Chicken not only tastes yummy but also offers many health benefits. So, it's no surprise that chicken is the most popular poultry food in the United States. An increasing number of people are adding chicken delicacies to their daily diet, owing to its rich flavor and high nutrition.
Parents are understandably concerned about their child's dietary habits, especially with growing obesity among children. Obesity prevalence among 2-to-5-year-olds is 12.7%, among 6-to-11-year-olds is 20.7%, and among 12-to 19-year-olds is as much as 22.2%. So, how do you ensure that your little one has a healthy diet when most children throw tantrums when served veggies? The good news is that chicken excels as a superfood. The tender, juicy meat pleases their palate, while the nutritional content makes it the perfect food to add to their meals.
Here are five health benefits of including chicken in your child's diet:
Chicken is a high-protein option that promotes muscle building and bone development and helps maintain a healthy body weight. What distinguishes chicken protein from many plant-based proteins is its superior quality, which means it contains enough amounts of all nine essential amino acids required by the human body. Additionally, chicken contains less than 10% fat, has low cholesterol, and is easy to digest.
The need for chicken during the growth year of a child cannot be overstated. However, since children can be fussy eaters, you can choose kid-friendly chicken meals to keep your child excited about what he/she is eating.
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Chicken is rich in alpha and beta-carotene, as well as lycopene, which are vitamin A derivatives. These nutrients contribute to the improvement of vision and are also required for creating healthy tissues. In addition, vitamin B2 found in chicken liver helps heal dry or damaged skin.
So, when your lips get chapped due to extreme heat or cold, you immediately know what to add to your skincare diet!
Chicken contains vitamins and minerals such as zinc, choline, vitamin B12, iron, and long-chain polyunsaturated fatty acids. Vitamin B12 and choline work together to promote brain growth among children. In addition, recent research shows that choline provides several health advantages throughout our lives.
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Chicken is low in fat and high in protein and other essential nutrients. According to a study, eating 25-30 grams of protein at each meal feels us feel fuller. It means your little one won’t feel the urge to snack ever so often.
Phosphorus content in chicken improves the functioning of the central nervous system as well as promoted bone and tooth formation among children. Similarly, zinc boosts children's immune systems necessary to fight diseases.
There are so many health benefits of adding chicken to the diet of children of all age groups. It is quite the superfood to ensure proper growth. And there are so many delicious chicken recipes you can prepare for your little one.