When can you give your child shrimp? Everything about seafood and at what age can it be offered to children?

Beneficial features

1. Low calorie product.
2. Fast and easy digestibility, increased intestinal motility.
3. The high level of proteins allows you to replace meat dishes in the diet.
4. Fatty acids affect the normal development of the visual organs, the brain, and influence the proper formation of bones.
5. Vitamin A has a good effect on the development of vision organs and strengthens the body in the process of resisting infections.
6. Vitamin D affects the normal absorption of microelements, in particular calcium, takes part in the development of bone tissue, and strengthens teeth.
7. The microelements contained in shrimp have a beneficial effect on the normal development of the body as a whole.
8. B12 takes part in the formation of strong muscles and good vision.
9. The iron contained in the composition resists the development of anemia (iron deficiency).
10. Shrimp can be used in the fight against obesity; they accelerate metabolic processes and have a beneficial effect on the thyroid gland, causing healthy weight loss.

Valuable composition

Shrimp contain many nutrients that a child needs during his growth and development.

1. Omega-3 fatty acids help with brain development, bone building, and healthy vision.
2. Vitamin A is no less important for the eyes than “star” fatty acids. In addition, it protects the baby from infections. It plays an important role in the growth processes of cells, tissues and bones.
3. Vitamin D promotes the absorption of calcium and other minerals by the growing body and is involved in the creation of strong bone structures and teeth. Children who have enough of this vitamin in their diet do not suffer from rickets and achieve the maximum natural growth and bone mass indicators according to age standards.
4. Phosphorus, zinc, iodine and calcium are vital mineral components that shrimp are especially rich in. This benefits the overall development of the child: both physical and mental.
5. Vitamin B12 guarantees the little fidget strong muscles, keen vision and the absence of sudden mood swings.
6. Iron provides high energy levels and prevents the development of iron deficiency anemia.
7. Natural protein helps in healthy growth and maintenance of all body tissues at normal functionality.

Attention! Being a treasure trove of nutrients, shrimp can help obese children lose weight. This purpose is served by: vitamins A, D and B3, animal proteins and zinc. In addition to the obvious acceleration of metabolism, they have a beneficial effect on the thyroid gland, which also promotes healthy weight loss.

Nutritional table

Based on 100 g.

Possible harm

Before introducing shrimp meat into your toddler’s diet, you need to take into account the possible disadvantages of eating them.

1. The likelihood of developing food allergies.
2. When boiling shrimp, too much salt may be added, which can negatively affect the baby’s body and cause swelling.
3. There is a possibility of purchasing shrimp that have been raised in special farms where growth hormones are used and antibiotics may also be used.
4. Contains a large amount of cholesterol. Its level is higher than that of pork (twice).
5. It is difficult to check the freshness of the product, therefore, the risk of poisoning increases.
6. It has a relatively high mercury content, which can have a toxic effect on the child’s body.
7. Undercooked shrimp can retain bacteria, infection with which can cause symptoms such as vomiting, hyperthermia and intestinal upset.

Manifestations of allergies

Getting to know shrimp can have negative consequences.
A child's body may react negatively to getting to know new foods. An allergic reaction often manifests itself with the following symptoms:

• flatulence;
• nausea;
• swelling of the face;
• vomit;
• itching;
• diarrhea;
• chest wheezing;
• abdominal cramps;
• severe weakness;
• cyanosis;
• Quincke's edema is also possible.

In case of serious manifestations, it is necessary to urgently seek help from a specialist.

With extreme caution, shrimp are added to the toddler’s diet if:

• previously had cases of allergies, in particular food;
• the child has been diagnosed with asthma;
• immediate family members are allergic to seafood.

Is shrimp meat good for men?

Shrimp meat contains selenium and vitamin E, which are good for cancer prevention. Likewise, the beneficial qualities of these marine inhabitants have a beneficial effect on the circulatory system.

For those who suffer from various allergies, shrimp are an ideal substitute for medications, as they reduce the possibility of allergic reactions, in addition to the fact that they themselves do not cause them.

The mineral substances contained in shrimp stabilize metabolism and have a beneficial effect on the endocrine system.

Benefits for men

Acceptable age

Three years is the acceptable age for getting acquainted with shrimps

Some parents are in a hurry to introduce their little one to seafood as early as the first year. At the same time, they don’t even think about the fact that such early acquaintance can trigger the development of allergies. In addition, it is worth considering the fact that store-bought shrimp can be grown with the addition of antibiotics and growth hormones, therefore, they should not be introduced into the diet of a two-year-old child. Experts have different opinions regarding the permissible age; most pediatricians still believe that the minimum permissible age is 3 years.

In special cases, it is allowed to introduce shrimp starting from the age of one and a half years. Namely - with a lack of protein. And this is permissible only when there is no predisposition to food allergies, and the shrimp are cooked with minimal use of salt.

If the mother has never eaten seafood while carrying a child, or you live in an area where they are considered a delicacy and a rarity, then it is not recommended to introduce shrimp into the baby’s diet until he reaches the age of three.

If exposed to shrimp prematurely, a child may develop a serious allergy. Is it worth risking your baby's health?

Features of inclusion in the diet

1. The first acquaintance begins with a tiny portion. It could be a quarter of a shrimp.
2. It is necessary to introduce the diet in the first half of the day so that there is enough time to monitor the body’s response.
3. If any negative manifestations appear, introduction to shrimp should be postponed for at least a month.
4. If the body does not experience any side effects, then you can gradually increase the portion.
5. Shrimp replace meat and fish dishes in a child’s diet. However, you should resort to such a replacement no more than once a week.
6. The daily intake of shrimp for a child under five years old should not exceed 50 grams. Over five years of age - from 80 to 100 grams per day.

Shrimp for children: from what age

Shrimp are not suitable for feeding infants and children under 2 years of age.

In some cases: if there is a lack of protein in the body, an aversion to other animal products, the baby can be introduced to them a little earlier, from 15–18 months. If a child has shown signs of a food allergy at least once, he should not be fed shrimp before he is 4–5 years old.

It is advisable to choose cold-water traditional species caught in the Atlantic or the Far East for the children's diet. Large royal and tiger fish, especially Taiwanese ones, are often raised on special farms using antibiotics. In addition, large individuals accumulate a lot of toxic salts and can cause poisoning.

To clearly understand whether children can have shrimp, for the first time it is enough to offer no more than 1 piece. Preferably not as part of a salad, without sauce and seasonings. Seafood should be boiled specially for the child and given separately from other dishes.

The allergy is likely to last for 2-3 days, and can occur abruptly: with swelling, breathing problems, and dermatitis. For this reason, it is necessary to have quick-acting antihistamines on hand.

If there are no adverse reactions to shrimp, you can include them in the menu up to 2 times a week:

• children 2–3 years old: up to 50 years old once;
• at 4–5 years: up to 80 g.
• at 6 years and older: up to 100–120 g.

How to cook shrimp for a child

The usual method of preparation: boiling in salted water. To emphasize the taste, you can add a slice of lemon or a little juice. It is recommended to keep shrimp in boiling water for no more than 3 minutes, otherwise they will become tough. It is also allowed to fry them in a frying pan with a small amount of vegetable oil.

In salads, it is useful to combine seafood with fresh avocado pulp, cucumber, boiled eggs, and herbs.

It is useful to cook delicious soups with vegetables. You can also replace traditional cutlets with shrimp, serving them with rice, noodles or mashed potatoes.

Recommendations for selection

Carefully inspect seafood when purchasing.

1. If you purchase boiled frozen shrimp, make sure that they are coral or pink in color. The head may be brown or green. If the head is black, the product is spoiled.
2. Give preference to small-sized shrimp. The content of nutrients in them is higher than in large ones.
3. The shell of unspoiled shrimp is smooth, has a uniform color and a smooth surface, and the tail bends inward towards the abdomen.
4. It is recommended not to buy boiled seafood. You need to cook it yourself, controlling the amount of salt added during the cooking process. It should be taken into account that when boiling, you should use at least twice as much water as shrimp, calculate the cooking time taking into account the size (from one and a half to three minutes), the shell of ready-made shrimp becomes more transparent, and they float to the surface.

Now you know at what age it is allowed to add shrimp to a child’s diet. Remember that this seafood has certain advantages when consumed, but do not forget about its disadvantages and possible consequences. Remember that any new product must be introduced gradually, in small portions, carefully monitoring the reaction of the growing body.

Benefits for the younger generation

The beneficial properties of shrimp for children are undeniable. These seafood:

• promote brain development;
• participate in the construction of bone structures and teeth;
• improve vision;
• reduce the risk of obesity;
• protect against infections;
• saturate the growing body with protein, vitamins and zinc;
• give energy, etc.;
• promote better absorption of nutrients;
• improve the functioning of the gastrointestinal tract and stimulate intestinal motility.

And all this, according to foreign nutritionists, from about 350 g of shrimp per week.

With regular consumption of these environmentally friendly seafood, experts promise acceleration of physical and mental development due to the increased content of iodine, zinc, phosphorus, calcium and some other minerals.