Nutrition and plant milk for children

Good evening, I have a question about infant feeding. I have two sons, one 5 years old (allergic to cow’s milk up to 3 years old) and one 2 years old, allergic to egg , both red and white. They don’t take cow’s milk, but soy or rice or barley milk … twice a day … can it be good for their nutritional needs? I would like to clarify that we do not consume meat (except my eldest son at the canteen of the kindergarten twice a week but among the rest not very welcome). But let’s eat fish, vegetables, legumes, different types of cereals (not refined), yoghurt and sometimes cheese … of all kinds but the quantity is always small, they do not eat large quantities, except for fruit. good as a power supply ?? Is it necessary to introduce supplements? Thanks a lot, Jessica

Health Answers

Dear Jessica, let’s clarify: cow’s milk must not be given before 12 months, as it has a high content of proteins and mineral salts (in particular sodium) which can lead to an overload of renal work in the infant; it also contains very little iron which is essential for the child’s psychomotor and behavioral development. Even after one year of life, when the baby has a more varied diet than before, cow’s milk does not meet the nutritional needs, as it is too rich in protein and poor in iron. Soy milk is actually not a milk but a soy-based vegetable drink, used in case of allergies, hypercholesterolemia or in extreme vegetarian diets. Contains less protein, less fat and less sugar. Even though it contains more iron, this can be less absorbed in the intestine, due to the presence of phytic acid in the product; moreover it can contain a fair amount of phytoestrogens and allergens. Due to these characteristics, therefore, it cannot be a substitute, especially in the case of growing children. Even rice milk is not a milk, but a drink obtained industrially by macerating the grains of rice in water and filtering the liquid obtained. Later it is enriched with calcium, iron, various vitamins. For both soy and rice milk, there are specific formulas for infants, in which vegetable proteins are fractionated to make them simpler and less allergic. Keep in mind that the common rice milk on the market does not exist in nature and should only be taken into consideration in extreme cases. Therefore, in addition to relying on your trusted pediatrician and common sense, the advice is to choose a delactosed milk (with the initials HD), which retains all the other nutritional characteristics of cow’s milk. As for nutrition in general, it is good to consume fruit and vegetables in large quantities, but also cereals such as bread, pasta, rice and potatoes. Animal proteins and legumes have specific nutritional properties and should be taken weekly. If you wish, I remain available for further information, advice and nutritional education meetings. If necessary, let me know how the situation evolves. A cordial greeting, Dr. Manuela Gravante, Psychosomatic Health and Wellness is to choose a delactosed milk (with the initials HD), which retains all the other nutritional characteristics of cow’s milk. As for nutrition in general, it is good to consume fruit and vegetables in large quantities, but also cereals such as bread, pasta, rice and potatoes. Animal proteins and legumes have specific nutritional properties and should be taken weekly. If you wish, I remain available for further information, advice and nutritional education meetings. If necessary, let me know how the situation evolves. A cordial greeting, Dr. Manuela Gravante, Psychosomatic Health and Wellness is to choose a delactosed milk (with the initials HD), which retains all the other nutritional characteristics of cow’s milk. As for nutrition in general, it is good to consume fruit and vegetables in large quantities, but also cereals such as bread, pasta, rice and potatoes. Animal proteins and legumes have specific nutritional properties and should be taken weekly. If you wish, I remain available for further information, advice and nutritional education meetings. If necessary, let me know how the situation evolves. A cordial greeting, Dr. Manuela Gravante, Psychosomatic Health and Wellness It is good to consume fruit and vegetables in large quantities, but also cereals such as bread, pasta, rice and potatoes. Animal proteins and legumes have specific nutritional properties and should be taken weekly. If you wish, I remain available for further information, advice and nutritional education meetings. If necessary, let me know how the situation evolves. A cordial greeting, Dr. Manuela Gravante, Psychosomatic Health and Wellness It is good to consume fruit and vegetables in large quantities, but also cereals such as bread, pasta, rice and potatoes. Animal proteins and legumes have specific nutritional properties and should be taken weekly. If you wish, I remain available for further information, advice and nutritional education meetings. If necessary, let me know how the situation evolves. A cordial greeting, Dr. Manuela Gravante, Psychosomatic Health and Wellness

Dear Jessica, it is my opinion that children know perfectly well, unlike us adults, what the right amount of food is and which foods are not suitable for them. When faced with the refusal of a food or what is called lack of appetite, there is not always a whim. If her puppies have little appetite, but are in good health and lively and cheerful, there’s no reason to force them. If they like plant-based milk why not give it to them? I would avoid those enriched with vitamins and minerals because they are synthetic and I would opt for seasonal fruit and vegetables and organic or country products. A varied daily diet that is complete with protein, carbohydrates and fiber is the best diet. There are no specific parameters, every child like every adult has different constitutional needs. Instead, monitor your weight and growth with your pediatrician. Just one last note: soy milk is a protein source, rice milk is not (carbohydrate). Oatmeal contains both carbohydrates and a fair amount of protein. So try to swirl the various types of milk. For example, a glass of soy milk (protein) with homemade bread and jam (carbohydrates) with a fruit (fiber and vitamins) is an excellent complete snack. A slice of bread with homemade hazelnut cream (ground hazelnuts in powder with a drizzle of oil, left to rest, mix occasionally) minerals and fatty acids, with rice milk (carbohydrates) or another cereal represents a another excellent solution. Bread and oil with a slice of tomato is another healthy alternative to snack, or fruit cooked with cocoa and a vegetable yogurt … and so on. Keep in mind that rice milk can have a laxative effect and is often not tolerated. Cow’s milk should not belong to human nutrition. There are excellent bibliographies on the subject. Opt for the consumption of partially whole grains because the stomach and intestines of children are able to digest and assimilate them better than the whole whole. Finally, when they are so young from my point of view, it is better to make them drink smoothies and smoothies rather than poison them with supplements that may be more harmful than healthy. Kind regards Cinzia Zedda naturopath-writer-iridologist -reflexologist-mindfulness Cow’s milk should not belong to human nutrition. There are excellent bibliographies on the subject. Opt for the consumption of partially whole grains because the stomach and intestines of children are able to digest and assimilate them better than the whole whole. Finally, when they are so young from my point of view, it is better to make them drink smoothies and smoothies rather than poison them with supplements that may be more harmful than healthy. Best regards Cinzia Zedda naturopath-writer-iridologist -reflexologist-mindfulness Cow’s milk should not belong to human nutrition. There are excellent bibliographies on the subject. Opt for the consumption of partially whole grains because the stomach and intestines of children are able to digest and assimilate them better than the whole whole. Finally, when they are so young from my point of view, it is better to make them drink smoothies and smoothies rather than poison them with supplements that may be more harmful than healthy. Kind regards Cinzia Zedda naturopath-writer-iridologist -reflexologist-mindfulness when they are so small from my point of view, it is better to make them drink smoothies and smoothies rather than poison them with supplements that may be more harmful than healthy. Kind regards Cinzia Zedda naturopath-writer-iridologist -reflexologist-mindfulness when they are so small from my point of view, it is better to make them drink smoothies and smoothies rather than poison them with supplements that may be more harmful than healthy. Kind regards Cinzia Zedda naturopath-writer-iridologist -reflexologist-mindfulness