Can Babies Eat Meat?

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Meat is animal flesh, consumed by humans as food. The hunting and killing of animals for meat started in prehistoric times. Later on, humans started domesticating animals for their meat and for their milk, eggs etc. The most widely domesticated animals are: cattle, chickens, ducks, sheep, pigs and rabbits.

Meat plays an important role in economy and culture. However, the mass production and consumption of meat has a negative effect on human health and on the environment, due to the fact that unprocessed meat spoils or rots quickly, within hours or at most within days, leading to infections.

The consumption of meat varies worldwide. Vegans and vegetarians abstain from eating meat on grounds of ethical, religious, environmental or health concerns. In many countries, religious rules dictate which meat may or may not be consumed. For example in India, the consumption of cattle is prohibited, because cows are considered to be sacred there.

Meat is mostly composed of water, protein and fat. The percentage of these elements varies on the type of meat. Steak has the most calories, protein and fat. Muscle tissues are an excellent source of vitamins B6 and B12, iron, zinc, selenium and phosphorus. Some types of meat also contain vitamin K, which is important in blood clotting and bone metabolism. Meat has no dietary fibers.

Uncured Meat

Meat is usually consumed after being cooked, processed and seasoned in different ways. It is edible raw, but it is rarely eaten like that. Uncured meat refers to meat cured using natural sources like sea salt, celery powder, avoiding the use of carcinogenic chemicals.

When Can Babies Start Eating Meat?

Meat can be introduced into babies’ diet once they start eating solid food, however it is not the best choice as first food. Protein, iron and zinc are useful in a baby’s growth. Parents should only give well cooked meat or shreds of very thinly sliced deli meat, such as turkey. Beef and chicken are also good choices for introducing meat to babies. They should be pureed, so that babies do not choke on them. Still parents should pay attention to salted food, and to the combination of different types of salted food.

Beef Stew

Ingredients: ½ cup of cubed cooked beef, 1 peeled potato, ¼ cup of shelled or frozen peas, 1 peeled carrot, 1 stalk of celery, ¼ cup of uncooked pasta, 4 cups of water.

Wash the vegetables and chop them very fine. Simmer them for 20 minutes, until they soften. Add the pasta and cook for another 10 minutes or until they are very soft. Drain, but save the water for later use. Puree all the ingredients together, add from the saved water, until you get the right consistency.