We had started giving Leland quinoa prior to me reading this article, we have now stopped that. Unfortunately Leland will not be able to experience the deliciousness of bread, pasta, rice and quinoa until he gets his first molars. He still gets his teething biscuits that I make, only because he doesn't really eat them, he just gums them then throws it on the floor for Heath to lick. (Yes Heath likes teething biscuits, egg yolks, broccoli and kale, and he has already figured out this kid will drop food on the floor for him.)
For now he will have to stick with vegetables, fruits, beans, eggs and meat. We may eventually introduce some cheese, but I am a little cautious about it since he has been so sensitive to me eating dairy.
He really loves his veggies.
Sorry Megan, but I don't buy it. Even if it true that pancreatic amylase production lags behind salivary, I doubt if it is that long. Amylase breaks down any complex carbohydrates (including squash and other fruits and veggies). Without amylase he would be having a horrible time with almost all foods. The reason I recommend cereal is because of the iron. His iron needs are starting to be above what breast milk is supplying and cereal can give him that (and so can other leafy green veggies). I look some stuff up and we can talk next week. -Laura
ReplyDeleteFirst, kids are all different but pretty resilient so I don't want to make this a question of good or bad parenting, 100% percent right or wrong; however--
ReplyDeleteUnpasteurized milk (ie breast milk) and produce have enzymes built in for easier digestion. Grains don't, unless you soak or culture them, whereby bacteria is doing the work for you. Even at 24 months, babies do not have a mature a-amylase regulation like their moms do:
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2693709/figure/F1/
Fortified foods are basically processed foods, often affected by what the government subsidizes in the grain market. Starchy cereals accomplish very little nutritionally, but do send a jolt of insulin, followed by a jolt of cortisol to the blood stream.
In fact, if an infant (or adult) does have issues regulating and producing his/her a-amylase, it can lead to less nutrient absorption for other foods. Many veggies have a lot of iron, and iron that they have processed from the soil and made bio-available. When nutrients/minerals get taken out of context, as in fortified foods, there is little guarantee our bodies will know what to do with them without proper enzymes and co-factors.
Ultimately every baby is different, but I'll take veg over starch every time.