Answers on Soy and Children
Q: Can soymilk provide children with as much calcium as cow’s milk?
A: Fortified soymilks found in supermarkets contain levels of calcium, vitamins D and A similar to cow’s milk that boost bone health. The benefit of soymilk is that it contains iron, calcium, vitamins A and D, and it lacks cholesterol and saturated fat. In addition to soymilk, tofu provides high levels of calcium.
Q: Does soy protein have the same level of quality as meat protein?
A: Soyfoods are a good source of high-quality protein equivalent to animal protein and fulfill the daily recommendations for the meat and beans group in MyPyramid. Soy protein contains all essential amino acids needed for children’s growth and development without the saturated fat and cholesterol found in animal products. Fun-to-eat soy nuggets, soy crumbles, and chicken-less strips are popular with children.
Q: Are soy foods safe for kids?
A: Yes. There are no human studies to date that suggest that soy is harmful to children or adults. Soy has a long history of nourishing healthy generations in Asia for thousands of years without encountering soy-related problems.
Q: Will children like the taste of soy foods?
A: With products such as soy dairy free frozen desserts, soy yogurt, soy pasta, soy chips, soy nut butter, and soy crumbles (meat alternatives) widely available, your child is bound to find a taste of soy to enjoy. Roasted soybeans, plain and yogurt covered, are a great substitute for peanuts. Soy foods are unique in that they can blend easily into any family recipe and improve the nutritional quality of a child’s favorite dish.
Q: How can I get children, who are picky eaters, to try soy foods?
A: Improving your child’s eating patterns is no easy task. Soyfoods allow you to take gradual steps that can make long lasting improvements on your child’s lifestyle.
- Make meatless pizzas using soy pepperoni, soy sausage crumbles, soy deli ham or soy bacon.
- Use crumbled tempeh to make sloppy Joes, tacos or burritos.
- Make protein-rich smoothies with soy yogurt, soymilk and a variety of fruits.
- Serve soy dairy free frozen popsicles as a dessert.
- Make homemade trail mix by mixing honey-roasted soy nuts and chocolate-covered soy nuts in with the whole-grain cereal, raisins and other dried fruit.
- Serve steamed edamame as a snack.
- Add fortified soymilk containing calcium, vitamins A and D, and high-quality protein to the diets of children who do not drink cow’s milk.
- Spread soy nut butter on whole wheat bread or celery, in place of peanut butter
- Use soy foods such as tofu, tempeh, miso, soymilk, and edamame as teaching tools to introduce children to different cultural eating and lifestyle practices.
- Fill a bun with a veggie burger.
Additional Information on Soy and Children:
