Protein: Of First Importance

Not counting water, protein makes up three quarters of our body and is found in every cell. Our muscles, organs, some hormones, and certain antibodies and enzymes are all made up of protein. No wonder this incredible substance was named from the Greek root meaning "of first importance."

• Proteins are the building blocks of our cells. They are the framework upon which all cells are built. Because babies are growing, (by building new cells) they require plenty of high quality protein.
• Pound for pound, babies need more protein than at almost any other stage of their life. Without enough, their growth and development can be compromised
• Breast milk and formula provide adequate amounts of protein during the early months. When a baby weans to table food, you need to replace the protein no longer being supplied by formula or breast milk
• A six-month to one year old needs about 13 to 15 grams of protein a day. Toddlers need 13 to 19 grams.
• Excellent sources of protein include dairy products, eggs, meat, fish, poultry and soybeans, or foods containing a good amount of these foods.
• Many plant foods also supply protein, although its quality isn’t as complete as animal sources of protein. But, by providing a variety of plant foods that contain proteins, such as legumes, nuts (in the form of nut butter until they are three), seeds, and grains, your child can get the protein they require.
• By including a good source of protein at every meal, most likely your baby or toddler will be getting adequate protein.
• For lunch consider serving a ‘dinner’ food such as Earth’s Best Country Vegetable Chicken My First Soup
• At dinner, for a stage two or three baby, offer a jarred dinner with protein such as Peas and Brown Rice to supplement the protein they will still be getting in formula or breast milk.
• When they are old enough to chew modified table food, try offering some tender, ground chicken or turkey, tender flaked fish, mashed legumes or scrambled egg (yolk only until age one).