Good nutrition from the start.
Peanuts and peanut butter are an inexpensive and nutritious food for growing children - plus they taste great.
The American Academy of Pediatrics has stated that solid foods, including peanuts and peanut butter (when introduced safely and at the appropriate age), are beneficial for children's development.
Three basic principles of nutrition: Nutritional Value, Price and Taste
Getting kids to eat nutritious foods can be a challenge. Often following the example of adults, children often think that nutritious foods taste bad or tasteless. But unlike many other nutrient-dense foods, peanuts and peanut butter meet three basic nutritional criteria: they have an excellent nutritional profile, are inexpensive, and taste great. Surveys show that more than 90% of U.S. households have at least one jar of peanut butter in their pantry. Kids love this product, and we can be confident that our children are healthy.
Hidden nutrients.
1 ounce of peanuts contains seven grams of protein, more than any other nut. Protein plays an extremely important role in the growth process of children. In fact, peanuts are considered a so-called superfood, containing more than 30 different essential vitamins and nutrients. Peanut butter is a great addition to encourage the consumption of other foods. For example, 64% of children surveyed indicated that they would eat more fruits and vegetables if they were served with peanut butter. Serving peanut butter with carrots, celery, apple or pear slices can encourage children to eat foods that they would otherwise avoid. Peanut butter adds protein to the meal and mainly good fats, which help the body absorb fat-soluble vitamins. For more information on the vitamins and nutrients in peanuts, please see Peanut Nutrition: At a Glance.
Involving children in meal preparation is another way to encourage their interest in healthy eating. Age-appropriate activities such as putting ingredients in a bowl, mixing, and beating eggs can encourage children’s interest in food. Even at a very young age, children can help prepare the family meal. Older children can help chop vegetables with their parents’ supervision. Take your children with you to the store and let them choose new foods (such as fruits, vegetables, nuts, and seeds) that they have never tried before – this will further increase their interest in food.
Try these delicious and nutritious recipes that even kids can help make:
High nutritional value from the start.
It makes sense that good eating habits are started before a baby is born. A mother's diet affects the growth and development of her baby, as well as their health throughout their entire life. For this reason, it is recommended that pregnant women eat enough foods with protein, good fats, and folic acid, or folate. Peanuts are a good source of folate and can help women get enough of this important nutrient by including peanuts in a balanced and nutritious diet.
If you are concerned about potential allergens during pregnancy or while breastfeeding, please note that the American Academy of Pediatrics (APA) guidelines (Thygarajan and Burks, 2008) state that there is insufficient evidence that allergen avoidance is an effective strategy for preventing food allergies.
In infancy, breastfeeding is the best nutrition for a baby and, according to APA guidelines, breastfeeding should be continued for at least the first 6 months of a baby's life. Solid foods should be introduced to a baby's diet no later than 6 months of age, with the optimal time frame being between four and six months. The APA guidelines state:
Although solid foods should not be introduced to infants before 4–6 months of age, there is insufficient evidence to suggest that delaying the introduction of solid foods after this period significantly protects infants from developing atopic disease, whether they are fed cow's milk protein formula or human milk. This applies to delaying the introduction of foods that are known to cause allergies, including fish, eggs, and peanut protein-containing foods.
It is important that foods are introduced in a way that prevents choking. For more information about food allergies, parents should consult a pediatric specialist. Making sure that foods are cut into appropriately small pieces and that children are supervised while eating are important considerations in this regard.
As children grow, peanuts and peanut butter provide them with nutritious, non-perishable food, and make meal preparation easier. It is estimated that the average child will have eaten more than 1,500 peanut butter and jelly sandwiches by the time they graduate from high school, based on a normal diet.
References:
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Thygarajan and Burks. American Academy of Pediatrics recommendations on the impact of early nutritional intervention on the development of atopic diseases. Curr Opin Pediatr. Available: http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2659557/. Accessed 19.11.2012.
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Nwaru, B., Introduction of solid foods in the first year of life and allergic sensitization at age 5. Pediatrics Available: http://pediatrics.aappublications.org/content/125/1/50.full. Accessed 19.11.2012.
