Absolutely. Not only is it safe, but hemp has nutritional benefits for babies, toddlers, and kids throughout their life.
Is Hemp Safe For Children?
We should clear up a common misconception upfront, and that is that hemp foods contain no cannabinoids such as THC & CBD.
With hemp gaining in popularity worldwide, more and more people are looking to this plant for its incredible benefits. However, one of the prime points many parents are wondering – is whether hemp is safe for their children.
Thankfully, the rise in popularity of hemp has also aided in a surge of studies, and many of these studies focus on the safety and/or risks associated with hemp in childhood. These studies have relieved parents by showing that hemp can be perfectly safe and offers many nutritional benefits in childhood diets.
Hemp’s Nutritional Value For Children
With hemp’s nutritional benefits noticeable thanks to many studies, you may be wondering just how nutritious adding hemp to your children’s diet can be. So let’s take a look:
Protein
With protein being essential for everybody’s growth and development, it is no surprise that it is at the forefront of most parents’ nutritional concerns. A quick, easy, effective, and plant-based way of adding a protein punch to your children’s diet is with the addition of hemp!
Hemp’s protein benefits are extremely impressive – containing all 20 known amino acids and nine essential amino acids, hemp is actually the most bioavailable protein on the planet!! Generally, when adding hemp to the diet for its protein benefits, many people will turn to hemp seeds, where just 1 tbsp contains 11 grams of protein which can account for anywhere from 5% -40% of a child’s daily protein needs.
Healthy Fats
Healthy fats are the second most important nutrient for your child’s body – providing energy and heat, aiding growth, metabolization, and overall brain health. Fat can be found in many food sources, but ensuring your children get balanced fats is the ideal way to guarantee a healthy diet and lifestyle.
Hemp is a rich source of EFAs (essential fatty acids) and provides an excellent and easy way to get these healthy fats into your children’s bodies. EFA’s are an anti-inflammatory type of fat that can help protect your child’s immune system and cardiovascular system – helping their little bodies from a young age be better prepared as they grow bigger and stronger.
Omegas
Although Omegas are technically also a type of fat, Omegas are so important when it comes to children’s developing bodies they deserve a note for themselves. Omegas 3, 6, and 9 are essential fatty acids, and omega 3 ensures that your children’s brain develops correctly and maintains their overall health.
Well, guess what? Omega 3 is readily available in hemp and provides an excellent source for your children’s health. It is thought that three tablespoons of hemp seeds can provide as much as 2600 mgs of ALA omega 3 for your kids.
Additionally, ensuring your children’s diet has enough omega-3 can provide comprehensive benefits for their health. Omega 3 in children has been linked to improved sleep quality, reduced allergies such as asthma, and reduced symptoms of ADHD. Studies about omega 3’s as children grow older are not as expected, but some suggest omega three can help protect against cancer, cardiovascular issues and arthritis. If you want to read more about the positive benefits of Omega 3 in the diet, check out this article by Healthline – Omega 3 in children.
How To Introduce Hemp To Children’s Diets
With the resounding amount of health and nutritional benefits that hemp can provide for your children’s diets, it’s no surprise that parents are on the hunt for the best ways to introduce hemp to their children’s diets. Check out some of our recommended, easy meals that have hemp used:
Banana and Hemp Porridge
Banana and hemp porridge is a super simple, easy and effective way to add hemp to your babies, toddlers or kids’ diet. This recipe can be used from as early as six months and continue throughout early childhood.
Ingredients:
Quick oats,smashed banana,sprinkle hulled hemp seedspinch of cinnamon & nutmeg.
Hemp, Banana and Choc Milk
This recipe offers an excellent, tasty and fast snack or breakfast item that can easily be added into your childs existing diet. This recipe is suitable from 1 yrs +, or switch to a plant-based milk to use from a younger age:
Ingredients:
1 frozen banana3 pitted dates1/4 cup hemp seeds3 tbs raw cacao powder1/2 teas vanilla extract or honey1 teas hemp protein powder2 cups milk or choice of coconut, oat etc
Directions
Soak dates in water for 10 minutes to make them easier to blend. Add all ingredients to a blender, blend until smooth and serve.
Hemp, Nut and Coconut bars
The last recipe is one more suited to toddlers, and also offers a super healthy, nutrient packed snack that can very easily be added to your childrens diets. These bars are also packed full of fibre, are naturally sweetened and can be easily frozen!
Ingredients:
1 cup white quinoa puffed3 cups puffed brown rice1 cup sliced almonds1 cup coconut2 tbs hemp seeds1/2 cup choc chips – mini1/2 cup brown rice syrup1/2 cup cashew butter3 teas vanilla extract1/2 teas salt1/2 cup honey
Directions
Add the puffed rice, quinoa, almonds, hemp seeds, coconut and choc chips to a large bowl.Next, with a small pan, heat brown rice syrup, honey, cashew butter, vanilla extract, salt – simmer and whisk together.Pour the pan ingredients over the dry ingredients in the large bowl. Mix together and pour the mixture into a lined 9 x 13 pan – press mixture down until firm. Add an extra handful of choc chips and season with salt – press into mixture and store in the freezer for one hour.
Types of Hemp Foods
There are 4 primary food ingredients products made from the seed; hemp oil, flour, protein powder and hulled seeds.
You can find more information about these products below.
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