By Ebi Kesiena
The birth of a baby brings a lot of joy and responsibility to parents and caregivers. Parents want the best for their children. We want them to do well in school, we want them to find their way in life and above all, we want them to be happy. One of the best ways to help parents is to feed their children delicious, nutritious food. We want them to have the energy they need to learn, grow and succeed. Eggs can play an important role in this regard.
Here are some reasons why eggs can help your child become all that he can be.
1. Healthy brain
Research has shown that pregnant and breastfeeding women who eat eggs are more likely to meet their children’s choline needs. What is choline, you ask yourself? It stimulates parts of the brain that are important for learning and memory. We know that pregnant women need more choline, and a University of Toronto study suggests that 87% of these women get less than the recommended amount. The advice is pregnant women should have a lot of eggs in their diet.
2. Healthy growth
Two studies have shown the role that eggs can play in regulating and maintaining a child’s weight. One study found that children who ate high protein egg-based breakfasts ate fewer calories for lunch. The other study found that hunger was reduced overall when children ate a high protein egg-based breakfast.
3. Eggs reduce the sugar intake of your kids
One of the reasons obesity is so prevalent in North America is our high sugar diets. According to one report, “one in five calories consumed by Canadians comes from sugar.” Young people are among the heaviest consumers of sugar. Eggs are a healthy food, free from sugar and rich in vitamins and nutrients. Plus, they can be cooked in lots of delicious ways the perfect option for reducing your sugar intake.
4. Prevent an allergy
Eggs are such a healthy food option, but an egg allergy can keep you from enjoying them all your life. But the early introduction of whole eggs into a child’s diet can reduce their chances of developing an egg allergy. This is one of the reasons why the latest infant feeding guidelines from Health Canada, the Canadian Pediatric Society, Dietitians of Canada and the Breastfeeding Committee of Canada recommend the introduction of egg whole by six months of age or as soon as their babies start to eat whole food.
5. Other nutritional benefits
One of the best things about these new infant feeding guidelines is their implication for babies. From a nutritional standpoint, eggs are simply amazing foods. Eggs are an excellent source of iron and are a nutritious source of protein, fat, vitamins A, D, E and B12, and choline.
Eggs offer a lot to our children. They are the basis of a diet that will help them grow up healthy, strong and intelligent. So do your best to feed your children’s eggs. They’ll thank you someday, or they’ll thank you that day, when they love what you cooked.
