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Soy and Children - WIC Info.
If your kids’ cravings for junk food are wearing you out, take heart. A variety of kid-friendly products are available in most supermarkets, such as chocolate soymilk (soy milk) and soy non-dairy frozen desserts. Eating soy foods during childhood has been shown to promote growth and boost bone health. The best part is that, even though soy foods are healthy and nutritious, your child will love the taste and never know the difference!
Switch to Healthy Snacks
Soy foods are rich in the nutrients kids need and can be used to meet the daily meat, dairy, or vegetable recommendations in new and novel ways. Did you know finding healthy snack options is one of the primary approaches used to find solutions to childhood obesity? Try substituting roasted soybeans, plain or yogurt covered, for peanuts. Fruit soy smoothies, made with fortified soymilk (soy milk) or soy yogurt, are a fun way to help ensure proper calcium intake.
Soy for Life
Soy foods can help children learn healthy eating patterns early on and reap health benefits throughout life.
Healthy Weights
Soy foods like veggie-burgers and soy cream cheese are lower in saturated fats, cholesterol, and calories than meat and dairy products made with whole milk. Foods low in fat, high in fiber, protein and other important nutrients, like soy foods, can help children get the nutrition they need without excess calories. See Meeting the Goal with Soy for ideas on meeting the 2005 Dietary Guidelines, and MyPyramid for Kids for more information on healthy eating and fun physical activity to promote healthy weights.
Allergies
Soy foods bring variety to children who have certain food allergies or choose soy for cultural reasons. Children who are lactose intolerant, or allergic to milk protein, can pour soymilk (soy milk) over cereal or enjoy soy non-dairy frozen desserts. Children with peanut and nut allergies can try a soy nut butter and jelly sandwich or roasted soy nuts as a snack. Even soy chips can be a treat for kids with wheat allergies! It should be noted that less than 1% of children have allergies to soy and that soy allergens occur less frequently than other allergens. Most kids out grow soy allergies.
Lifelong Gains
Exciting research links consumption of soy foods during childhood and adolescence with stronger bones and a lower incidence of breast cancer in later years for women. And maintaining a healthy weight throughout life can help protect against heart disease, diabetes, and several types of cancer.
We Want to Hear From You!
Share with us your stories on how soy foods have helped improve the health and wellbeing of your children and family. Please e-mail info@soyfoods.org with you soy foods success story.
Additional Information on Soy and Children:
- Soy Island
- Soy and Children’s Diet (pdf)
- Making Winning Meals With Soy: A Guide For School Food Service and Child Care Providers (pdf)
- Making Winning Meals With Soy Adendum (pdf)
- Additional Health Resources
For more information, please contact info@soyfooods.org.
