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Introducing Eggs For Complementary Feeding: 5 Eggcellent Reasons Why You Should

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Zahirah

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3 months ago

Introducing Eggs For Complementary Feeding: 5 Eggcellent Reasons Why You Should

Food for Growth

Nutritious foods

"Sunday Ho Ya Monday, Roz Khao Ande"

It is not just a phrase, but rather a timeless nutritional tip that has been popular in India for decades. The jingle became popular after the National Egg Coordination Committee (NECC) launched the upbeat commercial as a part of its campaign, which emphasised the importance of eating eggs, in the 1980s. Humans have been eating eggs for millions of years[1] and these are considered to be one of the healthiest foods available on the planet. Eggs are a powerhouse of nutrients and a great source of protein, vitamins, minerals, and healthy fats. Reading this blog will help you understand why experts often recommend eggs for children and why you should introduce them in complementary feeding.

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Why Experts Recommend Eggs For Children

#1. Eggs Are An Excellent Source Of Protein

Did you know that an egg has about 6 to 7 gms of protein? It’s true. “Eggs have been considered the standard against which all other protein foods are measured because their protein composition is so ideal. Eggs are considered a complete protein because they contain all nine essential amino acids or the building blocks of protein.” (Vikaspedia)

Both the yolk and the egg white are excellent sources of protein, which is the main structural and functional component of every cell in our body. As per the NLM (National Library of Medicine), “The infant's first year is a critical time of rapid growth and development, which must be supported by a high rate of protein synthesis.” Protein is also needed for the repair and maintenance of a baby's muscles, organs, hair, blood, nails, and skin.

Babies need around 9 to 13 gms of protein in a day (may vary depending on age and weight). The quality of proteins is assessed in terms of PDCAAS (protein digestibility-corrected amino acid score). The higher the score the better it is. “For children aged from 6 months to 5 years, the PDCAAS for eggs is 118%, compared to 92–94% for meat and fish, 90–93% for soy, and 35–57% for cereals including rice, wheat, and corn.” - National Library of Medicine.

#2. Eggs Are Great For Your Baby’s Vision

Eggs are primarily known for their protein content, however, their benefits go far beyond. Egg yolk contains powerful antioxidants like Lutein and Zeaxanthin which can help to safeguard your baby’s eyes from harmful light waves including UV radiations produced by the sun. While these two may also be derived from plant sources, some studies have suggested that lutein and zeaxanthin in eggs are much more easily absorbed and used by the body as compared to those derived from plants. This is because eggs are also a source of zinc, which is needed by our body to utilise these antioxidants. So, eggs are an excellent choice if you want to improve and protect your child’s vision.

#3. Eggs Are Good For Your Child’s Brain

Eggs are one of the best-known sources of choline, a nutrient that is important for regulating memory, mood, muscle control, and a variety of other functions. Babies need choline, long before they are born i.e. during foetal development as it is crucial for the development of the baby’s brain, neural tube, and nervous system. This is the reason why pregnant women are required to increase choline intake during pregnancy. One large egg contains about 147 mg of choline and the daily recommendation for a 7 to 12-month-old baby is about 150 mg.

#4. Eggs Are Ideal For Your Growing Baby

While some people may think that eating eggs will make their babies overweight, it is just not true. Saturated, monounsaturated, and polyunsaturated fats are perfectly balanced in eggs making them a good source of essential fatty acids for your little munchkin. If you are concerned about the weight, you can always try healthy recipes. Such as boiled and poached eggs, rather than fried. Smaller portions are always better and it is advisable to avoid force feeding.

#5. Eggs Are Loaded With Omega-3 Fatty Acids

I wouldn’t be exaggerating if I said that eggs are nature's best source of Omega-3 fatty acids. You can get as much as 180 mg of Omega-3 from 2 eggs. This plays a significant role in the brain development of a baby and also offers multiple cardiovascular benefits, including the healthy management of systolic blood pressure. Omega 3 is beneficial for your baby’s vision, as well as their immune system.

When To Start Giving Eggs To A Baby?

For the first six months of their lives, breastmilk alone is sufficient for providing babies with all the nutrients they need, however after six months, the nutritional requirements of the baby change and breast milk alone is not enough to support their optimal growth and development. This is the reason why complementary feeding has to be introduced at this point.

Dietary diversity is a crucial part of complementary feeding. This means incorporating different types of foods in the baby’s diet, to adequately cater to their nutritional requirements. Indian Academy of Pediatrics (IAP) defines minimum dietary diversity (MDD) as the consumption of four or more food groups from the seven food groups listed by it, to meet daily energy and nutrient requirements. This list includes eggs as well. So, technically, you can introduce eggs as soon as you start feeding solids to your baby, which is around 6 to 8 months of age, however, it is important to discuss it with your doctor first.

However, while you do so, it is important to understand that some children may be allergic to eggs. Although the incidence of egg allergy is very low in India, it is always advisable to consult a specialist if you feel your child may be having an allergic reaction to eggs.

Expert Paediatrician, Dr. Nida Asif suggests “You can give eggs from 7-8 months. First, introduce the yellow part and then the white one. You should do it gradually to see if there are any allergies"

Things To Keep In Mind While Giving Eggs To Babies

Do not introduce eggs before 6 months of age as complementary foods should be strictly introduced after the baby turns 6 (unless advised by the doctor)
You should avoid feeding undercooked egg whites and runny yolks to the baby as these have been found to be linked with the outbreak of Salmonella.
Avoid feeding yolks to kids before they are 8 to 9 months old as dried yolk can easily stick to the roof of their mouth and turn into a choking hazard.
Avoid buying eggs that are cracked or have dirt on them. It is advisable to check the eggs properly before purchasing.
As soon as you start feeding eggs, watch out for any allergic reactions and inform your child’s doctor.
When you are introducing any new food, you need to do it slowly. You can start with a small portion and increase the size gradually.
Avoid storing cooked eggs for later use. If need be, the eggs should be refrigerated and reheated before feeding.
If you store eggs for a long period of time, they are quite likely to dry up. Refrigerating eggs at a temperature below 4 degrees C

Interesting Facts About Eggs

The can be as manny as 17,000 pores in an egg’s shell
Colour of the yolk or egg shell does not impact its quality or taste
Confused whether the egg is cooked or raw? Try spinning it. Cooked eggs spin easily while raw eggs don’t.
India has secured the 3rd spot in terms of total egg production with its contribution being 138.38 billion numbers during 2022-23.
Dropped an egg on the flood and worried about the mess? Sprinkle some salt on it and wipe it. This will make the cleaning process hassle-free.
A chicken takes nearly 24 to 26 hours to produce an egg and on an average lays around 300 eggs every year.
Fresh eggs are harder to peel as compared to those that have been stored for at least a week.
If you store eggs upside down, it can increase their shelf life.
Want to check whether the eggs are old or fresh? Place them in a bowl of water. Older ones are likely to float while the fresh ones will settle at the bottom.

FAQs

Q1 - Is it advisable to feed eggs to a baby if there is a family history of egg allergy?

A1 - Having a family history of egg allergy does not necessarily mean that your baby will have the same. You should get in touch with a doctor for supervised allergy testing.

Q2 - How to confirm if a baby has egg allergy?
A 2 - If you want to confirm whether your baby has a food allergy or not, feed them a very small portion and wait for some time to see if they have any visible signs of reaction. It usually takes about 5 to 10 minutes for the signs to show up. If there are no signs, you can continue feeding them.

Q3 - Is it safe to feed eggs to babies on a daily basis?

A3 - Yes, you can feed eggs on a daily basis. It is usually safe, yet you should consult an expert before doing so and start with a small amount to check for any allergies.