My 5-year-old son doesn’t like to eat meat but he has no problem eating fruits and vegetables. I’m thinking of supplementing protein into his diet with shakes and yogurt. How much protein should a growing child eat?
Proteins are the requisite fuel that the body needs in order to function properly.
Adequate protein intake is essential for the body to thrive. Lucilky in the US, most children easily meet these daily requirements.
A child of about 4-8 years of age, requires an average of about 19 g of protein per day. To put it into perspective ½ cup of milk is equivalent to 4 g of protein. If your child is drinking 2.5 cups of milk a day on average, they are already meeting that goal.
Cheese, eggs, and nut butters are an excellent way to get in additional proteins. I love the idea of smearing nut butters onto some of the fruits or veggies your child snacks on to help give a protein boost. Milk shakes that contain yogurt and nut butters are protein-packed, but be wary as they do contain a generous amount of sugar and may not be the best option for a picky child with an elevated BMI..
