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About two months after fruits, vegetables and grains, the meat could be introduced into our baby’s diet. From one year, children have already had the habit of eating meat for about 4 to 6 months, but the pieces should always be very small! Many questions remain unanswered as to the best meat for our children, its cooking and the quantity on their plates: we take stock.
Nutrition: when to feed your baby meat?
Early childhood specialists recommend that the amount of animal protein other than that from milk (meat, fish, eggs) does not exceed 10 g per day for one year, 20 g between one year and two years, 30 g between two and three years, and 40 g between three and four years. The quantities are therefore very small, the equivalent of a few teaspoons!
Chicken, pork, beef… It is recommended to alternate between red meat and white meat, even if the former contains more iron. We will prefer, especially at the beginning, lean and digestible meats such as chicken or turkey breast (skinless), roast beef or veal or veal cutlet.
Avoid fatty meats like lamb and go for top quality meats, fine and tender pieces, which are coarsely mixed. As soon as our child’s canines have grown, we can give him very small pieces, not too hard to chew.
How much meat for a baby from the age of 12 months?
Between one and two years, we recommend giving 20 to 25 g of minced meat or in small pieces (4 teaspoons) three times a week. The meat should be accompanied by approximately 200 g of vegetables (green beans, peas…), raw vegetables, etc., to constitute a complete meal.
From 2 to 3 years, we can increase the proportion of meat a little: we can give about 30 g in small pieces (5 or 6 teaspoons), always three times a week.
Can my child eat meat for dinner?
Knowing that it is not mandatory for a healthy and balanced diet that our child eats meat at all meals, or even every day, we tend to favor meat at midday for a more substantial meal and satiating during the day. This does not mean that meat is forbidden in the evening as long as our child digests it well! Do not forget to find out about what he ate in the canteen for lunch to adapt the amounts of animal protein in his day.
Food: how to cook meat for our children’s meals?
The best way to cook meat for our children is steamed without adding salt. You can also grill it on a non-stick pan. We add a little olive oil or rapeseed for example. In all cases, the meat risks contain parasites or salmonella and therefore needs to be well cooked. It is also for this reason that we do not give cold cuts to a young child.
At around two years of age, we can prepare our child for lunch or dinner:
- 1 to 2 tablespoons of seasoned raw vegetables OR a soup
- Between 20 and 40 g of turkey stir-fry with a serving of starchy foods and a serving of vegetables OR a vegetable omelet OR a vegetable and cheese gratin with starchy foods
- 20 g of pasteurized cheese OR unsweetened yogurt OR cottage cheese
- 1 homemade compote OR a fresh fruit