What Happens When Peanuts Enter The Body
Protein. Biotin. Copper. Vitamin B3. Vitamin B6. Folate. Manganese. Vitamin E. Thiamine. Phosphorous. Magnesium. These are all things that peanuts provide for the body. Most of the conversation surrounding peanuts focuses on introducing them because they are allergens, but sometimes we forget that they are a really nutritious food as well! In fact, they are in my TOP 50 foods for starting solids because of how many nutrients they contain! They are also rich in antioxidants, and are comparable to some fruits!
Peanuts are a great source of fat and protein.
For parents who are looking to increase the nutrient density or caloric value of bites of food, peanuts are a fantastic option. But be careful- peanuts themselves are not recommended for babies and toddlers because they are a choking risk! But, offering peanuts can be simple! Mix peanut butter in with a puree or mashed food, or mash down Mission MightyMe’s Nutty Puffs and add to any dish- puree, mashed, or soft solid. A little bit of nuts goes a long way!
Plus, the high fat and protein content provide long-lasting energy, which is important for babies who are newly on the move and growing at a quick rate!
What is Phosphorus? Why do we need it?
Peanuts are high in the mineral phosphorus- which plays a large part in growth and maintenance of body tissues. Babies and toddlers especially are rapidly growing, so this mineral is important!
Some studies have reported that many children and adults are nutrient deficient in phosphorus. Keeping peanuts in rotation at home can help combat that!
Put peanut butter in smoothies. Change up the recipe but keep peanut butter in! I like banana, blueberries, peanut butter and milk. Swap out blueberries for peaches for another winner!
Eat Mission MightyMe’s Nutty Puffs as a snack. They are perfect for pinching from the snack container or having between meals!
Crush the Nutty Puffs down and sprinkle on tops of foods like sweet potatoes and apple. They add a nutrient boost to any food.
Thinly coat slices of banana with peanut butter. Globs of peanut butter can be a choking risk, so water down when needed.
Peanuts are good for the heart.
Magnesium, niacin, copper, oleic acid, and antioxidants help keep the heart healthy. Older babies and toddlers are notorious for wanting to “snack.” But, lots of snacks on the market are not heart-healthy or they are filled with processed ingredients, added sugars, or food dyes. Especially for littles under two, avoiding added sugar is recommended.
Mission MightyMe’s Nutty Puffs are a great heart-healthy snack, and more than 50% of their Puffs are peanuts or tree nuts- making them a wholesome choice with no added sugar!
Peanuts are an allergen.
When starting solids, talk to your child’s pediatrician about their risk for developing food allergies and introducing allergens. For children who do not have specific recommendations from their care provider, it’s recommended to offer peanuts and tree nuts when starting solids, and to consistently offer them through toddlerhood and preschool years.
This recommendation is actually based on research led by Mission MightyMe co-founder Dr. Gideon Lack, which found that offering peanuts when starting solids and consistently offering through preschool years can reduce a child’s risk for developing a peanut allergy by more than 80%! That is pretty cool!
Overall, peanuts are not JUST an allergen, but a nutritious food too! My family loves Mission MightyMe’s Nutty Puffs because they make offering peanuts and tree nuts a breeze. We love that they are organic and contain more than 50% nuts in each Puff. Use code EAT20 to save 20% off on their website!
Sources:
https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1365-2621.2005.tb07198.x
doi: 10.3390/ijms19123988
doi: 10.1080/10408398.2011.606928.
https://fdc.nal.usda.gov/fdc-app.html#/food-details/324860/nutrients
DOI: 10.1056/NEJMoa1414850
This blog post was sponsored by Mission MightyMe.