Oat milk for toddlers has many benefits which make it much healthier than cow’s milk. Oat milk can also help toddlers stay full and satisfied for longer. The reason being, is that it’s without all of the sugar that they would get from regular dairy products, like cows’ milk.
In this blog post we discuss oat milk for toddlers- why they should stay away from cow’s milk, and how oat milk benefits them in more ways than one!
In early childhood, kids need protein, fat, and calories to grow. oat milk contains more protein, fat and calories than some of the non-dairy milk alternatives, including the nut milks.
Almond milk and coconut milk for example, contain less than one gram of protein per serving (0.4 grams and .1 grams respectively), compared to the full 1 gram of protein in a serving of oat milk.
Keep on reading to find out the benefits of oat milk for toddlers, what to look for when purchasing oat milk, and the disadvantages of cows milk.
Benefits of Oat Milk For Toddlers
1. Good Source of Calcium
Oat milk is fortified and enriched with enough calcium to help keep your toddlers bones strong and healthy. an adequate amount of calcium helps to play a part in the cardiovascular health, nerve, and muscle function of your toddler.
2. Oat Milk For Toddlers is Easily Digestible
oats are easily digestible by toddlers and can help them stay full longer than other dairy products like cows’ milk- which means less tantrums throughout the day! Oat milk also has more vitamins and minerals than cow’s milk, making it healthier for your toddler.
oats are a whole grain that posses many nutrients. It is just oatmeal ground into water, which makes it more nutritious than cow’s milk! Nutrients in oats include antioxidants, iron, magnesium and selenium among others.
Oats are also high in fiber which helps your toddler maintain a healthy digestive system and will also help to keep them feeling full longer.
3. Oat Milk For Toddlers Strengthens the Immune System:
Oat milk is obtained from oats and therefore is rich in fibers and proteins, which aids your child in a number of ways, including cellular development and strengthening immunity. This kind of nutritious background is essential to obtain in the early stages of development.
4. Strengthens Bones & Teeth
Unlike the other alternative milk sources (soy milk or almond milk, oat milk is naturally rich in calcium. For that reason, a regular consumption of oat milk will help boost your child’s skeletal tissue development as well as the development of their teeth and nails.
5. Oat Milk For Toddlers Promotes A Healthy Heart
The fat content in cows milk can be relatively high, considering the fact that your child is already exposed to so many other fat sources, they might end up consuming more fat than required. This can clog the heart at a premature age, which in turn can lead to many health issues as they get older. Oat milk is healthier for your heart than cows milk because it contains beta-glucan which is a type of soluble fibre. Beta-glucan forms a layer in the small intestine to stop bad cholesterol from passing through. This layer also helps the body to produce bile which helps regulate the amount of bad cholesterol in the blood.
When Looking For Oat Milk For Your Toddler Pay Attention To The Following:
Oat milk needs to have adequate calories
Try to find a brand of oat milk that has between 140-170 calories per 8 oz ideally.
Oat milk needs to be fortified for toddlers
In order for oat milk to be appropriate for your toddler, it needs to be fortified. At a minimum, the oat milk needs to be fortified with calcium and vitamin D. Other fortifications are riboflavin, b12 and iodine. Dairy is a major source of iodine, and while most plant-based milks are unfortunately not fortified with it, it is something to keep in mind as we’re looking for milks.
Added sugars in oat milk for toddlers
Every company makes and processes their oat milk differently, which results in different amounts of added sugar. But they all breakdown the oats to make the milk. So pay attention to the nutrition label to see the amount of sugar in each serving.
Canola oil and sunflower oils in oat milks
Skip “barista” varieties. Those types of oat milks are designed to be blended into popular coffee beverages like lattes, barista oat milks are specially formulated to foam and steam. Therefore the ingredient list is not as simple as oats and water. Most of these versions contain a seed oil, like sunflower or safflower,Something else to consider when choosing oat milks is the type of fat that is added. Many companies add canola oil (rapeseed oil) or sunflower oil. These are both oils that have high omega-6 fatty acid compositions.
Eating too much omega 6’s can cause inflammation in the body. It’s important to pay attention to the nutrition label, to make sure that the oat milk doesn’t contain any canola or sunflower oil.
Why Toddlers Shouldn’t Drink Cows Milk
Cow’s milk is a foreign substance that has filled every corner of our diets. Health problems such as childhood diabetes, obesity, bowel disease, osteoporosis, heart disease, cataracts, colic, ear infections, hyperactivity, and cancer, on the rise in both children and adults, can be strongly linked to infant feeding choices.
Cows milk has been linked to allergies in toddlers as well as constipation, diarreah, and skin issues such as eczema. The proteins in cow’s milk are different from human milk proteins and cause problems of digestion, intolerance, impaired absorption of other nutrients, and autoimmune reactions.
I myself have a daily intolerance alongside many members of my immediate family. Although there is a lot of protein in cows milk that can be beneficial to the growth of toddlers, I try to find other sources of protein to supplement for Milan such as:
- hemp hearts
- beans
- cheese (cottage cheese is very high in protein)
- hummus
- eggs
- fish
Are you wondering how to make oat milk? I have the best recipe for you that is so easy to follow.
Oat Milk Recipe
Ingredients
- 1 cup of rolled oats
- 4 cups of water
Directions:
- Add all of the ingredients to a high-speed blender, and blend on high for 30-45 seconds.
- strain through a cheesecloth or a towel for best results.
- If you want to add a little flavour you can always add sea salt, a date, vanilla extract, cacao powder, or berries while blending to add more flavour.
Important notes:
- make sure you don’t over mix as the milk can become too slimy.
- Strain twice to get rid of all of the extra starch.
- Using rolled oats yields the best results, and make for a creamy milk.
- Homemade oat milk should last about 5 days in the fridge.
- If you notice your oat milk has separated in the fridge, this is totally normal. Just mix or shake it up until it is well blended.
Cheers,
