Fruit juices

According to the Food and Drug Administration's definition, fruit juices are products in which the proportion of fruit juice is 100%. We must remember that juices should not be used to quench thirst. They must not be a substitute for water. Furthermore, juices should not be given to infants under 5 months of age, as they can significantly reduce the volume of milk consumed, which is the appropriate source of essential nutrients at this age. According to the position of the Polish Group of Experts, juices can be introduced to the diet of breast-fed infants after the age of 7 months, and to artificially fed children after the age of 4 months. It is advisable to give juices with a spoon. Remember to avoid giving juices before bedtime and at night. The amount of juice a child drinks during the day should be limited. It should not exceed 150 ml. Juice and fruit should be counted in the same ration. It is preferable to give fresh fruit rather than a small cup of juice. Infants can only be given 100% juices, pureed, without added sugar, pasteurised. So that the child does not limit the number of meals eaten, do not give juices between meals. In the case of nutritional disorders (malnutrition or overweight/obesity), functional disorders of the digestive tract or tooth decay, the volume of juice intake should be carefully determined by the doctor or dietician.

Meat

Meat is a rich source of iron, zinc, complete protein, vitamin B12 and carnitine and should therefore be introduced early into the infant's diet. Poultry (turkey, goose, duck, chicken), beef, lamb and rabbit should be introduced first. The order in which the above meats are introduced is optional. Initially, it is recommended to give the baby about 10 g of cooked meat added to puree or vegetable soup. The amount should be gradually increased to 20 g by the end of the 1st year of life. Children under 3 years of age are not recommended to eat offal.

When buying meat, it is important to pay attention to its origin and the correct conditions in which the animals are reared. Meat of unknown origin should not be purchased. When buying, we must be sure that it has been examined by a vet.

Fish

Fish are rich in LCPUALP - long-chain unsaturated fatty acids, including docosahexaenoic acid (DHTN ), which belongs to the omega 3 acids. It has many beneficial effects on the organism, such as influencing the correct development of the brain and eyesight, as well as reducing the concentration of triglycerides in the blood. Its deficiency may be linked to the occurrence of cardiovascular diseases, the immune system and many mental health disorders including depression and ADHD.

In order to properly cover the demand for DHTN , it is necessary to consume oily marine fish regularly, at least 1-2 times a week. In Poland, fish consumption is insufficient. This may be due to the fear that the early introduction of fish into the child's diet increases the risk of sensitisation. However, the results of recent studies indicate that there is no such risk and that fish can be given as early as infancy. It has been shown that early introduction of fish can even promote the development of immune tolerance and reduce the risk of allergy development. In order to limit the consumption of fish that may be contaminated with harmful substances such as mercury and dioxins, it is advisable to eat oily marine fish such as herring, salmon and sprat, which do not contain these substances. It is very important not to give infants predatory fish. It is also discouraged to give children swordfish, shark, king mackerel, tuna and tilefish. Fish should be given in small portions, initially once a week, observing the child's reaction. In the event that the child does not consume enough fish to cover his or her DHTN requirements, additional supplementation with this fatty acid should be considered.

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Principles of unsaturated essential fatty acid supplementation:

Breastfed infants receive essential fatty acids with their mother's milk and no additional supplementation is needed. In order to ensure an adequate concentration of DHTN in milk (min. 100 mg/24 h), a breastfeeding woman should supplement additionally with at least 200 mg DHTN per day, and if she consumes insufficient fish, even 400-600 mg DHTN per day. In children over 6 months of age, the main source of DHTN in the diet becomes supplementary products and modified milk containing DHTN . Unfortunately, most mixes contain less DHTN than recommended by experts. DHTN supplementation should be introduced when dietary intake of DHTN is insufficient ( less than 100 mg/24 h).