Crispy and Irresistible! Can Toddlers Eat Fried Foods? Here’s What Parents Should Know
Dear Moms, the crispiness and huge flavor of fried foods cannot be denied. These crunchy treats are not only enjoyed by adults, but even babies and toddlers.
The Nature of Fried Foods for Children
So is it OK for babies and toddlers to eat fried foods? There are no hard and fast rules against serving fried foods to small children. Nevertheless, Moms need to pay attention to the serving sizings of fried foods and oils for their lil tins.
Below is the suggested daily oil consumption for toddlers according to their age:
- 6-8 month: Needs around 200 kcal from complementary foods (MPASI), and 60-80 kcall of fats, which is about **6-10 ml fat or oil.
- 9-12 months: Need 300 kcal of complementary foods, with 90-120 kcal coming from fats, which is about **9-12 ml fat or oil of approximately.
- 1-2 years: complementary food needs about 550 kcal, of which 165-220 kcal should be of fats (50% max), meaning to say 16.5-22 ml of fat or oil.
Potential Downsides of Eating Too Much Fried Food
Babies do require fat intake, however, high intake of fried foods can have bad side effects on their health. As it does in adults, regular intake of fried foods in babies and toddlers can lead to:
Weight Gain
Because fried foods suck up oil, they’re also calorie-dense. And trans fats, found in fried foods, can interfere with hormone regulation, causing increased appetite and fat storage, thereby causing weight gain.
Higher Chances of Cardiovascular Diseases
As we learned, fried foods may also lead to obesity, a significant risk factor for heart disease. In addition, cooking oils have saturated and trans fats that elevate cholesterol, increasing the risk of many cardiovascular diseases, such as coronary artery disease, heart attacks, and strokes.
Increased Risk of Type 2 Diabetes
Not only does a high fat diet cause obesity, it can also increase the risk of type 2 diabetes. It does not apply to adults only, poor dietary habits can even induce diabetes among children.
Increased Cancer Risk
High-temperature frying produces acrylamide, a compound suspected of raising the risk of several types of cancer, including ovarian cancer. Consuming fried foods regularly and in significant quantities, for instance, may increase this risk.
You Can Eat Fried Foods, But…
But here are some guidelines if Moms would like to provide fried foods to their toddlers:
- Be sure your kid is able to chew. Fried food bought from the street tends to be hard in texture, which makes it hard to chew. This can raise the risk of choking in toddlers.
- Brewing at Home with New Oil: Make your fried foods homemade with clean oil like fresh oil. You should not eat while cooking, nor should you reuse oil more than a couple of times.
- Drain excess oil before serving. Blotting fried foods with a kitchen towel can help to reduce the amount of oil.
- Avoid fried food too often. You should not make a habit of adding fried foods to their diet, do try to provide healthier snack options like fruits.
As long as you eat a balanced diet and are careful not to overdo it on oil, your kiddo can still enjoy their crispy treats as a part of their diet!
