Children Protein Requirement

[bellyoffire]

I did not find anywhere in the book the protein requirement for children. Is there a guideline for children and protein like the chart for older children/adults that fit in the categories of height and weight?

[gitfiddle]

I don't remember seeing one but I know lots of people have kids. Did you try a search?

[bellyoffire]

I did a search and didn't find anything. People talk about children on the life plan but I don't see anyone asking how much protein.

[bellyoffire]

My doctor friend says around 12-15 grams of protein but I don't know what age that goes through. Guess it is just trial and error to see how much the children will eat.

[laughingW]

In other carb-controlled forums I have heard you use the formula for athletes and laborers and growing people:

1 gram of protein per kg of body weight.

So in the US, half the kid's weight in pounds, is the minimum grams of protein per day.

I believe that's the government recommendations too.

[MaddyO]

If that is correct than 16 oz of whole milk (16 grams) will meet and even exceed the daily requirement for a toddler of 25lbs.
That calculation seems a bit low. My 24 lbs, 13month old baby girl gets 16-20oz of milk plus yogurt, eggs, cheese and meat every day. PLus veggies and some carbs and fruits. I guess she is getting plenty!

[laughingW]

That would be the Minimum protein - it's actually 1- 1.5 grams of protein, per kg of body weight.

And don't forget protein quality. The free nutrition calculator "nutritiondata" has a cool chart that shows protein quality , based on the amino acids in a food and how it matches with the amino acids we need.

Milk, amino acid score 85
http://www.nutritiondata.com/facts/dairy-and-egg-products/69/2

Egg, amino acid score 132
http://www.nutritiondata.com/facts/dairy-and-egg-products/120/2

[Monasasha]

In other plans I know that protein should be about the size of your palm. I have 3 girls (2,5 11) and that is what I do, but I give them more if they want. Every kid is diferent thou... my 5 y/o is really slim... but she eats so much! even more than my 11 y/o. But I figure it's because she needs it. She will ask for more, broccoli, celery, not just fruit...
The girls are healthy in many ways, no cavities, so it is great! I have learn a lot with them. And is just more than lovely that they would eat watever you give them even if they don't like it. (very few things)

[kebecton]

Hi. I am new and we are about to start on Protein Power. My conern is mainly for the kids. I am not one to want to make my kitchen into a short order diner either, and while my kids eat most things that we do (we are very fortunate), I am just concerned with Protein amount and boredom when it comes to the vegetables.

On the protein amount, if I am reading this correctly, then my 3 children, ages 6, 8, and 11 and all weighing between 50 and 60 pounds should have approx. 10g protein per meal for a total of 30g per day. Is that correct? Maybe it's because we haven't started yet, but that just seems a little low to me.

On the vegetable side of things, while I eat most any vegetable out there, my husband is pretty picky about the ones he will eat that fall within this plan. How do we keep from getting bored eating the same veggies all the time?

Thanks

[laughingW]

Hm, on the protein, do you have a doc or call nurse where you can just call and ask, to ease your mind? You got me curious so I did a google search on "child protien guidelines." It's amazing how not-obvious it is to just find out, how many grams per child.
The best one I found was the Mayo Clinic article here:
http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/nutrition-for-kids/NU00606/METHOD=print

At least it gives grams of protein.

As to variety, who is complaining? you or the kids? does your hubby not mind the same thing every day? nothing wrong with it if the thing is very nutritious.
That said, when I was cooking for a family, I would try just one or two new recipes a week. Some would be keepers and some not. And I would make sure that the meal didn't depend on the new thing because if it did, and we hated the experiment, then it kind of wrecked the meal.

One experiment that all my kids really liked was to do a lower-carb version of 3 bean salad. We used a can of wax beans, a can of green beans, and just part of a can of black soybeans (and I could trickle that lower and lower). I used a couple of tablespoons of minced apple and onion instead of sweetener, adding freshness and crunch (and also minimize those), and toss it with vinegar, olive oil, salt and pepper. My teenagers (and college age visiting daughter) always liked to have a bowl of this ready. It was refreshing.

We gradually found a number of new veg recipes that are permanent favorites.

Another recipe we called "DD's favorite" because she liked it for dinner.
It was sort of a "dump" recipe - open a can and dump...

Mince a small bunch of green onions
Slice a small head of Nappa cabbage

Saute those two in olive oil and butter until soft or caramelized.
Season with "Nature's Seasonings" (this was in the early days when we didn't care about ingredients in things like that)

Dump in a can of white and dark chicken and let it get hot.

Top with sliced almonds.

voila!

[kebecton]

Thanks. I know I am going to have to be creative with the veggies. Mainly, right now it is my husband complaining about the ones I put on the menu that he doesn't like, and me complaining because I get bored cooking the same things all the time. I am very prone to be experimental with food because I am always up for trying new things; my husband, not so much. :) The kids aren't complaining yet because we haven't really discussed this with them. As I said, they tend to eat what we fix anyway, so I am not extremely worried on that score. I know they all have their likes and dislikes with the veggies, but I try to fix 2 different ones so that if they don't like one, they will eat the other. On nights when they find that they don't like either, then they have to choose the "lesser of 2 evils" so to speak. :) I do require them to eat at least one veg. with their dinner.

On the experimental front, I do have some leeway in that we homeschool, so I can always do "new and different" at lunch and the "old stand-bys" at dinner time.

Thanks for the link to the Mayo clinic protein requirements. I know PP basically gives a minimum- 2 oz. per meal just seemed low, especially since they are active. I tried to do it the other way and figure it based on LBM and activity factor, but they are under the chart on the measurements, so that was impossible. They are all extremely active. I guess they can always have more if they want it though.

[laughingW]

Mainly, right now it is my husband complaining about the ones I put on the menu that he doesn't like, and me complaining because I get bored cooking the same things all the time. I am very prone to be experimental with food because I am always up for trying new things; my husband, not so much. :)oh ah, one of those ! sounds like you have it dialed in, really. The lunchtime variety sounds yummy.

Thanks for the link to the Mayo clinic protein requirements. I know PP basically gives a minimum- 2 oz. per meal just seemed low, especially since they are active. I tried to do it the other way and figure it based on LBM and activity factor, but they are under the chart on the measurements, so that was impossible. They are all extremely active. I guess they can always have more if they want it though.I thought it was low too, now that you mentioned it. My 3 year old grandson can eat as much as his mom and dad combined when he really gets going.

Planning for lots and then the kids can have more if they're hungry - that's what his mom and dad do too up to what they can afford.