When baby’s first bite includes pork, their growth and development flourishes, says Kristen Hicks-Roof, Registered Dietitian and the Director of Human Nutrition for National Pork Board.
“Pork is the perfect protein to help new parents and parents of young children make every bite count,” she says.
The first 1,000 days of an infant’s life can set the stage for a lifetime of good health. Within the first 1,000 days of life, a baby’s brain begins to grow and develop with the help of specific vitamins and minerals, including protein, zinc, iron, choline, folate, iodine, vitamins A, D, B6 and B12 and long-chain polyunsaturated fatty acids.
“Lean pork is an excellent source of four of these nutrients, and a good source of one while containing the others in varying levels,” Hicks-Roof explains.
Pork is a great food to help infants transition from breastfeeding or formula feeding to solid foods, and it could help young children try new foods at family meals such as fruits, vegetables or beans, she says.
“We’re invested in national resources and cutting-edge research that makes it easy for families to choose pork because of its unique nutritional value in the diet of infants and children,” Hicks-Roof says. “Recent research shows more fruits and vegetables are consumed by infants and children who frequently enjoy meals with their family, their diet quality is higher, and they have better well-being and family connectedness.”
Pork Improves
If children struggle with fruits, vegetables, beans or other produce items that may be refused, Hicks-Roofs says to pair it with pork to bring on the flavor during family meals. It’s a protein staple for kids of all ages.
She shares four ways pork helps make every bite count.
- Pork Can Be a First Food
Foods in the first year of life set the stage for a lifetime of good health. As a complementary food, the nutrients in pork can help your baby with the important task of growth and development. Pork is packed with protein, vitamins and minerals, making it a nutrient-rich protein choice as a first food for babies. - Begin the Transition
Around the age of 6 months, infants begin the transition from exclusive breastfeeding or formula feeding to the addition of solid foods. Experts agree that introducing solid foods at this stage is important because a baby’s storage of some nutrients begin to diminish. This is especially true for iron and zinc levels in breastfed infants. Babies need foods with key nutrients for growth and development to complement breast milk or formula at this stage. These first solid foods are often referred to as complementary foods. - Provide Variety
Introducing a variety of foods allows infants to experience and learn about new textures and tastes as well as enjoy the social experience of eating together. As your baby has an increasing variety of foods, there is no need to prepare different meals. You can introduce your baby to the unique tastes of your family’s favorite pork recipes that reflect your culture and fit your family’s budget. - Make Your Own Puree
When starting your baby with pureed meats, you can easily make your own with the pork you’ve prepared for the family by using a blender or food processor to puree the cooked meat. Add water, formula, or breast milk to thin the meat puree to the appropriate consistency for your baby’s developmental stage. Meat can also be pureed with fruits and vegetables your baby has tolerated well.
For more resources and recipes and great ideas for cooking together as a family during National Family Meals Month, check out Pork & Partners on pork.org and encourage your health professionals to sign up to become part of the community.
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