Early Life Nutrition – Healthy Habits

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Healthy Habits

This stage of early life nutrition focuses on the nutritional needs of infants 12-24 months of age. These kiddos are now on the move and ready to try lots of new things! Pasta, meat, and more fruit and vegetable varieties are introduced at this stage, and vitamin and mineral fortified purees, bars, and cereals start to take a more leading role. At this stage in early life nutrition, the child is beginning to refine their individual taste preferences, so introducing a variety of healthy food options in this phase helps guide kids to healthier food choices later. It’s also important to note that parents are encouraged to focus on getting children the nutrients they need through their food rather than through daily supplements. Providing parents with solutions fortified with important nutrients like calcium, protein, iron, and B vitamins can help parents feel at ease that their little ones are getting the nutrients they need. 

Nutritional Needs 

Important nutrients include: 

• Vitamin D
• Calcium 
• Iron 
• Protein 
• B vitamins

Considerations for Development 

• Convenient formats (less mess!) 
• Vitamin and mineral fortification 
• New textures and more complex flavors 

Glanbia Nutritionals Solutions 

Immunity & Brain Health Strawberry Crips Protein Bar for Kids 

Inspiration 

Foods and beverages that can offer multiple health benefits in one, especially those that can feature an overall health boost plus an immunity claim, appeal to 86% of parents of children under the age of 12¹. This bar does just that! It provides appropriate protein levels for this age group, tastes delicious, and is formulated using NeoShield™, which contains optimal lactoferrin levels. The immune benefits of lactoferrin are widely studied and supported². If there has ever been a bar that parents can feel great about their toddler snacking on during the day, it’s this one! 

Key Benefits 

• Support immunity and brain health in growing children 
• 6 g of protein per serving 
• Delicious taste and texture 

Glanbia Nutritionals Ingredients

Crunchie™ Milk Protein Crisps: High protein extruded crisps made with milk protein and rice starch delivering superior texture and flavor to enhance texture and crunch in food applications. 

BarPro^® 292: A milk protein isolate that is ideal for bar formulations. The controlled protein solubility allows greater versatility in a formulation, contributing to improved texture and extended shelf life. 

NeoShield™: A concentrated whey protein produced using our selective transfer membrane system which concentrates whey components such as lactoferrin, immunoglobulins, and milk fat globule membrane (MFGM) phospholipids for immune and cognitive support in toddlers, children, and maternal health. 

High Protein Drinkable Yogurt 

Inspiration 

At this stage in development, getting enough vitamins and minerals is critical. Fortified food choices are recommended at this age to ensure babies and toddlers are getting enough of the essential nutrients they need³. Products that can provide adequate protein and have ingredients that promote bone health like calcium and vitamin K2 are great additions to the daily diet⁴. This drinkable yogurt significantly boosts vitamins and minerals intake and is delivered in a delicious format that little ones will love. 

Key Benefits 

• 10 g of protein per serving 
• Excellent source of calcium, vitamin D, and vitamin K2
• Clean Label 

Glanbia Nutritionals Ingredients

OptiSol^® 1042: A functional Grade A rBST free milk protein concentrate for use in cultured drinks and smoothies. 

TruCal^® D7: A balanced milk mineral complex containing 7 minerals including calcium for bone support. TruCal's balance of minerals has been scientifically shown to help improve bone density and strength (Glanbia Nutritionals in-house study). 

MenaQ7^®: A patent-pending multistep synthetic process of purification, condensation, and crystallization of nature-identical Vitamin K2 (MK-7). Vitamin K2 plays an active role in bone health and calcium utilization. This first-in-class, only clinically researched vitamin K2 (MK-7) binds to calcium that gets lodged along the arterial walls and shuttles it to the bone, where it is needed. Vitamin K2 plays and active role in bone health and calcium utilization. Only MenaQ7 is clinically validated and patented for cardiovascular benefits⁵. 

References

1. Mintel. Children and Health. November 2019. 
2. Frontiers in Ped 2020;8:233, 2. Acta Paediatrica 2007; 96, pp. 1238-1244 
3. Mintel. Children and Health. November 2019. 
4. American Academy of Pediatrics accessed from https://medical.gerber.com/faqs/product-faq. March 2021. 
5. Knappen MH, et al. Three-year low-dose menaquinone-7 supplementation helps decrease bone loss in healthy postmenopausal women. Osteoporosis Int. 2013 Sep;24(9):2499-507.