Ms. Mary Silva
Specializing in feeding and nutrition.
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 Ask Mary Silva
Toddler Wants to Drink Slim-Fast | | | QUESTION | | | Dear Ms. Silva,
Will it hurt my 12-month-old if he drinks Slim-Fast®? I let him try one sip and now whenever he can get his hands on it he tries to take a sip. He is 28.75 inches and 17 pounds if that makes a difference.— Mommabear in Hubert, NC | | | ANSWER |
September 13, 2001 | | | Dear Mommabear,
It's not surprising that your son likes Slim-Fast® since it tastes good. While a sip is harmless, drinking more on a regular basis is not a good idea. There are several reasons why Slim-Fast® isn't appropriate for your son. First, whether it's the canned product or made with skim milk, there is too little fat for proper brain development and general nutrition, and there is too much protein for his young kidneys. Even if it's made with whole milk, depending on the rest of his diet, there may be too much protein for him.
Secondly, the measurements you gave show that he is underweight for his size. Drinking Slim-Fast® may deter him from eating other foods that are important for him as well as drinking whole milk. A better strategy to use is to offer him five small (one tablespoon of each food) meals with three to four ounces of whole milk after eating. He'll probably also enjoy drinking a milkshake made with milk and ice cream with you while you drink your Slim-Fast®.— by Mary Silva, M.S., R.D. |
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