The taste and nutritional properties of mushrooms are undeniable. They are rich in many beneficial substances. They contain proteins, fats, vitamins A, B, C, D, and PP, enzymes, and organic acids. Of course, such a "bouquet" of beneficial substances raises an understandable question for many adults: how old should their children be before they can eat mushrooms?
After all, every parent is interested in ensuring their children receive high-quality, nutritious nutrition rich in vitamins, minerals, and microelements. And here's a warning for many: a healthy and nutritious product, it turns out, isn't so safe and beneficial, especially for a fragile body.
At what age can a child eat mushrooms?
Should you give your child mushrooms or not? Of course, every adult makes their own decision.
However, experts have determined a specific age at which children can begin to eat mushrooms, and these recommendations should be heeded:
- Consumption by a breastfeeding mother. Is breastfeeding a contraindication for eating mushrooms? Most likely, yes, since if they enter the mother's milk, they can cause increased gas production in the infant, which means colic is inevitable. A moment's pleasure from a mushroom dish is not worth a sleepless night and a restless baby.
- Young children. Most pediatricians are unanimous on this issue: giving mushrooms to children under two years of age is out of the question. And it's unlikely there's a pressing need. However, some doctors believe that so-called "cultivated" varieties—champignons and oyster mushrooms, grown in sterile conditions without fertilizers or chemicals—will not harm children's health.
- Children over 5 years old. At this age, it's acceptable to start introducing small amounts of mushrooms into baby's diet. However, first, you need to choose the highest quality and healthiest varieties, such as milk mushrooms, birch boletes, and aspen boletes. Second, you should serve them not as a main dish, but as a supplement, for example, as part of a gravy or sauce, after chopping them first.
- Younger school-aged children are quite ready to eat mushrooms, but not regularly or as a main dish. A few can be added to a casserole, pie, or meat dish. At this age, it's acceptable to introduce wild mushrooms to children. Since the caps are less toxic, they're best to start with. Of course, the mushrooms should be high-quality, chopped, and thoroughly cooked.
- 10 years and older. By age 10, children's gastrointestinal tracts are almost at the level of adults. This means that eating mushrooms should not present any problems. However, if there have been any digestive problems or deviations, feeding mushrooms to a child should be done with extreme caution.
You may be interested in:The harm of mushrooms to children's health
Many parents' overindulgence in mushrooms often leads to them being introduced into the diet of very young children. But any pediatrician will tell you that children shouldn't eat mushrooms, and there are good reasons for that.
The fact is that mushrooms, despite all their beneficial properties, are a heavy protein. So heavy that a child's gastrointestinal tract simply can't handle it.
Another reason this product is strongly discouraged for children is the presence of chitin. This is a difficult-to-digest fiber that can hinder even the digestive tract of an adult, let alone a child's! When chitin reaches a child's stomach, it hinders the absorption of other nutrients essential to the child's body, thereby compromising the child's ability to properly develop.
The third factor that discourages children from eating forest bounty is the special structure of their flesh, which acts like a natural "sponge," absorbing a wide variety of toxic substances. It's best if the mushrooms are grown in ecologically clean conditions, not along the road... Needless to say, the harm such a "healthy" product can cause to a child's body.
Contraindications and restrictions
The first and foremost restriction is, of course, age: mushrooms are contraindicated for young children. Even older children with a history of gastrointestinal problems should consume "forest protein" with the permission of a pediatrician.
Portion size and frequency of consumption also matter. Portions of a stand-alone mushroom dish should be literally child-sized, and consumed no more than once every few weeks.
You may be interested in:
Children should only be given foods whose origin and quality parents are confident in. Every adult should understand that mushrooms are a risk. Therefore, any foods eaten by children should be thoroughly cleaned and cooked thoroughly. Pickled, salted, and fried mushrooms are prohibited.
Of course, mushrooms vary in the amount of nutrients they contain. And preference should be given to those varieties that will bring more benefit than harm to a child's body. These include, first and foremost, milk mushrooms, boletus, champignons, morels, oyster mushrooms, butter mushrooms, aspen mushrooms, and birch boletes.
However, russula and chanterelles contain minimal amounts of nutrients, so their consumption by children is not at all necessary.
You may be interested in:Answers to frequently asked questions
So, mushrooms are certainly a healthy food, rich in microelements and nutrients, and delicious to boot. However, what's good for adults isn't always good for children. When trying to diversify a child's menu with new dishes and ingredients, it's important to remember that mushrooms aren't always recommended for children. Containing heavy protein and fiber, they can upset a child's stomach.
You may be interested in:
What are the benefits and harms of oyster mushrooms for humans (+27 photos)?
What to do if salted mushrooms become moldy (+11 photos)?
What mushrooms are considered tubular and their description (+39 photos)
When and where can you start picking honey mushrooms in the Moscow region in 2021?