Bone Broth for Kids
We are featuring a Kids Month here at BestBonesBroth so we thought we’d answer some common questions regarding the addition of Bone Broth in children's diets.
Bone Broth has been around for years and years and has been a part of many traditional diets around the world. For good reason too! Bone Broth is a natural and very nutrient-dense liquid which also offers these nutrients in a bio-available form for our bodies. Not only does it offer easily digestable nutrients but regular consumption can improve absorption of nutrients from other foods too. This occurs beacause Bone Broth assists in reducing inflammation, maintaining and healing your gut lining.
As our little ones are growing and developing they require a lot more nutrients per body mass than adults. This is why a nutrient-dense food like Bone Broth can be a great addition to your child's diet.
Two of the minerals found in Bone Broth are calcium and magnesium which are essential for our kids to build strong, healthy bones and teeth. Bone Broth also contains glucosamine and chondroitin, which are important nutrients for joint care and development. Another pair of nutrients found in Bone Broth are gelatin and collagen, which are key in building and supporting connective tissue as our kids grow. You’ll know if a Bone Broth contains good proportions of the latter two nutrients because when cold, the Broth should be a jelly like consistency. This gel dissipates when heated and creates a nice smooth liquid.
Bone Broth, along with other fermented and probiotic rich foods are great for overall gut health. Supporting and strengthening your child’s gut when they’re young, can greatly reduce the risk of food allergies and sensitivities. Other benefits may include a strengthened immune system and an improvement in skin issues such as eczema.
It is important to know when and how to incorporate Bone Broth into your kids' diet. Always consult with your doctor to get the approval for things regarding your own and your child’s health. We’re no experts in health, however, from personal experience and additional research we believe it is completely safe to begin including Bone Broth into your child's diet at 6 months of age or when they are beginning to eat solids. Start off with small amounts and see how things go, you can gradually increase the amount you give them.
You can either give your children Bone Broth in a drink form or by incorporating it into their solid foods. For the little ones, simply adding a tablespoon or so into their puréed food is such an easy way to do it! Other ideas are:
- Add bone broth to tomato sauce or any other sauce you use when cooking
- Make the bone broth into a soup your child enjoys by adding other ingredients
- Cook rice, quinoa or noodles with broth instead of water
- Add a little bone broth to shakes or smoothies
- Saute or boil vegetables in broth instead of water
- Add a little to condiments, dips, salsa, etc.
- Use broth instead of milk or other liquid when mashing potatoes, cauliflower, or other veggies
- Freeze broth in ice cubes and simply use it as per the ideas above or add it to your favourite soup, stir-fry, smoothie and more!
So there you go! A little more info for you surrounding Bone Broth for kids. If you have anymore questions don’t hesitate to ask - we'd love to hear from you!
We're passionate about health and well-being and love sharing and learning all things health related!
References and additional articles on Bone Broth for Children:
https://fitasamamabear.com/three-foods-every-toddler-should-have-in-their-diet/
http://www.ohbabynutrition.com/blog/bone-broth-for-babies
http://www.ohbabynutrition.com/blog/bone-broth-for-babies
by Ra Goodwin
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