Is tuna ok?

[Milliroo]

Hi. I'm veggie so giving meat to my little one (almost 8 months old) is a bit daunting at times! I have done some Annable Karmel recipes with meat and he loves it so my confidence is growing with cooking meat. However, is giving him tuna ok? I thought it would be easy if so as its in a tin and I can just stir in into things maybe?

 

[Mum2b_Claire]

Yes, tuna is fine, one tin a week max I think (not that an 8 month old would likely eat more than that anyway)

 

[Kte]

Prefarably use tuna from a tin with sunflower oil in and not brine as that can be quite salty

 

[Laura2919]

Sunflower oil is just as bad. Get it in spring water and yes its fine to give.

 

[Mum2b_Claire]

I use tuna in springwater but what's wrong with sunflower oil??
Genuine question, I don't use it loads but I do use in cooking when I need to use a flavourless oil in something.

 

[Laura2919]

I use tuna in springwater but what's wrong with sunflower oil??
Genuine question, I don't use it loads but I do use in cooking when I need to use a flavourless oil in something.

Because of the oil. Spring water is the better option. I dont use spring water for myself I use either sunflower oil or brine but for the girls its spring water. I know you dont use all the oil but spring water is the best to give them.

 

[Kte]

I use a little too . . .I though using a little was okay

From the Food Standards Agency Website:

What is the benefit of olive oil compared to other vegetable oil? Is it any good to prepare all your food with olive oil if you can afford it?
Olive oil is a healthy choice because it is low in saturated fat and high in unsaturated fat. But it is quite expensive and there are other oils that are also good choices.

All oils contain varying proportions of different forms of fat. Saturated and unsaturated fats are the main types.

As well as aiming to cut down on fat, we should also be trying to replace saturates with unsaturates.

There are two types of unsaturated fat, polyunsaturates and monounsaturates. Polyunsaturates, and to a lesser extent, monounsaturates, have been shown to lower blood cholesterol levels and therefore help in reducing the risk of heart disease.

Rapeseed oil, which like olive oil contains mostly monounsaturated fat, is a good and cheaper alternative to olive oil. Sunflower, soya bean and corn oil all contain mostly polyunsaturated fat so are also good choices.

Some oils are labelled as vegetable oil or blended vegetable oils. All of these are also low in saturated fat and are generally cheaper.

But remember, whichever unsaturated oil you use, try to use as little as possible. It can help to measure oil for cooking with tablespoons rather than pouring straight from a container and you can gradually try to reduce the number of spoonfuls you use

Here is the full link if anyone wants more info https://www.eatwell.gov.uk/asksam/healthydiet/fssq/

 

[Laura2919]

Is that for an adult or a child??.

 

[Kte]

That is the adult, this is the general advice for a toddler

https://www.eatwell.gov.uk/agesandstages/children/yrtoddler/#elem218442

Technically my LO eats what we eat just reduced amouts or subsituted, I don't feel that using a small amount of sunflower oil is a problem.

 

[Laura2919]

Im not judging your parenting hun or how you feed your child. I am saying that sunflower oil is just as bad as salt so there is another alternative...

 

[Kte]

That's okay, no offence taken, tbh I never even knew you could get it in spring water but given just the choice of brine or veg oil I'd rather go for veg oil option iyswim.

 

[Laura2919]

That's okay, no offence taken, tbh I never even knew you could get it in spring water but given just the choice of brine or veg oil I'd rather go for veg oil option iyswim.

I didnt know until my MIL brought it when I was weaning the girls. Its different, I dont like it. I like flavour but the girls do.

 

[Kte]

I'll have to keep my eyes out and experiment with her, see if she notices the difference!

 

[Mum2b_Claire]

I am saying that sunflower oil is just as bad as salt

I don't think it is, though?

 

[clewis]

If she will eat tuna that's great. But I heard that one should not have too much fish because of the content of mercury in them. So try varying the type of fish too. But I wouldn't give it every day.

 

[Bumpontherun]

I am saying that sunflower oil is just as bad as salt

I don't think it is, though?

Me neither. Surely babies don't need a low fat diet, that's why they get full cream milk and full fat yogurt I give H whatever tuna we have in the cupboard but if I was buying for her I'd probably pick the sunflower oil for more flavour.

 

[Laura2919]

I am saying that sunflower oil is just as bad as salt

I don't think it is, though?

Me neither. Surely babies don't need a low fat diet, that's why they get full cream milk and full fat yogurt I give H whatever tuna we have in the cupboard but if I was buying for her I'd probably pick the sunflower oil for more flavour.

Of course oil isnt good for children. Do you give your children butter???? Everyone knows that too much isnt good. Even for an adult too much isnt good. The same would apply to them. As for full fat yoghurt and dairy thats because of calcium!

 

[OmarsMum]

Full fat dairy have the same amount of calcuim & vitamins as low fat/skimmed.

Babies need fats until they'r 2 years old as their growth is rapid during the 1st 2 years & they need the extra calories, they also need fats as it's essential for the development of their brains. This is why babies should be given full cream, & healthy oils & fats. They need them for their growth. Sunflower oil is good. Oils are only bad when they'r overheated & used in frying.

 

[freckleonear]

I am saying that sunflower oil is just as bad as salt

I don't think it is, though?

Me neither. Surely babies don't need a low fat diet, that's why they get full cream milk and full fat yogurt I give H whatever tuna we have in the cupboard but if I was buying for her I'd probably pick the sunflower oil for more flavour.

Of course oil isnt good for children. Do you give your children butter???? Everyone knows that too much isnt good. Even for an adult too much isnt good. The same would apply to them. As for full fat yoghurt and dairy thats because of calcium!

There are three main forms of fats: saturated, mono-unsaturated and polyunsaturated. For adults, saturated fats are generally bad in excess, mono-unsaturated fats are neither good nor bad and polyunsaturated fats are good as they lower cholesterol levels and offer protection against heart attacks and strokes. Sunflower oil is a polyunsaturated fat and therefore good for you. Obviously anything is not good in excess, but tuna in sunflower oil is perfectly good and healthy for children.

Of course I give my children butter, it's a nutritious and healthy food in moderation! However I would never give them margarine or other processed products which contain unhealthy and dangerous artificial trans fats.

Calcium has nothing to do with giving full fat dairy foods. The reason is simply that fat is an essential part of a young child's diet! Children need more fat than adults for healthy growth and development.