Food supplement menu with zinc for babies

This is an automatically translated article.

Zinc plays a role in wound healing, protein synthesis and increased appetite for children. The majority of zinc in the body will be absorbed from the food you eat every day. Therefore, building a menu to supplement zinc for babies needs much attention from parents.

1. The role of zinc in the development of the child's body

Zinc helps children grow and develop by participating in enzyme components present in the body, helping the body synthesize proteins as well as participate in the process of cell division. In addition, zinc also increases appetite, so it will help children eat more. In particular, zinc also participates in the structure of immune cells such as T lymphocytes, B lymphocytes, macrophages, helps the body maintain immune system activity, and protects the child's body against pathogens. environmental diseases.
In addition, zinc also helps regulate the body's essential hormones, including the function of the endocrine system; Involved in the regulation of pituitary, adrenal, and gonadal hormone components. These systems work with the nervous system to help regulate activities inside and outside the body.
When children lack zinc, it can cause anorexia. Because zinc is an important micronutrient that helps stimulate, maintain and protect taste and smell cells. Therefore, zinc deficiency will affect these cells due to taste disturbance. Besides, zinc deficiency can cause symptoms of impaired immune cell function (including T-lymphocytes, B-lymphocytes, macrophages), reduce resistance and affect the growth of immune cells. growth and development in children. Therefore, when realizing the signs of zinc deficiency, parents need to supplement zinc for their children in the most reasonable way to ensure the comprehensive development of their children.

2. Foods containing rich zinc content

Oysters are rich in zinc. Oysters are known to be foods of animal origin that are quite high in zinc. Oysters also contain other micronutrients such as iron... In 6 raw oysters, zinc content is about 32mg, 400% higher than the recommended daily intake of zinc. The iron content in oysters has the effect of transporting oxygen, helping the process of making red blood cells perform better. In addition, oysters also provide high levels of protein and omega 3 fatty acids, which have many health benefits for children.

Zinc in beef In 93 grams of beef contains about 7mg of zinc content. Beef also provides a large amount of protein, vitamin B12 - nutrients necessary for the nervous system and blood cells.
Crab is a food containing rich zinc content. Crab (especially sea crab) is one of the foods that supplement zinc for babies. In 1 blue sea crab contains about 4.7mg of zinc. In addition, crab meat also contains a large amount of protein; vitamins A, B, C and magnesium, which help the heart and muscles work properly.
Cereals This food contains about 3.8mg of zinc in 3⁄4 cups. Parents should buy cereals with added levels of vitamin D and iron. When eating cereal, parents can feed their children with low-fat milk to help absorb zinc better or can eat with a little fruit rich in vitamin C.
Lobster In 93 grams of cooked lobster meat contains about 3.4 mg of zinc. In addition, lobsters also have 32% of the daily essential protein, 20% of the required vitamin B12 and 8% of the body's calcium needs. Therefore, lobster is one of the appropriate zinc-fortified weaning menus for babies.
Pork chops In 93 grams of cooked pork chops contain about 2.9 mg of zinc. Because pork ribs are high in protein, low in fat as well as choline ingredients that help improve memory, it is very suitable to be added to the baby's weaning menu.
Chicken The amount of zinc in 93 grams of cooked chicken is about 2.4mg. In particular, chicken also contains protein for muscle development, vitamin B6 to help exchange estrogen hormone as well as keep brain function normal.

3. Food supplement menu with zinc for babies

Supplementing with zinc for children not only supports good physical and intellectual development, but also helps protect children against any harmful external environment. Therefore, parents should be concerned and have a plan about the zinc-fortified weaning menu for their children. Here are some menus to supplement zinc for babies in the process of weaning:
Clam porridge with green beans: Clam porridge is used as a zinc supplement for children 11 months of age and older. The ingredients of this dish include 100 grams of plain rice, 1⁄2 kg of clams, 50 grams of green beans, chopped dried onions. Rice and green beans are washed and soaked in water for 1 hour, then drained. Put the rice and green beans in the pot and cook it into porridge. Star clams, when soaked, need to be scrubbed clean with a brush. Then, put the clams in the steamer to cook. When the clam opens its mouth, it's fine. Remove the clams to cool and clean the clam meat. Fry the fragrant dried onions and stir-fry the clams with spices to infuse. When rice porridge and green beans are cooked, continue to add the pureed clams and cook.

Beef spinach porridge: According to nutrition experts, in 100 grams of beef contains about 12.3 mg of zinc and in 100 grams of spinach contains 0.8 mg of zinc after cooked. The ingredients of this dish include white porridge made from rice, spinach and beef. Beef is pureed or minced, then stir-fried with fragrant fried onions and spices. The cabbage leaves are washed, then finely chopped or minced. Rice is brought to a boil into porridge. When the porridge is ready, add the stir-fried beef and spinach to the boil. Pumpkin Chicken Soup: This dish is for babies between 12 and 24 months old. Ingredients for this dish include 765 grams of pumpkin, 720ml of boiled chicken broth, 1 small onion, garlic and butter. Onions and garlic are finely chopped and put in a pot with butter. Melt butter and stir in pumpkin. Then pour in the chicken broth and simmer until the squash is tender. Put the squash into a puree, then stir again to infuse the spices and bring to a boil to be able to use. Mung bean blood cockle porridge: This is one of the menus to supplement zinc for children. This dish is a combination of two foods with rich nutritional ingredients, helping children eat more deliciously. Ingredients of blood cockle porridge include 1kg of blood cockles, 50 grams of green beans, 100 grams of glutinous rice and some plain rice, mushrooms, onions, ginger and lemongrass. Scallops are put on ice for about 30 minutes or 60 minutes, then brought out for meat. Scallops are cleaned and sautéed with non-aromatic onions and spices to infuse. Rice and green beans are washed and cooked into porridge. Add mushrooms to the porridge to increase sweetness. When the porridge is soft, add the fried scallops to the porridge pot and boil for a few minutes. In short, zinc helps children grow and develop by participating in enzyme components present in the body, helping the body synthesize proteins as well as participate in the process of cell division. In addition, zinc also increases appetite, so it will help children eat more. Therefore, building a menu to supplement zinc for babies needs much attention from parents.
In addition to zinc, children need to add necessary micronutrients such as selenium, chromium, vitamins B1 and B6, ginger, acerola fruit extract (vitamin C), ... to improve taste, eat delicious, reach afternoon high and normal weight and over the standard, good immune system, increased resistance to less sickness and less digestive problems.
For more nutritional knowledge and child care for each age, parents should regularly visit the website vimec.com and make an appointment with the leading doctors, pediatric and nutrition experts of the National General Hospital. Vinmec when needing advice on children's health.