Exclusive foods for children that are not necessary

When walking the aisles of the supermarkets we find many products for the little ones loaded with vitamins, minerals and other nutrients that are apparently essential in their growth. With so much adapted and age-specific product, it seems as if the little ones in the house were not sufficiently fed a conventional diet based on "normal" foods, and it was necessary to supplement their diet with all kinds of products.

Olive oil

The new food aimed at the smallest of the house is the olive oil specific for children. Does it differ in anything from the olive oils already on the market? The producers affirm that it is specially formulated for children up to four years of age, due to its high content of oleic acid, vitamin E, antioxidants and its degree of acidity, (between 0.01-0.02) that help the growth of bones, brain and nervous system. claim that extra virgin olive oil provides the same properties, and that there is no evidence that the degree of acidity influences the improvement of health, it simply gives it the characteristic of a milder flavor. So it is not necessary to opt for this type of oil, if what you are looking for is to improve the health of children. The health extras are more than contrasted, it only remains for the child to accept its flavor, sometimes too "strong", but it is enough to choose mild varieties such as Arbequina olive.

Growth milks

In recent years, several advertising campaigns have been launched recommending growth milks for children from one to three years, promoting the idea of ​​being ideal and necessary milk for optimal growth, as well as favoring a greater intellectual development of the little ones. From the year, the child's body is prepared to assimilate a varied diet that includes cow's milk (unless it presents problems of intolerances or allergies). There are several reasons that suggest that growth milks are not necessary:

• The Caloric intake of many of them is very high.
• The nutrients with which these milks can be enriched are not nutrients that children in the European Union present in a deficit way, therefore they are not necessary at all.
• The nutrients that may appear to be deficient in some children in the EU can be obtained through a balanced diet no need to supplement.

Therefore, as with olive oil for children, it makes no sense to pay two or three times more for a product that, although not unhealthy, is not necessary. In addition, the European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) issued a report where he evaluated the effects of fortified or growth infant milks on children, concluding the same as many of the nutrition professionals, considering that said milks Are not necessary in the healthy population.

Baby cereals

The cereal porridges they are almost essential when starting complementary feeding. They are comfortable, carry everything that the baby needs and is what almost everyone offers. So where is the problem? Neither more nor less, in the large amount of sugar contributed by many of them. If you read the ingredients and find the word: sugar, honey or the like, it should be completely ruled out. In the case of porridge without added sugar, we must take into account another factor, since it may be dextrinated porridge. These porridges have been subjected to the process of dextrinate, by which the starch is "broken" to facilitate its digestion. By breaking down the carbohydrate into molecules of different sugars, the porridge is transformed into a much sweeter food, no sugar is added, but it contains it naturally in a much higher percentage. In addition, the baby gets used to the much sweeter taste than these foods actually have. We can also find porridge without dextrination, and even with whole grain cereal, which would be the most suitable option if we decide to choose commercial ready-to-eat baby food. Its flavor is not sweet, it is a good quality cereal and it can be a suitable children's product for children, yes, much more expensive than buying the cereal and preparing it at home. And it is that you can also prepare porridge with oats, rice, corn, millet ... and mix it with milk once cooked. You can also buy roasted cereals, without additives and mix them with milk, toasted corn or wheat, "puffed" rice ... easy to find in bulk stores.

Yogurts

In the same way as the rest of baby food, we are facing a totally expendable product and not recommended, since its sugar content is very high. Until you can have plain unsweetened yogurt from nine to ten months in small amounts, the option should always be milk. Yogurts for babies are not made with 100% follow-on milk and they also have other types of additives, and again we are getting them used to the sweet taste, so their consumption does not bring any benefit.

Fruit jars

The fruit jar appears as the magic solution for the ones children who do not eat fruit they want to eat it, making families believe that it is a good solution. But is not. Again the great content of added sugar that they contribute is exaggerated and we do not teach our little ones to eat. Offer him the natural fruit, whole or crushed, sooner or later if he sees you eating it, he will eat it.

Baby cookies

If, from the point of view of healthy eating, cookies should be food for consumption entirely sporadic, offering a cookie to a baby under six months is nonsense. As recommended by the World Health Organization () and other official organizations, the baby should be fed with breast milk or formula for up to six months. So what's the point of offering superfluous foods loaded with saturated fats and sugars just because they start to chew? None.

conclusion

Differentiate between unnecessary food, but not harmful, such as olive oil for children, follow-on milk or unrefined, non-dextrinated and sugar-free porridges, it is one thing, because you pay more for the product due to the packaging or the convenience of its immediate consumption . And another is to make believe that unhealthy foods such as cookies, fruit jars or yogurts for babies are necessary for optimal growth, when clearly the opposite is true, since its relationship with a major health problem is more than demonstrated in our society. We refer to the childhood obesity.

• Olive oil "For children", milk for growth ... are products that make us pay two or three times more and, although they are not unhealthy, they are not necessary.
• The yogurts "For babies" are a totally expendable product and not recommended, as their sugar content is very high. Until you can have yogurt (natural and unsweetened) we have milk.
• We cannot make you believe that foods such as cookies, fruit jars or yogurt for babies are necessary for optimal growth, when their relationship is more than proven with childhood obesity.

Diploma in Human Nutrition and Dietetics Specialized in pediatric and sports nutrition