Cereals in Children's Nutrition – What is Recommended?

Should your child start the day with a healthy breakfast? Then grain is clearly your choice.
Semolina porridge is often the first porridge that babies get, and oatmeal for breakfast is loved by many children. But what about grain? Is it really that healthy? What role does whole grain play? And why are oats so great? You can find the answers to these questions in this blog!

Carbohydrates as an energy source for children

Clearly, children need a lot of energy to stay healthy. Energy is mainly provided by fats and carbohydrates (also known as KH for short), as well as protein. Experts advise giving children between 55 and 60 percent of their energy from carbohydrates. Carbohydrates not only provide energy; they are also necessary for building bones and cartilage.

In addition, they are needed for burning fat. Carbohydrates include starch, sugar, and fiber. They can be found in cereals and potatoes, but also in vegetables, fruits, pastries, and confectionery. It is important what carbohydrates your child eats. An important point is the blood sugar level.

For example, if you eat dextrose, it goes into the bloodstream very quickly. It has a high glycemic index, which means that blood sugar levels rise rapidly. Insulin is released. Shortly after eating, you get hungry again. Sweet drinks, confectionery, baked goods with little fat made from white flour, and foods with a lot of lactose have the same effect.

Your child should not eat too much of these foods. Vitamins and minerals are also necessary for healthy growth. This is the case, for example, with whole grains. They help children stay fit. Only with a balanced, healthy breakfast can children optimally meet the requirements of kindergarten and school life.

Therefore, complex carbohydrates and a lot of fiber should be consumed in the form of whole grains in the morning. This is because foods with the lowest possible glycemic index keep blood sugar levels constant and not only ensure long-lasting satiety and fewer cravings but also a higher performance curve, i.e., an increase in attention and the ability to concentrate.

How much grain is healthy for children?

How much energy or grain makes sense in children's nutrition depends on many factors. The weight, age, and activity level of the child are decisive. Thus, the DGE calls for a demand for energy of children between four and seven years of between 1300 and 1800 kcal per day. A little active girl needs the least energy, while a very active boy needs the most.

What cereals should children eat?

The intake of carbohydrates, of which grains are a part, should account for about 55% of the total diet in children. Various types of carbohydrates or grains can be used to replenish children's energy stores.

There are various types of cereals. Here is a brief overview:

Wheat
The grain wheat is very common in Europe. It contains gluten protein, making it easy to bake. Whole wheat contains plenty of magnesium and vitamin B1. It is used for bread, pasta, and pastries.

Rye
The grain rye is mainly used for bread. It is nutrient-dense and low in fat.

Rice
The grain rice is widespread all over the world. It is consumed as a side dish or in the form of puffed rice and rice waffles.

Oats
Oats are perfect. They are easy to digest and contain high-quality protein and important fatty acids. Since they contain little gluten protein, they are not suitable for baking bread. In the form of flakes, they are already ideal for baby porridge. To ensure children enjoy breakfast without protest or persuasion, it must be enjoyable.

At the same time, it should be healthy and balanced. Is this balancing act possible? We at VERIVAL have also asked ourselves this question. And yes, it is possible. The answer was the development of our children's products under the Yanick & Fee label.

Nutritional distribution in children

Carbohydrates from plants should make up the majority of food in children. Experts recommend the following amounts for children:

The following foods are recommended in moderate amounts for children:

The foods mentioned should provide at least 90 percent of the energy. The remaining 10 percent may be filled with tolerated foods, such as cakes, nutmeg cream, or confectionery. This means that about 55 percent of the energy is covered by carbohydrates from cereals, rice, potatoes, bread, pasta, vegetables, and fruit. About 30 percent of the energy is covered by fats.

They should be mostly plant-based. That is, the fat should be obtained from nuts or avocados, for example.
Another 15 percent of the energy is provided by proteins. About half of it comes from milk and other animal products, while the other half comes from plants such as cereals. Oats and oatmeal are particularly suitable for children as a valuable vegetable protein source. They can be easily integrated into a child's healthy diet or breakfast, for example, as a porridge . The nutrient-rich VERIVAL children's porridge without added sugar is therefore ideal as a warm start to the day and is ready in just 3 minutes.

Getting kids used to whole grains

Whole grains are great! Whole grains contain a large proportion of the minerals and vitamins found in cereals. For example, white flour from wheat contains almost no magnesium at all. It contains only one-third as much iron or fiber as wholemeal flour. In addition, the carbohydrates from whole grains are absorbed more slowly, which prevents a sudden rise and fall in blood sugar. Of course, not every meal made from whole grains is suitable for toddlers.

Cereals or whole grains, for example, are not yet digestible for toddlers. Additionally, they can choke on the grains. However, semolina porridge made from whole-grain semolina or oatmeal made from melted flakes can be given very early. Later, pasta and bread made from whole grain can be introduced. When children consume whole-grain foods from an early age, they become accustomed to the taste.

Nevertheless, there are children who do not like whole grains. Often, this is not because it is whole grain. Many children simply don't like the taste of grains in their food. Try bread or pastries made from wholemeal flour without grains. Most children like wholemeal pasta with their favorite sauce. And the oatmeal, which is very popular with children, is always whole grain anyway.

VERIVAL Children's products with high-quality cereals

It is best for your child to start the day with a healthy, ideal breakfast from VERIVAL. It's fantastic if it also tastes really good. VERIVAL's cereals for children are made from whole grain cereals and are produced in Tyrol. Gentle and careful production is particularly important to us, resulting in unique organic foods that we are enthusiastic about.

Our porridge gets its sweetness from fruits such as berries , mango, dates, or apples and thus contains up to 50 percent less sugar than other conventional products. For this, they are rich in vitamins, minerals, and fiber. We are convinced that you can see, smell, and taste the difference.