Contents:
- Medical Video: 9 Kinds of Fish You Should Never Eat
- Why do children have to eat fish?
- How many servings of fish for children in a day?
- What types of fish are safe for consumption by children?
Medical Video: 9 Kinds of Fish You Should Never Eat
Fish is one of the high sources of protein that is good for encouraging child development. However, parents also need to be aware that some types of fish contain high levels of mercury which can endanger the health of children. So, how many limits for eating fish for children in one day? Are there certain types of fish that are safe to support children's growth and development? Relax, all the answers you can get through the following review.
Why do children have to eat fish?
Not a few parents wonder why children should eat fish. In fact, almost all fish contain methylmercury which is toxic and dangerous for children's health.
Eits, wait a minute. Children just have to keep eating fish, you know. Fish is one of the healthiest foods that holds a myriad of benefits for the health of children and adults.
There have been many studies that prove that fish contain two types of omega-3 fatty acids, namely DHA and EPA, which cannot be found in other foods. This type of fatty acid is needed by children to maintain heart health while increasing children's intelligence.
In addition, fish also contain low saturated fats but high in protein, vitamin D, and B vitamins that are useful for maintaining the immune system of children in their infancy. So, you don't need to hesitate to add fish to children in the food menu.
How many servings of fish for children in a day?
Quoted from Parents, the Food and Drug Administration in the United States (FDA) said that children are encouraged to eat fish 2 to 3 times a week. However, the portion is certainly less than the portion of adults, which is only about a quarter of the adult portion.
Judging from its age, the following is a description of the portion of fish for children.
- Age 6 and under: 85 to 141 grams of fish per week.
- Ages 6 to 8 years: 113 to 170 grams of fish per week.
- Ages 9 years and above: 227 to 340 grams of fish, per week, just like the recommended portion of fish for adults.
Remember, this portion is the amount of fish for children that must be served every week, not per day. So, you have to divide the number of servings of fish into 2 or 3 meals so that the benefits become more maximal and the little one doesn't get bored.
What types of fish are safe for consumption by children?
In fact, not all types of fish are safe for consumption by children. Some fish species are known to contain methylmercury and polychlorinated biphenyl (PCB), two types of toxic and dangerous chemicals. If it enters the body, the substance can damage the brain and nervous system of the child.
So, don't just give fish to children. Various types of fish for children that are safe for consumption include:
- Salmon
- Indigo
- Tuna
- Sardines
- Catfish
- Cakalang
You may often choose canned tuna that is more practical and easy to cook. But be careful, canned tuna often contains high levels of mercury. Rather than choosing canned fish, you should choose fresh fish, as mentioned above, to be safer for your child's and family's health.
In addition to choosing the type of fish for children, how to cook fish can also affect the health or not of the fish you serve for the family. Before starting to cook fish, you should first remove the skin and fat in the fish to remove the toxins trapped underneath.
To be more healthy, cook fish by roasting or burning to reduce the amount of fat. Avoid frying fish because it can increase calorie and fat intake which is not good for children's health.
If your baby still doesn't want to eat fish, there's no need to panic or pull the veins first, huh. Give portions of fish little by little on the children's diet and let your child explore his appetite. You can also process it into various types of food, for example making fish nugget or flour fried fish to attract children's attention so they want to eat fish.
