The best formula of nutritional soy milk for children

Let me start with the conclusion: there is no "universal best soy milk formula" suitable for all children. The best one is the one that best suits the child's age, physique, and taste. If you are not sure and are afraid of stepping on the trap, first remember three general models that I have recommended to hundreds of mothers around me and have almost zero negative feedback: For those 6-12 months old who have just added complementary foods, choose "20g soybeans + 15g millet + 15g peeled yam", for toddlers aged 1-3 years old For the regular period, choose "25g soybeans + 1 walnut (undressed) + 1 pitted red date". For daily nutritional supplements over 3 years old, choose "20g soybeans + 10g chickpeas + 15g oats". The bean-to-water ratio is uniformly 1:10. There is no need to filter the residue. It is sweet but not bland, and is highly acceptable to children.

My two children have been drinking soy milk for almost 6 years, from the time they first received complementary feeding until the eldest is now in elementary school. The pits they have walked through can hold a basket full of them. The stupidest time was when my oldest child just turned 7 months old. I thought I needed to supplement DHA, so I threw an almond into the soy milk. As a result, the redness around the baby's mouth took a long time to disappear. Later, the child care doctor specifically warned: before the age of 3 years old, add allergenic foods such as nuts and beans. Be sure to separate allergies first, add only one kind at a time, observe if there is no rash or diarrhea for 3 days, and then mix it into the soy milk. Don't try to stuff all the nutrients into it.

If your baby has specific minor problems, the formula can be adjusted flexibly. My second child had constipation some time ago. I learned a recipe from my mother who is a nutritionist in the community: when making soy milk, throw in 10g flaxseed + 1 small piece of pitted Qiuyue pear, and beat it out with a natural fruity sweetness. After drinking it twice, the baby was relieved the same day. Of course, some elders say that pears are cooling, and children with weak spleen and stomach will easily have diarrhea after drinking it. So they can use steamed pumpkin instead, which will have a slower but gentler effect. Both options can be used, it just depends on your child’s physical condition.

For children who are on the thin side and are picky about their meals, I generally recommend replacing 1/3 of the soybeans with chickpeas, and adding a small piece of steamed iron yam. The resulting soy milk will be as dense as if it has been added with light cream. It will make you feel fuller and have a higher plant protein content than pure soybean milk. My brother's nephew used to be 2 pounds underweight. My sister-in-law gave him a drink every morning. After two months of drinking, he was back to the standard. However, it must be mentioned here that some pediatricians say that plant protein cannot completely replace animal protein. Don’t give your baby eggs and milk while drinking soy milk. The combination of the two will not lack nutrition.

For children who cough when the seasons change and have weak lungs, don't put too many sweet things in the soy milk. Just add 3 slices of peeled northern and southern apricots + 1 small piece of dried lily. It will be slightly bitter when beaten. If the baby finds it unpleasant to drink, throw in 1 pitted red date for seasoning. My friend who is a Chinese medicine doctor said that this is safer than drinking cough syrup. Of course, Western medicine generally does not recommend giving traditional Chinese medicine to babies who are too young, so don’t add apricots to babies under 1 year old. You can also use soaked and chopped white fungus to moisturize it, but it will be a bit sticky when beaten. It depends on the child’s acceptance.

Oh, by the way, I have stepped into a big pit before: I always thought that to supplement the nutrition of the baby, I need to add more beans to make it thicker. As a result, my oldest child became bloated and refused to eat after drinking it for two days, and was scolded by the child care doctor. The ratio of soy milk to water for children should be at least 1:10. Children who are prone to bloating can also soak the beans for more than 4 hours in advance, remove the floating skin on them, and then beat them to reduce the probability of bloating. Someone also asked if honey can be added? It is absolutely not allowed to be added to children under 1 year old. Needless to say, there are risks of botulinum toxin. If you are over 1 year old, add it as little as possible. Just use natural ingredients such as red dates, pears, and pumpkins to sweeten it. Don’t develop a bad habit of sweetness in your baby.

As for the most controversial question, "Will children drink soy milk cause precocious puberty?" I have checked a lot of literature and asked doctors in different fields: The view of Western medicine is that the isoflavones in soybeans are phytoestrogens, and their activity is only one ten thousandth of human estrogen. Drinking a cup of 200ml of soy milk every day will not reach the amount that affects hormones, and there is no problem at all.； However, some Chinese medicine practitioners say that babies who are already prone to precocious puberty should drink less soy milk based on soybeans and can replace it with black beans or chickpeas. There is basis for both opinions. You can choose according to the situation of your own child. There is no need to argue about right or wrong.

In fact, there is no absolute "best recipe" for making food for children. When making soy milk at my house, the two children throw the ingredients into the breaker by themselves. Sometimes they throw in a strawberry, sometimes they throw in half a banana. The strange taste comes out and they drink it deliciously. As long as the ingredients are safe, the baby doesn't feel uncomfortable after drinking it, and is willing to drink it, any formula recommended by experts will work.