In a world of fast food and junk food, modern-day mothers try to protect their children's health by introducing them to natural foods with considerable health benefits. Nuts are just another snack that is packed with nutrients. They are delicious food items to eat on their own or in combination with other foods. Much better than your regular fast food or junk food.
Nuts for Children
Children of all ages require good nutrition and a healthy diet to grow into healthy, functioning adults. These nutritious nuts, which are packed with flavors and beneficial carbs, will get your child hooked on healthy fats and flavors from an early age. And when your taste buds are naturally aligned towards natural food sources, you don't feel the need to satisfy your cravings with high-calorie meals.
Best Nut For The Children
Since there are so many nuts available in the market, you are bound to get confused one way or the other. Choose something that your toddler would love instead of going for something incredibly hard and with a prominent flavor profile. Something like the scrumptious cashew.
Cashew nuts are a delicious snack for people of all ages. They are rich in texture with a mild flavor and crunchy, creamy exterior – they are indeed a treat. Cashews aren't even considered nuts. They are seeds extracted from the cashew apple's fruit.
Many people believe that cashews are high in fat and hence bad for their health, but this is far from the truth. Cashews are a combination of protein and healthy fat that can promote heart health and many other benefits.
Benefits of Cashews on Children Health
By introducing cashews to children, you are helping them achieve the following health benefits:
Cashews will allow your child to develop healthier physically and mentally.
Cashews contain vitamins and minerals that meet a significant portion of a child's daily nutritional requirements.
Cashews provide healthy fats that will help them grow with a normal BMI.
Cashews lower the chances of developing hypertension, asthma, diabetes, and other disorders.
Digestion is a common problem in youngsters, and cashews can help ease digestive distress among children and regulate their bowel movements.
Introducing Cashews to Children
Every child develops and eats at his or her own pace. However, one trait that all babies have in common is the age at which they can be introduced to foods other than breast milk or formula.
For infants on formula milk or mother feed, it might not be a good idea to introduce them to raw cashews because there's a good chance they'll choke on them.
You can offer cashews to your child after 6 to 8 months when they have finally started eating foods like yogurt and butter.
Timeline for Introducing Cashews to Children
Here is how you can start adding cashews to your child’s diet.
6 to 12 Months
Cashews can be sprinkled after being finely ground in a food processor.
Cashew powder can also be used with breast milk by mothers.
Children of this age love having cream. So introducing cashew cream can also be quite a great thing. Soak cashews for a few hours, or until moist and soft. In a food processor, combine them with a small amount of water until smooth.
Babies at this age are learning to grip their spoons, so place a thin mixture of flavored cashews on a spoon and guide them to put it in their mouth.
12 to 24 Months
At this stage, your child will have teeth to chew food. Cashews can be added to cereals, milk, and even a fruit parfait with cashews sprinkled on top.
This is a great time to introduce your kids to spreads and bread. Instead of giving them processed sweet spreads, give them cashew butter with their favorite jam. Soak cashews for a few hours before processing them till smooth. For flavor, use a natural oil such as coconut oil. Spread a tiny layer on a single slice of bread, gradually increasing the amount.
24 Months Old & Up:
Continue to finely grind cashews and use cashew butter as you wish. If your child has developed mature eating skills they may be ready to learn how to eat whole cashews. Just remember that nuts and nut pieces are considered choking hazards until age 4 and even beyond.
Only serve nuts when your child is seated in an upright seat and is actively engaged in mealtime and not distracted.
Cashews are a fantastic treat for kids of all ages. They are high in vitamins and minerals, which will aid in your child's healthy development. You can begin introducing delicious and healthy nuts like cashews to your baby's diet at a young age.
Give them flavored cashews in a variety of forms, such as butter, cream, and a cashew powder mixture. You can mix your cashew powder into different things your child likes to eat. However, keep an eye out for allergies.