After the birth of a child, every mother and father wants to give him the best. Of course, parents begin to worry about absolutely everything. For example, a particularly difficult period begins at the moment when the baby switches from breast milk and infant formula to more adult foods. This is where the question arises: at what age can you give your child sausages?
Everyone knows perfectly well that stores do not always sell natural products that can be given to small children. However, it is rarely possible to avoid such nutrition. Of course, in this case, first of all, we are talking about the composition of the product. Some sausages are not recommended to be included in the diet even for an adult. But you can also make homemade sausages for children. However, even in this case, you need to adhere to the recommendations of specialists. Otherwise, you can harm the baby.
At what age can you give your child sausages?
There is only one correct answer to this question: under no circumstances should such products be given to children under 3 years of age. You need to understand that even if we are talking about homemade sausages, even they contain spices. Nobody gives sausages to a child a year. You shouldn't do this later either. At a minimum, he should not be treated to such food until he is 3 years old.
If we are talking about purchased sausages, then, among other things, they will also contain dyes, flavors, flavor enhancers, emulsifiers and much more. All these components negatively affect the functioning of the gastrointestinal tract, which in a child is not yet so stable. In addition, sausages are quite a large food. It will be very difficult for a child under three years of age to cope with such nutrition on his own.
Another negative point is that many modern products contain soy, which can cause allergies.
How and at what age to introduce it into the diet
Today on store shelves you can find products labeled “for children.” It could be sausages or sausages. They differ from regular ones in that they contain less salt, fat, and nitrates; they are systematically tested for the presence of substances hazardous to the body. That is, such products are indeed relatively safe for children.
However, you should not delude yourself: despite all this, these products cannot be called healthy. And the minimum age at which their introduction is allowed is 3 years, this is usually indicated on the packaging by the manufacturer.
For the reasons given, when asked whether to feed a child sausage, most pediatricians answer negatively. Emphasizing that it is better to start getting acquainted with this product as late as possible.
We repeat: sausages in any form are contraindicated for children under 3 years of age!
Yes, most products are included in the menu for babies by the age of 3, but this applies to the main ones:
- vegetables;
- milk products;
- eggs;
- fruits;
- cereals;
- various types of fish and meat;
- berries;
- greenery.
It is advisable to wait a bit with semi-finished products, fast food and factory-made minced meat products. Let the child’s digestive organs and enzymatic system “ripen” and adapt.
If the baby does not have obvious health problems, the optimal age for the first try of sausage is 4-5 years. If the baby has allergies or has digestive disorders, it is better not to give sausage at least until school age.
Please note that you cannot give sausages often. 1-2 times a week is enough, but the less often the better. The maximum daily intake should not exceed 100 g. The product is introduced into the menu according to the same rules as everything else: start with a small piece, and then gradually increase the portion if the child’s body reacts normally. Note that here it is not at all necessary to strive to increase the portion!
Why nutritionists are against store-bought sausages
When talking about the age at which a child can be given sausages, some experts even compare such food to fast food. You wouldn't give your baby hamburgers or chips, would you? Any store-bought sausages, just like junk food, form completely incorrect gastronomic habits and ultimately bring more problems than good. Accordingly, in fact, there is really no benefit to them.
Therefore, if we talk about at what age can a child be given sausages, then you need to understand that the later the child learns such food, the better. If the child is already quite old, then not all sausages can be offered to him.
About the composition, harm and benefits
Before we move on to the question of potential harm or benefit, let's try to find out what the sausage that is sold in stores today is. The first thing to understand is that despite the fact that sausage still contains meat, it contains many other ingredients. And they can already be not only not useful, but also dangerous for children’s digestion. For example:
- fat and subcutaneous fat;
- leather;
- bones with meat remains;
- cartilage, tendons;
- soy protein;
- moisture retention substances;
- stabilizers;
- starch;
- dyes;
- preservatives;
- a large amount of salt and spices;
- various chemical additives to improve taste and smell.
As you can see, the composition does not imply any value for a person in principle, and for a growing organism in particular. Although conditionally the advantages can be considered that sausage awakens the appetite and quickly gives a feeling of fullness. Unfortunately, this is where the advantages end.
What risks does consuming such a product pose for a child:
- the occurrence of allergic reactions to any of the components;
- possibility of poisoning (due to dishonesty of the manufacturer or seller, improper storage);
- obesity (salt and unhealthy fats in sausage are in excess, but vitamins and minerals are not enough);
- changes in the body's metabolic processes, which, in turn, can cause serious diseases;
- the occurrence of various gastrointestinal pathologies;
- the pronounced taste of sausage can discourage the desire to eat real meat, the taste of which is not so strong. Systematic consumption of such products distorts taste perception and forms incorrect eating habits.
Which sausages are suitable for a child?
Of course, parents should very carefully choose any food products for their child, especially if we are talking about such “fast food”.
In order to purchase the right sausages, you need to pay attention to products whose packaging is marked “for children.” As a rule, such sausages have a lower spice content. They also contain virtually no additional additives. It is worth giving preference to more popular brands. For example, products are famous for their good quality.
If there are no children's sausages in the store, then you can buy dairy ones. They also usually contain fewer harmful additives.
It is imperative to consider the shelf life of the product. If sausages are already “on the verge”, then under no circumstances should you buy them for a child. Even fresh sausages can lead to serious poisoning if they are improperly stored or made from low-quality raw materials.
You need to carefully study the composition. If the sausages contain a large number of components marked “E”, then it is better to refuse such a purchase. It is also worth excluding those products that contain large amounts of vegetable protein. Another important point. It is necessary to pay attention to the exact conditions in which sausages are stored. You can only buy sausages from the refrigerator.
Useful tips
Before you offer such food to your child, you should definitely try it yourself. If the parents feel well, then you can give a small piece to the baby. However, if at least some nuance arouses suspicion, then it is better to abandon such experiments.
Externally, the sausages should look appetizing. The same goes for their scent. If the product turns very red during cooking, this indicates that it contains nitrates or too much soy. It is also worth paying attention to the water itself after cooking sausages. If it is heavily colored, this indicates a large number of dyes in the product. It is better not to give such a treat to your child.
It is best to buy beef products. Sausages, bacon and other pork products are not recommended. A child’s weak digestive system simply cannot cope with such nutrition. Or you can skip the hassle and prepare a similar product yourself.
Chicken sausages for children
To prepare this tasty treat you will need 0.5 kg of chicken fillet, one chicken egg, half a glass of low-fat milk, an onion and salt to taste. Grind the fillet along with the onion in a blender or meat grinder. After this, add the egg, salt to the minced chicken, pour in the milk and mix the whole mixture thoroughly.
At the next stage, it is enough to leave the prepared mass for about 10-15 minutes. After this, you can start shaping the sausages themselves. To do this, you need to tear off approximately 15 cm of regular cling film and place two small spoons of minced meat on its edge. After this, you need to roll the sausages and give the desired shape. It is necessary to ensure that the mass lies as densely as possible.
The ends of the plastic film are twisted, and the result is an oblong “candy”. At the next stage, you can send the sausages in this form for cooking. They will need no more than 5 minutes in boiling water. However, they may burst during cooking. To prevent this from happening, use a fork or toothpick to pierce the polyethylene in several places. Then the air will circulate freely and the film will not tear. The finished sausages are removed from the hot water and cooled, after which the polyethylene can be removed.
At the same time, you can make products of absolutely any thickness or length, and be sure that they are completely natural and cannot harm the baby.
How long should you cook?
Recommendations on how to properly cook sausages for children:
- the natural shell does not need to be removed, just pierce it with a fork, and the artificial cellophane is removed using a longitudinal cut;
- put the sausages in cold water, put the pan on the fire, bring to a boil and after 30 seconds the product is ready;
- after cooking, they must be immediately removed from the water and placed on a plate;
- if the sausages were previously frozen, then they are immediately thrown into boiling water, but this product is not recommended for children; it is better to use fresh sausages.
After the sausages are cooked, they should be consumed immediately. The fresh product contains the maximum number of useful substances and is suitable for small children. Wrinkled, crusty sausages should not be given to children.
Whether children can have sausages is a controversial issue among parents, since some include sausages in their diet, while others are categorical on this issue. If you wish, you can find an alternative, choose a quality product, or cook it yourself at home to please your kids with delicious dishes.
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Helpful advice
However, some are afraid to cook such homemade sausages in cling film for children, since parents do not want to boil the plastic together with the meat. Even if it is food grade, many fear that it will still release not the most beneficial substances.
To get around this problem, you can put prepared raw sausages in the freezer. When they freeze, the polyethylene is removed and the products are sent for cooking. This way they won't fall apart, but they will take longer to cook.
Beef sausages
To prepare such food you will need a kilogram of beef, one egg, a glass of low-fat milk, 100 g of butter, salt and fresh herbs to taste. The meat must be thoroughly beaten and only then passed through a meat grinder and the minced meat mixed with the egg. After this, heated (not brought to a boil) milk is poured into the mixture and the greens are crumbled. Add a little salt. After this, the mixture is thoroughly mixed again.
The finished minced meat is also laid out on cling film and fastened together. The finished sausages are sent to cook for 5-7 minutes.
How and with what to give sausage. Recipes
Children are usually offered sausage with bread as part of a sandwich, and they also prepare casseroles and baked goods with it (homemade pizza, sausage rolls, etc.). Also try to combine this product with vegetables. But avoid giving sausage with fatty sauces and any other heavy food.
Below we offer dishes using sausages, which are easy to prepare and your child will love:
Homemade sausages in dough
Ingredients:
- package of puff pastry dough (400 g);
- good quality sausages (milk, children's).
Preheat the oven to 180°C. Defrost the dough, roll it out, cut it into strips about 2-3 cm thick. We peel the sausages from the film and wrap them in a spiral strip of dough. Place on a baking sheet greased with oil. Using a pastry brush, brush the sausages with egg on top and place in the oven. When the dough turns golden, the dish is ready.
Sausage and Broccoli Casserole
Ingredients:
- boiled sausage – 150 g;
- broccoli – 300 g (you can also take cauliflower);
- sour cream 15% – 2 tbsp. l.;
- eggs – 2 pcs.;
- salt, pepper - to taste.
Boil the broccoli in salted water until soft, cool, and cut into small pieces. Cut the sausage into cubes. Grease a baking dish with oil, lay out a layer of sausage, then broccoli, and so on until the ingredients run out. Beat the eggs with sour cream, add a little salt and pepper, pour this dressing over the top. Bake in the oven at 180°C for about 15 minutes.
If you doubt the quality and safety of industrially produced sausages, prepare it yourself. For example, from poultry meat.
