Do you give your children cheese?

[Caidyn]

Why or why not? and what kind is best?

I don't give my 1 year alot but he does love it so sometimes I add it to something (quinoa, rice, veggies, etc.) just to get him to eat it but I always have this feeling that I am giving him something that isn't really good for him.


Thanks!

[Alyantavid]

Why do think cheese isn't good for him?

We mostly eat Tillamook cheddar because we don't have access to (more) local or raw cheeses. I think cheese is a good snack. My oldest has cheese whenever I add it to something or sometimes he'll just eat a piece. My youngest has some dairy issues but cheese seems to be fine, so he has it about once a week on pizza and rarely other times.

[KristyDi]

I wish I could get my 2yo DD to eat cheese as a snack.

Protein, calcium, and some fat. Sounds like a good filling snack to me. DD's dentist has also suggested cheese as a snack because apparently it's good for teeth. Something about casein?

Do you think maybe you feel like it's bad because cheese is often limited in adult weight loss diets since it has a fair amount of fat in it? Remember little ones need fat for their developing brains.

[goldenwillow]

We make our own typically but I always have an organic, bought cheese for a snack or on our tortillas!

[Mirzam]

My kids, who are older than the PPs, eat a whole variety of cheeses, all raw, from European to locally made and have since they were little.

[Llyra]

I've never seen cheese as something unhealthy. I do buy organic cheese when I can, to reduce our exposure to pesticides. And we don't buy that plasticky fake processed cheese-- like the prewrapped slices-- YUCK. But real cheese is one of the staples of our everyday diet.

[JessicaS]

Yes, all kinds. My two year old seems to like the stinkiest cheese he can find.

[mamadelbosque]

Yup, we eat lots of cheese around here Mostly I buy cabot cheese which is (supposedly...) free of growth hormones and from a co-operative up in vermont so I feel pretty good about it Mostly we eat cheddar & colby jack & mozzarellla.

[velochic]

Originally Posted by Mirzam

My kids, who are older than the PPs, eat a whole variety of cheeses, all raw, from European to locally made and have since they were little.

Wow, I thought it was illegal in the US to import raw milk cheeses. I have several favorites from when we lived in Germany and I was told by the proprietor of my local cheese shop that it was illegal to get them. Where are you and how do you get raw milk cheese imported from European countries? TIA!!

[sewchris2642]

Yep. We buy Tillamook--usually have sharp cheddar, Monterrey Jack, and mozzarella (block but will buy string cheese for all day outings). I gave cheese before a year in mac and cheese and shredded. Then on pizza and grilled cheese sandwiches and as snacks for toddlers. We are big cheese eaters. It's our main source of dairy along with yogurt.

[mommy212]

I think cheese is healthy, as long as it is real cheese and not processed cheese food, which i don't touch with a ten foot pole. It's got lots of calcium and good fat. My 10 mo is not really crazy about it. His favorite is feta cheese, or pepper jack, but he doesn't like cheddar, colby or mozzeral much- go figure! lol

[mommy212]

Oh, he also likes cottage cheese, like cottage cheese and peaches that my mom eats, which I hate but he loves it lol

[sweetpeppers]

I don't give my son cheese. Sometimes he eats it when we are out or at other people's houses. I think cheese is very unhealthy. Cheese consumption has gone up hugely over the past fifty years (I don't have the statistics in front of me, but it's way more than doubled). Cheese is very high in saturated animal fats, cholesterol, and sodium. Sure it has calcium, so do lots of other things that aren't loaded with fat, cholesterol and salt. There are many studies that debunk the myth that dairy products improve bone health. Countries with the highest dairy consumption have the highest rates of osteoporosis. Normally I stay far away from dietary discussions, but I have a huge problem with people loading kids' food up with cheese.

[Brigio]

I happily offer my daughter cheese. We most often eat organic raw mild cheddar!

[JudiAU]

Sure. Good source of fats and protein. Prefer to buy raw and/or organic if available. Delighted the baby eats it. The toddler only eats it in disguise.

[catnip]

Nope. We're dairy-free.

[treemom2]

We always have cheese in our fridge for the kids to snack on. We try to buy artisan cheeses (we live in Belgium so we get our cheese from local farmers' markets) or at least cheese that's hormone/antibiotic free. Lately we've been able to find some organic raw cheese which is wonderful. We do try to limit DD's cheese consumption since sometimes it constipates her to the point of crying when she's trying to go. . .but usually it's all good in our house.

[FernG]

Originally Posted by velochic

Wow, I thought it was illegal in the US to import raw milk cheeses. I have several favorites from when we lived in Germany and I was told by the proprietor of my local cheese shop that it was illegal to get them. Where are you and how do you get raw milk cheese imported from European countries? TIA!!

The US gov doesn't allow importation of raw cheese aged under 60 days and also only allows raw cheese from a short list of approved makers. Those overseas cheesemakers who are approved usually have larger factories. Some cheese shops import truly artesan raw cheese illegally.

OP, I make some of my own raw cheese and buy raw cheese for my daughter. Have you read about nutrients in veggie bein more absorbable when eaten with fat? Have you read about cholesterol problems being caused by carbs and not by ingested fat and cholesterol?

[velochic]

Originally Posted by FernG

The US gov doesn't allow importation of raw cheese aged under 60 days and also only allows raw cheese from a short list of approved makers. Those overseas cheesemakers who are approved usually have larger factories. Some cheese shops import truly artesan raw cheese illegally.

Interesting. Thanks for the info. That must be why I can't get some of my favorites. They are young, soft cheeses - Camembert-like.

[Youngfrankenstein]

Originally Posted by abimommy

Yes, all kinds. My two year old seems to like the stinkiest cheese he can find.

My son wanted to try stilton because of the Geronimo Stilton books....PPPPPPP-UUUUUUUU!

I truly don't get the "real cheese is unhealthy" thing.

I agree that it can be backlash from the adult "dieting" mentality. Of course, we drink whole milk too.