By the European Society of Gastroenterology, Hepatology and Pediatric Nutrition (ESPGHAN) July 18, 2022
When they were 18 months old, babies who began receiving tasting portions of the new Nordic diet ate 46% more vegetables than those fed a conventional diet.
Introducing babies and young children to a low-protein Nordic-style diet that emphasizes plant-based foods could allow them to get healthy eating habits.
New research recently presented at the 54th Annual Meeting of the European Society of Gastroenterology, Hepatology and Pediatric Nutrition (ESPGHAN) suggests that the key to healthier eating habits may be to introduce infants and young children to a healthy diet. Nordic with less protein and a bigger focus. on plant-based foods.
When they were 18 months old, babies who began receiving tasting portions of the new Nordic diet, which includes fruits, berries, roots and vegetables, along with breast or formula milk, ate almost twice as many vegetables (46 percent). . increase) such as those who were fed a conventional diet.
As part of the OTIS experiment, researchers from Umeå University in Sweden, the Stockholm County Council Epidemiology Center, and the University of California in the United States studied two groups of 4-6-month-old infants. at 18 months. A total of 250 babies participated and 82% of them completed the study.
A chart that explains the benefits of a Nordic style diet. Credit: European Society of Gastroenterology, Hepatology and Pediatric Nutrition (ESPGHAN)
According to the study, young children in the 2 groups had quite different eating patterns. Those who followed the new Nordic diet, who received homemade recipes for Nordic baby food, low-protein baby food and support for other parents ’social media, ate between 42 and 45%. more fruits and vegetables between 12 and 18 months of age than those following the traditional diet currently recommended by the Swedish Food Agency.
Although in the traditional diet group, fruit consumption remained constant, but between 12 and 18 months, infants receiving the traditional diet consumed 36% fewer vegetables.
Babies on the Nordic diet had an average protein intake 17-29% lower than those on the conventional diet at 12-18 months of age. This was still within the recommended levels of protein intake and the overall calorie count between the two groups was the same. The protein reduction in the Nordic diet group was replaced by more vegetable carbs, not more cereal, along with some extra fat from rapeseed oil.
The lead researcher, Dr. Ulrica Johansson, a doctor of pediatric medicine and a registered dietitian at Umeå University in Sweden, said there did not appear to be any negative effects of having a lower protein intake.
Commenting on the findings, Dr. Johansson says, “A low-protein Nordic diet introduced to naive babies in this feeding model, increased the intake of fruits, berries, vegetables, and roots, establishing a preferable feeding pattern for more than 12 years. . ”
“There were no negative effects on breastfeeding duration, iron status or growth.”
“A protein-reduced Nordic diet is safe, feasible and can contribute to a sustainable and healthy diet during infancy and early childhood,” he added.
New research could pave the way for broadening babies ’taste spectrum and potentially provide an effective strategy for instilling healthier eating habits early in life.
The Nordic diet has a higher intake of fruits, berries, vegetables, herbs, mushrooms, tubers and legumes of regional and seasonal production, as well as whole grains, vegetable fats and oils, fish and eggs, and a lower intake of sweets and desserts . and dairy, meat and meat products.
Typical Nordic fruits include sink, hawthorn berry, blueberry, raspberry and blueberry, as well as high-fiber vegetables such as turnip, beet, Swedish, celery, carrot, parsnips, cabbage, broccoli, cauliflower and cabbage.
ESGHAN Nutrition Committee Chairman Professor Jiri Bronsky said: “The authors have shown a significant effect of diet on children 12 to 18 months of age. The Nordic diet group consumed more fruit and vegetables and less protein than the control group.The Nordic diet was well tolerated and did not negatively affect the growth of the child or the duration of breastfeeding.It is important to note that this research shows that this diet is safe, feasible and exposes babies to a variety of flavors that can influence long-term food preferences. “
Meeting: 54th Annual Meeting of the European Society of Gastroenterology, Hepatology and Pediatric Nutrition (ESPGHAN)