Peanut Butter has long been a food that has received much flack and controversy. Nuts, in general, are always looked upon as a food to turn over a few times before ingesting.
Think on this. Most food packages tell you if their product was manufactured in a factory that has nuts in it. For good reason, because nuts are a highly allergic food product to many people over the world. For one of the most natural food sources, it is sad that nuts rank up there with the most “dangerous” ones.
Peanut Butter for kids needs to be treated with as much caution as it would for any adult, although giving peanut butter to children has been known to help with allergies, in particular, nut allergies.
It’s the classic, expose your child to certain potentially harmful substances in order to assist their immune system to be able to cope with that substance. This can be achieved with peanut butter, but there are some cautionary ways to introduce this yummy food.
How To Introduce Peanut Butter Safely
It would be best to start your child with some kind of nut first i.e. a pure raw nut, like peanuts or almonds, but ensure it is mashed up. Don’t give whole nuts to kids until they are over the age of five. If they won’t attempt at eating a nut then a little peanut butter on a spoon will work, or if you have already introduced bread, then a little spread on a slice of bread.
What Type of Peanut Butter is Best?
The suggestion is to go with smooth peanut butter rather than the crunchy or chunky kind. And also, if you can find it, rather buy the type with no added sugar and salts. Most supermarkets stock this.
While tempting, avoid going with the mix of Jelly and Peanut Butter in a jar. If this is the first time you are trying it out on the little guy, you don’t want any other ingredients interfering with the test factor, otherwise, you won’t know what ingredient is affecting him.
How Much is Sufficient?
A half a teaspoon is more than enough to start off with and if your kid has no adverse responses to it then increase it to a full teaspoon on either some bread, rice cakes or just like that, off the spoon.
Existing Allergies
If your child is a sufferer of any sort of allergy, like skin rashes, eczema or is allergic to other foods, then there is a good chance that they will be allergic to nuts and in turn peanut butter. Unfortunately, this is the case and can continue to adulthood, but can also be nipped in the bud early, with a careful process of elimination.
The taste test is vital and also not to introduce any other new foods during this period of testing the peanut butter for kids. So, when can kids have peanut butter isn’t such a simple question. In conclusion, don’t be scared of nuts or peanut butter especially. It’s a great source of many nutrients and as with most foods, given in moderation can be a good addition to your little person’s diet.
