Protein...how much?

[@llli*purplemonkey]

Does anyone know - how much protein does my 18 mth old need? He's always been tall and thin and only weighs 23lb and I really want to make sure he's getting enough protein. He nurses twice a day and eats a lot of solids (quantity and variety) and he really loves his food ...except meat and eggs! I have tried about a million different ways of preparing meat and usually the only way he'll eat it these days is if I cook it, blend it and hide it, using it as 'sauce' or as 'spread' on toast! Even then, sometimes he'll pick all the tiny bits out or just refuse to eat it.

I don't want to get into the bribing and persuading that I've seen some parents of toddlers do, because I don't want to create a power struggle over food. He's a great eater, it's just the meat. He doesn't get protein through dairy, because his system doesn't tolerate cow milk products, so we use soy and rice milk. So what I'm thinking of doing is learning how to cook vegetarian meals, creating complete protein from grains and pulses, etc. But I don't want to guess and get the proportions wrong. Does anyone have any tips or any recommendations for websites or recipe books for cooking vegetarian meals for toddlers?

While I have your attention, I'd love to know - do a lot of you have trouble getting your little ones to eat meat? Seems like every toddler I know is more keen on fruit,veg and bread products than meat. I've even been wondering if it's instinctive - isn't it supposed to be hard for their little tummies to cope with? I don't want to trick him (by hiding meat in his food) into eating something that his body doesn't cope well with if I can give him protein another way.

Thanks for reading! I'd love to hear about your experiences.

[@llli*desperate]

I puree meat into his pasta. Egg yolk also can be pureed and mixed into anything but the protein is in the white of course, which is the hard part to give. I think lsksam just posted the daily protein etc. requirements of toddlers a couple of days ago. I'll see if I can find the post.

[@llli*desperate]

I found it:

Some toddler nutrition requirements:

fat = 30 - 40 grams fat / day
protein = 13 grams /day
calcium = 500 mg / day
iron = 7 mg / day

However, beware that not all proteins are the same quality. Those from animal sources are the highest quality (especially whey (BM's protein) and egg whites). Plant sources of protein are low quality.

[@llli*purplemonkey]

Thank you!

My lo is helpfully taking a really long nap today, so I've had time to do some internet research on protein in the vegan diet (for the days when I can't get any animal protein into him). I'm posting it in case anyone else out there is interested in this topic.

I thought it was necessary to combine foods in particular ways to ensure adequate amounts and proportions of amino acids to make complete proteins. Apparently that's what they used to think, but more recent research has shown that the body holds onto amino acids until it gets the others it needs to make a complete protein, so it isn't even absolutely necessary to eat foods containing all essential amino acids in the same day, though it is a good idea.

I found this website helpful. http://www.vrg.org/nutrition/protein.htm Click and scroll down for table of protein contents of popular vegan foods. I copied the table below from the same site:


TODDLERS AND PRESCHOOLERS (AGE 1-3)
FOOD GROUP NUMBER OF SERVINGS
GRAINS 6 or more (a serving is 1/2 to 1 slice of bread or 1/4 to 1/2 cup cooked cereal or grain or pasta or 1/2 to 1 cup ready-to-eat cereal)
LEGUMES, NUTS, SEEDS 2 or more (a serving is 1/4 to 1/2 cup cooked beans, tofu, tempeh or TVP; or 1-1/2 to 3 ounces of meat analogue; or 1 to 2 Tbsp. nuts, seeds, nut or seed butter
FORTIFIED SOYMILK, ETC 3 (a serving is 1 cup fortified soymilk, infant formula, or breast milk)
VEGETABLES 2 or more (a serving is 1/4 to 1/2 cup cooked or 1/2 to 1 cup raw vegetables)
FRUITS 3 or more (a serving is 1/4 to 1/2 cup canned fruit or 1/2 cup juice, or 1 medium fruit)
FATS 3 (1 tsp. margarine or oil) (use 1/2 tsp. flaxseed oil or 2 tsp. canola oil daily to supply omega-3 fatty acids)

Anyway, that's going to be my starting point for making sure he's getting enough of what he needs. Please feel free to send me any corrections, recipe suggestions, experiences, or whatever you'd like to share!

[@llli*number4]

keep in mind too, that the nursing sessions to account for some of those reccomendations (there's a link around here somewhere )

[@llli*lsksam]

kellymom nutrition for nursing toddlers & extended bf breastmilk nutrition info

[@llli*purplemonkey]

Thank you, that's really helpful - and some great links from those sites to other useful articles.

I was concerned about protein, but it looks like he's getting plenty already (BM, soymilk, lentils, peas, beans) and the only change I need to make is, surprisingly, to add more grains! He'll be thrilled - he loves his bread and pasta!

[@llli*leila]

My DD loves browned ground beef or well-boiled chicken, especially in soup. I also soak and then dry/toast pine nuts for her. A little sea salt, butter and/or garlic usually help. Sometimes stuff is just too bland!

We don't do sausage, but a lot of LOs love it. I got DD to eat eggs by adding salsa. Does the yolk really not have protein? I thought for sure it did.

I definitely don't think you need to do more grains. We try to stay away from them as much as possible, actually.

[@llli*purplemonkey]

Thanks for the tips.

I'd love to know why you avoid grains?

[MRB]

does he eat fish? my son liked white fish poached in milk with a little melted butter. he likes other fish such as pilchards and sardines in tomato sauce too

Also good quality fish fingers, and good quality battered fish (possibly a Brit thing)?