12/10/2024
Protein is a popular topic these days with many parents adding protein powder to their kids diet or giving kids protein balls to snack on, but how much does your child actually need?
High protein foods include, meat, chicken, fish, eggs, milk, cheese, yoghurt, lentils, beans, nuts and seeds. But you can also get small amounts of protein from bread, rice, pasta, crackers and some veggies including potatoes even in the form of chips, which is good news for our beige eaters out there!
And most kids get more than enough, even on a beige diet to grow and be healthy.
How much protein do kids need?
1-3 year olds need 12-14g per day.
4-8 year olds need 16-20g per day.
9-13 year olds need 24- 40g per day.
The bottom line is unless your child has a chronic medical condition or is not growing, we don’t need to be adding extra protein to their diet. Most kids easily meet their protein requirements even if your child’s daily intake looks similar to the picture above which provides 40g of protein. And often, protein powders provide too much protein.
Extra protein can fill your child’s little tummy and discourage them from eating and exploring other foods like fruit and veg. Too much protein can cause weight gain, increase the risk of kidney issues and hinder the absorption of calcium.
So, the answer is no. If you have a happy, growing child, we do not need to be adding extra protein to our kids diets. These protein powders are very well marketed and prey on worried parents wanting to do the best for their child when they are not needed.
If you have concerns about how much protein is in your child’s diet or about your child’s growth, book in to see one of our friendly dietitians today.
Book now👇🏼
Call 0861147167
email clientcare@advanceddietitiansgroup.com.au
book online https://advanceddietitiansgroup.com.au
