Your baby's brain is made up of nearly 60% fat! Wow! Can you even imagine?
DHA (docosahexanoic acid) - an Omega-3 fatty acid - is the specific fat that the brain is made up of. DHA therefore has an important role in brain development and cognitive function. DHA and healthy fats can easily be offered to your little one when introducing solids. It's actually essential!
They're necessary for the absorption of fat-soluble vitamins (A, D3, E, K2) and minerals (calcium, magnesium and zinc) in the food you offer to your baby, to stabilise blood sugar levels to keep baby satiated for longer, prevent constipation and contribute to building the nervous system.
A variety of quality, healthy fats is very important for little ones, and can be started from the beginning of solids.
SOURCES OF HEALTHY FATS
Avocado
Bone Marrow
Grass-fed beef
Cod liver oil
These healthy fats can be incorporated into your cooking in a variety of different ways. Try adding them to purees, roasting vegetables in them or drizzling them over vegetables.
Coconut oil
Coconut cream
Flaxseed oil
Hemp seed oil
Avocado oil
Extra virgin olive oil
Duck fat
Tallow
Once these allergens are introduced, you can also include in your baby's diet as a source of healthy fat -
Pasture-raised egg yolk
Fatty fish like salmon, sardines, mackeral
Nut butters
Full fat, organic, pastured dairy in the form of butter, yoghurt and cow's milk (intro milk from 12 months)
To avoid poor quality fats, or fats overly processed with chemical extraction, steer away from -
Margarine
Dairy-free spreads
Industrial seed oils - canola, vegetable, rice bran
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