At what age can a child be given pork?

There are many opinions and prejudices about pork. Religious faiths such as Judaism and Islam oppose it, considering it dirty food, unfit for human consumption. Also, many doctors, due to some features of this type of meat, recommend not introducing it into the diet of young children. Let's figure out whether this product is good for children, at what age can you give your child pork or should you stop eating it altogether.

Features of pork

Pork is one of the most popular types of meat in the world. It is included in many dishes of various national cuisines. It is pre-heat treated and consumed boiled, stewed and fried.

Pork has the following features:

Compared to other types of meat, pork cooks faster;
It contains a large amount of fatty layers, due to which the meat, after cooking, turns out juicy and easy to chew;
It is superior to many types of meat in terms of protein and vitamin C content;
Has soft fibers distributed evenly.

Differences between pork and other types of meat

Pork meat has the following properties:

in terms of digestibility, pork is second only to lamb;
the vitamin composition of group B is greater than in lamb and beef;
connective tissue fibers in pork meat are evenly distributed, so it is less tough than beef and easier to chew;
Pork dishes cook faster and have a more pleasant taste;
fat layers give the meat juiciness;
Pork fat is healthier for the body than beef fat;
Pork contains more protein than beef, turkey, and chicken.

Harm and benefits of pork meat

Due to its high protein content, pork promotes good muscle building. Therefore, it is recommended to include it in the diet of children who are actively involved in sports and experience a large amount of physical activity.

Pork also has other beneficial properties, including:

High content of B vitamins and useful chemical elements: calcium, copper, iron, magnesium, potassium, iodine and zinc;
The presence of arachidonic acid, which helps improve cell regeneration and relieve stress;
Content of unsaturated fatty acids;
Content of substances that help improve brain activity;
Due to the high content of zinc and potassium, regular consumption of pork helps strengthen bone tissue.

Pork liver is especially useful for the human body, containing a large amount of vitamin A. Before heat treatment, it is recommended to keep it in fresh milk for several hours: it will become juicier and softer.

Along with beneficial properties, pork has a number of negative ones, namely:

Meat contains a large amount of growth hormones. Therefore, with its frequent use, various hypertrophic processes may occur and cancerous tumors may develop;
The presence of a large amount of histamine. Its excess in the body can lead to allergies. In addition, this substance can cause thrombophlebitis, inflammatory processes and diseases of the biliary tract. Therefore, you need to give pork to your child with caution;
This type of meat is a favorable environment for parasites and various viral infections. To reduce the risk of parasites infecting the human body, this product should be subjected to thorough heat treatment before use.

The right time to introduce meat into your diet

Pork is not recommended for children under 1 year of age. Since meat is quite heavy for the still fragile stomach and intestines, it can cause problems with the gastrointestinal tract. When the baby turns one year old, you should also wait to introduce this product, as it can cause allergic reactions on the child’s skin.

Some doctors do not recommend giving pork to children two and three years old. Let's consider at what age, however, it is better to give this meat to children.

Pork is a fatty product with high energy value. Therefore, it will be difficult for the child. In addition, it contains an excess of histamines, which cause allergies in children. Only after the developing organism is strong enough can you give your baby meat. Most often this occurs no earlier than three years of age. By this age, the child’s body is fully prepared to consume new foods.

Pork should be introduced into a child’s diet carefully and slowly. It is recommended to start with lean meat. It is best to do this after the baby gets used to other, lighter and more dietary types of meat (turkey, chicken, etc.). For the first dose, 5 g of product is enough. Gradually this dose should be increased to 30 g per week. In this case, you need to monitor the baby’s reaction. At the first appearance of an allergy (hives, skin rash, itching, etc.), you should immediately stop using this product and visit your pediatrician.

Lard for children: when to give it

The opinions of pediatricians regarding whether lard is suitable for children and whether it is beneficial for the child’s body are divided. Dr. Komarovsky says that your baby should eat as little plant-based fats as possible, as they increase cholesterol levels and put a strain on the digestive system.

Other experts are confident that the benefits of lard for children are obvious - it is an easily digestible product that ensures the child’s full mental and physical development.

When can you start giving lard to your baby?

Most doctors say that boiled animal food is best introduced into a child’s diet only after the child turns 2 years old.
It is strictly prohibited to give any kind of animal product to babies under one year old!
You can treat your baby to a salty piece only after reaching 3 years of age.
When a child turns 2 years old and begins to eat food from the common table, he is allowed to give the product in a minimum amount - no more than 10 g.
A child aged 2 years can enjoy a salty product no more than 1-2 times a week.
For the first feeding, it is best to treat your baby to a piece of boiled food - it has a delicate, mild taste.
If the child does not like its taste, a small slice can be melted, then added to porridge, vegetable puree, boiled potatoes or stew.
Children are recommended to eat environmentally friendly, natural meat and lard from their own farm or purchased from reliable, trusted sellers.

If the baby really loves lard, parents need to take care of the child’s sufficient physical activity. This will help avoid weight problems.

Pork dishes for kids

For children aged 1 year and older, you can prepare the following pork dishes:

Stewed pork with carrots (should be included in the diet of children over three years of age).
Zrazy with boiled egg, steamed (from 2 years).
Meatballs baked in the oven (from 2 years old).
Lean pork pudding (from 1 year).
Soup made with pork broth (approved product for children over 1 year old)

Popular dishes such as pork goulash, meat pies, pan-fried pork tenderloin with vegetables and cutlets should be given to children over the age of three.

Let's look at a few popular dishes and recipes for their preparation. It should be taken into account that these dishes can be given to small children at least 1 year old.

Pudding

Very tender and tasty food, suitable for consumption by children in infancy. To prepare it you will need the following products:

100 g meat;
100 ml milk;
50 g white bread;
one chicken egg yolk.

Step-by-step cooking instructions:

The meat should be ground until smooth using a blender or meat grinder.
Soften the bread in milk.
Add the resulting bread mass to the chopped meat and beat everything with a blender.
Add the egg and stir well.
Place the entire mixture in a mold and bake in the oven until done.

Pork broth soup with vegetables

Pork broth soup with vegetables can be prepared quickly and easily. To do this, you must first cook the meat broth (pork tenderloin will do: about 100 g). Then add finely chopped potatoes (2-3 medium-sized pieces), carrots and tomatoes (1 small piece each), salt to taste and let it brew a little.

Pork recipes for children over three years old

Pork stew with vegetables

Pork – 400 grams;
Zucchini – 1 piece;
Carrots – 1 piece;
Potatoes – 3 pieces;
White cabbage – 200 grams;
Tomatoes – 200 grams;
Pepper and salt to taste.

Pour water into a frying pan with thick and high walls. Cut the meat into small pieces and add to heated water. Prepare vegetables, cut potatoes and carrots, add to pork. Chop the cabbage and also add to the pan. Cover with a lid and simmer for seven minutes. Cut the zucchini, peel and chop the tomatoes. Place the remaining vegetables in the pan, add salt and pepper, stir and simmer for another forty minutes.

Meat loaf

Lean pork – 0.5 kg;
Onion – 1 piece;
Carrots – 1 piece;
Chicken egg – 1 piece;
Black bread – 2 slices;
Hard cheese – 100 grams;
Breadcrumbs - 1 table. spoon;
Parsley and dill - one bunch each;
Pepper and salt to taste.

Remove the crust from the bread and soak in water or milk. Peel the vegetables and cut into large pieces. Coarsely chop the greens. Meat and soaked bread, onions and carrots, greens are passed together through a meat grinder. Break the egg into the resulting minced meat, add salt and pepper to the mixture, and stir.

Grease a baking sheet with olive oil and spread the resulting mixture tightly. Level the surface and bake for forty minutes at 200 degrees. Coarsely grate the cheese and sprinkle the dish on top, then bake for another ten minutes. Remove the finished bread and cover with a towel until completely dry.

Cut the finished bread with cheese crust into slices. This dish can be used as a hearty casserole if you add herbs and vegetables. In addition, it is great for making sandwiches for your child for breakfast.

Roast pork

Pork – 200 grams;
Carrots – 1 large piece;
Salt to taste.

Rinse and clean a piece of meat, remove tendons and excess fat. Cut the carrots into strips. Make slits in the meat and fill them with carrots. Rub the top of the piece with salt and wrap it tightly in foil or use a baking bag. The dish is cooked for 30-40 minutes at a temperature of 180-200 degrees. Cooked meat goes well with fresh vegetables or vegetable puree.

Meat cutlets with cottage cheese

Pork – 200 grams;
Beef – 300 grams;
Onion – 1 piece;
Chicken egg – 2 pieces;
Semolina – 4 tablespoons;
Cottage cheese – 150 grams;
Pepper and salt to taste.

Grind both types of meat in a meat grinder and mix. Cottage cheese, mix one egg in a separate container, add salt and pepper. Mix the minced meat with the curd mass, finely chop the onion and also add to the mixture. Mix the ingredients until a homogeneous consistency is obtained. Form cutlets into the desired shape, roll in semolina and a second egg. Fry the pieces until cooked on both sides.

Pork goulash for children

Pork – 0.5 kg;
Flour – 1 tablespoon;
Sour cream - 1 table. spoon;
Carrots – 1 piece;
Onion – 1 piece;
Tomato paste – 1 teaspoon. spoon;
Salt to taste.

Cut the meat into small pieces, chop the onion and grate the carrots. Place the ingredients in a frying pan, add a little boiling water and vegetable oil. Simmer for about an hour until tender, adding water periodically. Ten minutes before readiness, add salt, you can add a bay leaf or a couple of allspice peas.

Separately mix tomato paste, sour cream and flour.
Mix the ingredients until smooth and, while mixing the meat with vegetables, pour in the prepared mixture. Simmer for five to ten minutes, and pork goulash for children. You can use chicken or turkey instead of pork. Subscribe to our VKontakte group

Beneficial properties of pork liver

One of the healthy foods for children is pork liver. It contains a large amount of nutrients and elements. You can prepare many healthy and tasty dishes from pork liver, recommended for consumption by small children under 2 years of age. Before cooking, it is recommended to immerse the liver in milk overnight. This will not only get rid of bitterness, but will also make the liver soft and juicy.

It is best to simmer the liver for children over low heat, adding a small amount of spices and water. You can serve it with mashed potatoes and stewed vegetables.

Contraindications

Pork should not be consumed in the following cases:

If you are overweight, since meat itself is fatty and high in calories.
Gastrointestinal diseases.
Diseases resulting from low stomach acidity.
Pathologies of the kidneys and gall bladder.
Tendencies to allergies.

So, we looked at the age at which pork can be given to children. To avoid allergies and gastrointestinal problems, it is better to introduce this product into the diet of a child over three years of age.