 7-8 months with low-fat varieties - beef, poultry, rabbit meat. But what about the beloved by many pork meat? It is not only very tasty, but also one of the main sources of high-grade proteins, as well as vitamins B12, D, phosphorus, iron, potassium, calcium, sulfur, iodine, magnesium, manganese. But at the same time, some caring parents believe that since there are many histamines in pork, it can cause allergies in babies. Partly they are right, but these fears are justified only for fatty varieties.
So is it possible for children to pork? Is this type of meat harmful to the child's body? Or is such a product, on the contrary, necessary for the children's body to grow?
Doctors unequivocally believe that giving up this type of meat in baby food is not worth it. And at what age can a child be given pork?
At what age does the baby begin to give meat?
According to doctors, by the age of eight months, the baby's body is completely ready to digest properly prepared meat products. Therefore, at this age, nutritionists not only allow, but also insistently recommend to children chopped meat puree in combination with vegetables, which the kids are already used to. After all, parents had time to prepare the children's stomach with complementary foods (new dishes must be introduced into the baby’s diet from six months old).
The question of how old a child can be given pork for children who have signs of rickets or have lowered hemoglobin is decided a little differently - they need to give this kind of meat even earlier! There are a number of medical indications in which it is recommended to start meat complementary foods from six months of age.
You need to start introducing the child to meat with one teaspoon of mashed potatoes prepared from it.
And then give regularly, bringing the daily norm of meat products, including pork, to 100 grams by the age of one year.
If the baby is allergic to the protein contained in the meat, they need to be temporarily stopped feeding. And at what age can a child be given pork again? Try next time is recommended no earlier than ten months.
To grind - not to grind?
The first meat dish for the child, as a rule, is mashed potatoes. You need to do it this way: steam a small piece of lean pork, and then chop it with a blender. You can use for this an ordinary meat grinder. To make the mashed potatoes more tender, you need to add a small piece of butter to it.
Thoroughly grind meat for crumbs only at the beginning, because over time you need to start learning to chew. At what age can a child be given pork that is not twisted in a meat grinder and not passed through a blender?
In the form of mashed potatoes mixed with chopped vegetables, the meat must be given up to 9 months. But only the baby's teeth will erupt in sufficient quantities, he will be able to cope with soft tender meat, cut into small slices. This usually happens when the baby turns one year old. That's when a child can give pork slices.
How to cook pork for a baby?
For the preparation of children's dishes, it is not recommended to buy frozen meat, since you can not be sure of its quality. Suitable only steam or chilled.
But minced meat prepared from fresh meat with your own hands can be frozen for the future.
Meat products for children must undergo heat treatment. This is important both for safety and for their better assimilation. But with strong heating, the structure and properties of the meat change significantly. In order to preserve the necessary elements for the child’s body in dishes, the product must be prepared correctly.
It is necessary, for example, to take into account that when cooking meat, a significant part of the protein goes into the broth - up to 50 percent! To preserve it, you need to lay this product in boiling water and cook over low heat. And it’s best to cook steamed pork. So it also contains vitamins with minerals.
Salt meat, which is prepared for the baby, is not recommended. At least up to a year. When the baby grows up, meat dishes for him can be slightly salted, but it is better not to do this. If you really want the meat to become tastier, you can add onions during cooking. After he gives the pork a special characteristic aroma, the vegetable can be thrown away. Shredded fresh greens will also give palatability.
Menu for crumbs
The child’s attitude to food, his taste preferences are laid at a very early age. And parents should take care of a properly formed taste from the first months of the baby’s life. Many mothers are concerned about the question of what to cook for a child from pork at such a tender age. After all, I really want the menu for the little man to be tasty and varied!
After the first puree, the meat menu can be varied with meatballs and meatballs prepared according to special children's recipes.
After all, it is on them that the kids practice their chewing skills.
First cutlets
Pork cutlets for children usually begin to be given at the age of one to one and a half years, when the baby already has teeth. Before cooking, the meat is washed, dried with a napkin, cut into small pieces and twisted through a meat grinder twice. The crumb of bread (from premium flour) without a crust is soaked in milk and added to the minced meat. Its amount should not be more than a quarter of the cutlet mass. Add eggs, some salt and spices.
They give the minced meat a standard shape and put it to steam or stew in sauce. Pork cutlets for children from 2 years old can already be slightly fried, but after that it is still necessary to extinguish them.
Appetizing meat balls
What else can a child cook from pork? With great pleasure, children eat meatballs. Small, walnut-sized meat balls boiled in broth, the kids like not only the taste, but also the beautiful shape, and also the size - they easily fit in the children's mouth. For their preparation in minced meat, add twisted onion or finely chopped onions and spices.
Children's meatballs are also made from minced meat rolled up into small balls. Their difference from meatballs is that rice is included in the composition. Thanks to this combination, proteins are better absorbed by children.
For children under 2 years old there is a special recipe for meatballs. About 100 grams of minced pork should be scrolled with 2 tablespoons of a vegetable mixture of carrots, bell peppers, onions, tomatoes and zucchini (you can use a blender), add a quarter of an egg, a teaspoon of flour, a little salt.
Knead the mixture and form small balls out of it. After laying the meatballs in a pan, add one third of water to them, simmer for 10 minutes. After adding the sauce, simmer until cooked under the lid. In this form, a child (1.5 years old) will certainly enjoy pork, you can give it safely.
Can fat be?
Another favorite product is fat. Can the baby give it to try? The argument is “against” - if fat is bought in a store or on the market, where is the guarantee that the baby will not get any parasites? Such a product should not be given to children categorically without preliminary heat treatment! A melted lard in a very small amount can be added to some dish, for example in a children's vegetable stew.
Arguments “for” - calorie content of pork fat is less than that of beef. In addition, it contains amino acids that are not found in any other fats. And they are much easier to absorb by the body. Pork fat is considered one of the most environmentally friendly products. Therefore, if you give your baby a sip of a bite, it will not do harm.
So, do not deny yourself the pleasure of feeding the baby pork pork. If he is healthy and there is no allergy, for the first time you can offer the baby meat puree at the age of 8 months. And in a year and a half, meatballs, meatballs and meatballs are added to the children's menu. You can also give soft and tender meat to the child without chopping. It’s not a sin for a baby to suck a piece of high-quality homemade bacon.