Can You Give Seafood to Kids: Be Careful

16.02.2024 11:30

Seafood includes not only different types of shellfish such as squid or oysters, but also crustaceans (shrimp), echinoderms, and sea plants.

Despite the fact that such food products are really useful, not all parents are sure that such food should be offered to the baby. Well, let's try to figure it out together.

What are the benefits of seafood?

Seafood of animal origin has high nutritional value and contains a large amount of protein, which is easily absorbed by the body. They also contain healthy polyunsaturated fats, fat-soluble vitamins (A and E), almost all B vitamins, as well as many macro- and microelements.

If we talk about kelp, it contains dietary fiber, which promotes normal bowel function.

All this makes seafood an excellent source of nutrients for a child's body.

Mussels
Photo: © Belnovosti

Why You Should Be Careful When Including Seafood in Your Child's Diet

Like fish, seafood is one of the most allergenic foods with high sensitizing activity and is included in the list of eight most common allergens.

For this reason, the answer to the question: “Can seafood be given to children?” is positive, but taking into account age.

It is recommended to introduce seafood of animal origin into a child’s diet no earlier than 3 years of age, and plant-based seafood can be given from 2 years of age.

Earlier, BelNovosti wrote about why it is worth keeping your phone at the ready when your baby starts crawling.

Author: Elena Shimanovskaya Editor of Internet resources

Content
  1. What are the benefits of seafood?
  2. Why You Should Be Careful When Including Seafood in Your Child's Diet