Srividhya Mariappan
As a Parents we want the best for their kids. We want them to excel in everything they do and we want them to be happy. The best way to do this if to feed our kids a delicious and nutritious diet. Once such food which is delicious and most nutritious is egg.
Eggs are a perfect single-ingredient food. Easy to prepare, they are a convenient and healthy source of protein, fat, and other nutrients such as biotin and iron, which are important for growth and a healthy body. Eggs are a top source of protein for children and are easy to make and serve. Apart from being Rich Source of Protein eggs are good for Eyes as it contains contain lutein and zeaxanthin. Omega 3 in eggs helps Children stay away from many diseases. They are excellent Source of Vitamin D which is important for bone health.
The presence of essential nine amino acids in eggs helps in having healthy nails and hair. Eggs have the right balance of saturated and unsaturated fats which makes it very useful for a growing child. Vitamin B12 is essential for neural health which is present abundantly in eggs. It is essential for the right development of your child’s brain and nervous system. Eggs are also good source of Folic Acid. Deficiency in folic acid leads to weakness and nerve damage, which can be avoided by taking eggs regularly.
You can give your baby the entire egg (yolk and white), if your paediatrician recommends it. Around 6 months, puree or mash one hard-boiled or scrambled egg and serve it to your baby. For a more liquid consistency, add breast milk or water. Around 8 months, scrambled egg pieces are a fantastic finger food. The official scientific recommendation says to serve up to 7 eggs per week. This can mean one a day, or two to three a day if you don’t serve them daily. Even before the kid start eating on their own, eggs give them great benefits. They contain the full range of B vitamins, including choline, which helps in building membranes of the cells.
Research has found that pregnant and breastfeeding women who eat eggs are more likely to meet their child’s need for choline. Many believe that eating eggs increases cholesterol, but the fact is that consumption of eggs helps spike in HDL, which is the good cholesterol. To further make it healthier you can prepare eggs in lesser oil or provide boiled egg to your child.