"Trimming The Fat"

Like many pregnant women, I signed up for Baby Center's weekly 'fetus updates' when I became pregnant. It was fun to see the twins' size in utero compared to a fruit or veggie and read about the various body parts and organs that developed at the different stages. Since the girls were born, I don’t always have the time to look at the updates but when I do, they are often informative and useful.

However the piece I received for my "2-year old preschooler" this week titled Long and Lean concerned me in my capacity as a nutritionist. The first sentence said: "Time to trim the fat!" … and my toddlers’ diets should consist of no more than 30% fat and I should start to feed my twins low-fat dairy products.

In my opinion as a nutritionist, this low-fat take on food is misguided. In the 80s, we were extremely fat and carb-phobic (or so I was told). Some people have still not left that behind and realized the difference between the healthy and not-so-healthy.

Here are a few reasons why we, and not just our two-year olds, should stay away from low and no-fat foods:

•   When fat is taken out of a food, it needs to be replaced with something. That something is most often sugar. Sugar is no better (arguably worse) than fat. If carbohydrates (sugar) are not burned off, they will turn to fat. Low or no-fat "foods" rarely leave us feeling satiated, which means it often leads us to eat more. 

•   Saturated fats (butter, coconut oil, eggs, meat) keep our cell walls strong. 

•   Fats, especially saturated fats, help our bodies absorb vital nutrients (vitamin A, D, E). Vitamin D is necessary for calcium absorption, which is particularly important for young children and women. 

•   Omega-3 fats are critical for brain development in young children. But, don't be fooled by "fortified" foods (ie. breakfast cereals). These foods have very little omega fats and the quality of the fats is usually poor. My girls eat fish and seafood 1-2 times per week and take a daily dose of a high-quality DHA supplement. If your child suffers from eczema or frequent colds, try adding omega-3 fats into his/her diet for a few weeks. [Note: If your baby is under a year old, do not give an Omega-3 supplement without consulting a naturopathic doctor. You can, however, take the supplement yourself, if you are breastfeeding.]

•   A reasonable amount of saturated fats per day can actually promote weight loss. Research actually shows that coconut oil is so well-absorbed by the body that it is used as an energy source and will speed up your metabolism. 

As with everything, fats, both saturated and unsaturated (Omegas), are good for us in moderation. I cook only with butter and coconut oil and use sensible amounts.

In closing, the last thing we should do is "trim the fat" on our toddlers! In the event that a toddler is overweight, a healthy diet, exercise and proper sleep should be the only "medicine" given.

For more information, definitely contact a naturopathic doctor. 

For further reference check out Gary Taubes' excellent books: Good Calories Bad Calories and Why We are Fat and What we can do about it.