Is it good to feed almond milk for babies?4 simple recipes for busy moms

Almonds are not only delicious but also contain many nutrients, good for the health and brain of children. So, is it good to feed almond milk for babies? Let see more information as below.

What are health benefits of almonds for children?

1. Good for the brain

Almonds contain many nutrients that help in brain development.

In addition, eating almonds also helps children improve intelligence. Almonds contain riboflavin and L-carnitine, which stimulate brain activity. Not only that, almonds also help improve intelligence levels and prevent memory impairment syndrome (Alzheimer) in the future.

2. Control cholesterol

While you don’t need to worry about your baby’s cholesterol or sugar levels for now, eating lots of almonds will help keep cholesterol under control as your baby grows. However, you should avoid giving your baby products with added salt or sugar.

3. Prevent diabetes

Eating almonds prevents the occurrence of diabetes in later years. Almonds are rich in nutrients and contain a lot of vitamin E. They also have a low glycemic index, which can prevent diabetes.

Is it safe to use almond milk for babies?

Adults often use almond milk as a substitute for cow’s milk, but growing infants have different nutritional needs. So should almond milk be used for babies or not?

Most doctors recommend that babies under the age of 1 should drink breast milk. If the mother is low on milk, you can give the baby formula or soy milk. Children should only drink cow’s milk or almond milk when the baby is 1 year old or older.

Almond milk is quite safe for most toddlers but is not a substitute for breast milk or formula. In some cases, almond milk can be substituted for cow’s milk. However, it is important to note the nutritional indicators of the two types of milk before substituting.

In some cases, almond milk may be used for children who are lactose intolerant, or if the child does not drink milk for other reasons. Toddlers can drink almond milk once or twice a day, but only when they are 1 year old.

When can you use almond milk for babies?

While almond milk can be a good addition to a baby’s diet, it still doesn’t compare to the nutrients found in breast milk or formula.

If you’re worried your baby is lactose intolerant, see your doctor for advice. Lactose intolerance is more common in adults or older children than toddlers and infants.

If almond milk is used to supplement a toddler’s diet, it must be ensured that it has some of the following characteristics:

• Low-sugar or unsweetened milk
• Milk is fortified with calcium, vitamins A, D and other forms of fat and protein
• Ask your pediatrician about added ingredients such as flavorings or thickeners. You should find out if your child has a nut allergy. If a loved one has a nut allergy, it’s best to avoid nuts and consult your pediatrician before introducing any nut milk into your child’s diet.

Compare almond milk and cow’s milk

Nutritionally, cow’s milk and almond milk have a huge difference. Some doctors recommend using whole cow’s milk for babies weaned from 1 to 2 years old because of its high fat content.

One cup of whole cow’s milk contains about 8 grams (g) of fat, which is essential for a baby’s brain development. Meanwhile, unsweetened almond milk contains only 2.5 g of fat.

Cow’s milk has a higher protein content than almond milk. One cup of whole cow’s milk contains almost 8g of protein, but 1 cup of almond milk contains only 1g of protein.

In addition, the natural sugars in cow’s milk are also higher than unsweetened almond milk.

However, to make it easier to drink, manufacturers may add sweeteners or flavors to almond milk. As a result, almond milk may contain more artificial sugars than cow’s milk.

In terms of the difference between the two milks in terms of essential nutrient and mineral content, one cup of cow’s milk adds:

Calcium 276 mg

Potassium 322 mg

Phosphorus 205 mg

Sodium 105 mg

Vitamin A 395 IU

Vitamin D 124 IU

At the same time, unsweetened almond milk contains:

Calcium 482 mg Potassium 176 mg

Phosphorus 24 mg

Sodium 189 mg

Vitamin A 499 IU

Vitamin D 101 IU

Pay attention to use almond milk for babies

After the baby is 1 year old, any type of milk should only be used to supplement the diet, not as a substitute for other foods.

Both almond milk or cow’s milk are usually good substitutes for breast milk or formula for babies under 1 year old. However, if the baby is still breastfed, the addition of cow’s milk or almond milk is not necessary.

Almond milk fortified with vitamins and minerals can be a safe option to add to a child’s diet. However, added additives such as thickeners and sweeteners are not good for children’s health.

Almond milk is low in fat and protein. Therefore, children who drink almond milk will need to get more fat and protein from other sources in their diet.

In addition, children can also be allergic to nut milk. Similar to children who are allergic to nuts, some children may also be allergic or intolerant to cow’s milk. If any member of your child’s family is lactose intolerant, talk to your doctor about what formula to give your baby.

At 1 year of age, children should be given no more than 450 – 700 ml of milk (except breast milk) per day. It is important that children over 1 year of age get their nutrients from a variety of foods, not just milk.

Alternative choices of almond milk for babies

If almond milk is not the right choice and you are looking for lactose-free alternatives for your baby, you can check out other plant-based milks such as:

Coconut milk

Rice milk

Soymilk

Oat milk

Chestnut milk

Before buying plant-based milk, always check to make sure the product you choose is fortified with vitamins and minerals and low in sugar.

4 simple recipes of almond milk for babies that are easy for busy moms

1. How to make almond milk for babies

Materials:

100g almonds (cooks 1 liter of almond milk). You choose to buy no salt, no seasoning

150g sugar 1 liter of filtered water

Making:

• Soak almonds in warm water for 4 hours. If soaked in cold water, from 6-8 hours, do not soak longer because it will make almond milk sour and spoil quickly. The purpose of soaking almonds is to make it easier to peel because in the almond shell there are many substances that are not good for the body.
• After soaking, almonds are peeled, washed with filtered water and drained.
• Put the almonds and filtered water just enough in the blender. The finer the grind, the thicker and more delicious the milk will be.
• Then you pour all the almonds into the sieve, slowly pour in the rest of the filtered water, sift out all the milk. Almond residue can be used to fertilize plants.
• Put the sugar in, put on the stove on medium heat.
• Stir until the sugar dissolves. Once the milk is boiling, turn off the heat.
• Use a sieve to strain the milk into the glass bowl to remove the foam.

2. Almond walnut milk

Material:

+ 50g almonds

+ 50g walnuts (shelled)

+ 800ml water

+ 30g sugar

Making:

• You pour 800ml of water into the blender, put the almonds and walnuts into the puree.
• Use a sieve or cloth bag to filter out the residue. Do not squeeze too hard, it will cause the almond and walnut residues to pass through the fabric, causing the milk to form layers.
• You turn on the medium heat to boil the milk obtained for 15 minutes. Do not bring to a boil, which will kill some milk yeast.
• Add about 30g of sugar and stir well to use.

3. Oat almond milk

Material:

+ 60g oats

+ 40g almonds

+ 30g sugar

Making:

• Almonds soak in warm hot water for about 4 hours or soak in cold water for 6-8 hours.
• Then peel the seeds and wash them with filtered water.
• Soak oats in warm water for about 2 hours, changing the water 1-2 times. Then rinse with filtered water.
• Put oats and almonds in the machine with 1.5 liters of filtered water and a little salt, puree.
• You use a sieve to get the milk, remove the body.
• Put on the stove and cook on medium heat for about 15 minutes, then turn off the stove.
• You add sugar and stir well, you can add a little vanilla flavor for aroma.
• Drink hot or store in the refrigerator for about 2 days.

4. Black bean walnut almond milk for babies

Material:

+ 50g walnuts

+ 50g almonds

+ 50g black beans

+ 750ml water

+ 1 little vanilla flavor

Making:

• Soak black beans for 8-10 hours
• Soak almonds and walnuts in warm water for about 4 hours, then peel them. If you don’t like the acrid taste of the walnut shell, you should remove it.
• Put the black beans, almonds and walnuts in a blender with 750ml. Discard the body.
• The milk obtained is brought to a boil over medium heat, add sugar and stir well.
• Turn off the stove.
• Add some vanilla to mask the walnut smell.

Above 4 simple recipes can help moms to change the diet for your beloved kids. If you want a cup a almond milk for babies, there are 4 options for your choice.

In case, you still found these recipes are difficult, don’t worry. Your life can be more easier with the milk maker machine. Everything will be automatic. Almond milk for babies or any other nuts milk for your kids cannot challenge you anymore.

Other posts about the kids nutrition are listed here for your reference.

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