Apart from vitamins, minerals, iron & calcium, Protein is essential for nourishing toddler growth and development. If toddlers are having a healthy & balanced diet then they get the adequate amount of protein. Protein is an essential component of your body’s tissues, cells, organs and muscles. Protein is a source of energy but its main role in the body is growth and repair. It helps in the formation of muscles, hair, nails, skin and organs, such as the heart, kidneys and liver. Since meat and animal products being the best sources of protein are missing from Vegan and Vegetarian preschoolers’ diet, ample protein consumption is vital.
To figure out how many grams of protein that equals, take your child’s weight in pounds and divide it by 2 (an 40 lb child would need 20 grams of protein a day)
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommends that roughly 10 to 35 percent of an adult or child’s daily calories come from protein. So, if your child consumes 2,000 calories per day, 200 to 700 of those calories should come from protein. More specifically, children ages 1 to 3 require 13 g of protein per day, while children ages 4 to 8 need 19 g of protein every day. The recommended protein intake increases dramatically for kids age 9 and older. For kids age 9 to 13, the daily protein intake should be roughly 34 g. From ages 14 to 18, females need 46 g of protein and males need 52 g of protein every day. (Source)
The best sources of protein are:
- Poultry,
- Fish,
- Eggs,
- Low fat dairy products (if over the age of two),
- Nuts,
- Soymilk / Soy yogurt,
- Seeds, and
- Legumes like black beans and lentils.
Although, it is tricky to make sure that your toddler is not getting excessive protein. Too much protein can lead to serious health issues in toddlers. According to TeensHealth, toddlers who eat excess protein may experience calcium loss, dehydration, kidney problems, nausea, diarrhea and build–up of toxins in the blood.
Remember, a nutritious diet which has a balance of proteins, vitamins, calcium, mineral, iron, etc is the most important for a child.
Stay tuned for protein rich recipes.
— Ruchita Jogani Dedhia —