Eggs are considered one of the most nutritious and convenient foods in daily meals. With a reasonable price, easy to process and suitable for many eating habits, eggs often appear on children's menus. However, many parents are still wondering how many eggs children under 5 years old should eat each day to both be good for their health and avoid unwanted effects.
According to Ms. Edwina Raj, Head of Clinical Nutrition and Diet at Aster CMI Hospital (Bangalore, India), eggs are a source of high-quality protein, beneficial fats, vitamins and essential minerals for the overall development of children. Eggs are especially rich in choline, an important nutrient that helps support brain development, memory and cognitive ability in the early years of life.
In addition, eggs also contain vitamin D, which helps develop bones and teeth, along with B vitamins that support the energy metabolism process. When cooked thoroughly, eggs have a soft texture, easy to chew, very suitable for children who are in the weaning stage and learning to eat diverse foods.
Regarding the appropriate amount of eggs, experts say that the needs will vary depending on the age of the child. Children from 1 to 3 years old can eat about half to one egg per day. For children from 4 to 5 years old, one egg per day is considered safe and beneficial for health.
However, Ms. Raj emphasized that although eggs are very nutritious, young children should not only focus on one type of food. Children's stomachs are still small and need to be supplied with a variety of nutrients from many different sources. Eating too many eggs can make children less interested in other important foods such as vegetables, fruits, whole grains and beans.
Children can completely eat eggs every day, as long as they are combined in a balanced diet. Besides eggs, children's diets need to have enough green vegetables, fruits, fiber-rich foods and dairy products to ensure sufficient micronutrients that eggs cannot replace.
When feeding eggs to children, parents also need to pay attention to safety factors. Eggs should be cooked thoroughly to reduce the risk of infection. For children who are eating eggs for the first time or have a history of food allergies in the family, they should try them out in small amounts and monitor reactions. Avoid seasoning too much salt, butter or spicy spices when preparing eggs for young children.
Eggs are foods that bring many benefits to the physical development, brain and immune system of children under 5 years old if used properly. Eating in appropriate amounts and combining a variety of food groups is still a key factor in helping children develop healthily and comprehensively.
