When little \u00a0Schizandra\u00a0, daughter of Dariya Quenneville, turned six months old, it was time to introduce \u00a0solid foods\u00a0. Instead of the typical apple puree or banana porridge, her first foods included \u00a0raw egg yolk\u00a0 and \u00a0chicken liver puree\u00a0. Later, she tried \u00a0sardines\u00a0, \u00a0butter\u00a0, and even \u00a0bone broth ice cream\u00a0. This unconventional diet is becoming part of a growing phenomenon: the rise of \u00a0carnivore babies\u00a0.<\/p>\n
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A report for The Wall Street Journal reveals that more and more parents are documenting how their babies consume \u00a0bone marrow\u00a0 and gnaw on \u00a0meat ribs\u00a0. Influenced by various doctors and \u00a0social media influencers\u00a0, parents are increasingly sharing their carnivorous feeding journeys on platforms such as YouTube, where channels boast hundreds of thousands of followers. In Facebook groups with names like \u00a0Carnivore Motherhood\u00a0, tips on preparing \u00a0bone broth\u00a0 or serving organs such as beef tongue and heart for little ones are widely exchanged.<\/p>\n
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For Quenneville, who resides in Ontario and teaches \u00a0survival techniques\u00a0, feeding her daughter this way makes logical sense. \u201cI believe that \u00a0butter fat\u00a0 and \u00a0meat\u00a0 will help my baby sleep better,\u201d she stated. Another mother, \u00a0Lorraine Bonkowski\u00a0, a registered dietitian from Michigan, initially had her doubts. However, after being swayed by online videos, she now feeds her adopted daughter, Isabella, \u00a0bone broth\u00a0 and even gives her meat chops. \u201cIf it makes sense for adults, why not for children?\u201d she questions.<\/p>\n
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In Tennessee, nurse \u00a0Neisha Salas-Berry\u00a0 and her husband, Dr. \u00a0Ken Berry\u00a0, are significant figures in this movement. They maintain that their children, \u00a0Bonnie\u00a0 and \u00a0Beckett\u00a0, learned to eat \u00a0meat first, above all else\u00a0. During family outings, the kids snack on \u00a0chicharrones\u00a0, which Beckett lovingly refers to as “cookies,” alongside expensive carnivorous bars priced at $95 per box. \u201cMy daughter calls them sweet meat,\u201d Neisha shared with The Wall Street Journal.<\/p>\n
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Experts have begun to weigh in on this evolving dietary trend. The introduction of \u00a0meat\u00a0 in infant diets is not inherently odd. Both the \u00a0American Academy of Pediatrics\u00a0 and the \u00a0World Health Organization\u00a0 assert that starting from six months of age, babies should consume foods rich in \u00a0iron\u00a0 and \u00a0zinc\u00a0. Meat naturally provides these essential minerals, making it a vital component in infant nutrition.<\/p>\n
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However, pediatrician \u00a0Mark Corkins\u00a0 from the University of Tennessee has raised significant concerns. He warns that \u201cbabies require \u00a0vitamin C\u00a0 and \u00a0fiber\u00a0 for proper development of connective tissue and gut microbiome\u2014nutrients that are devoid in strict carnivorous diets.\u201d<\/p>\n
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On a practical note, experts from Healthline recommend cooking meat thoroughly\u2014never serving it raw or undercooked. They also advise avoiding processed meats like sausages or bacon due to high additive levels. Meat is an excellent source of \u00a0Hemo Iron\u00a0, which is easily absorbed, along with high-quality proteins, \u00a0vitamin B12\u00a0, and \u00a0zinc\u00a0, all crucial for growth during early development.<\/p>\n
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The Specialized \u00a0Solid Starts\u00a0 portal offers extensive guidelines for serving different cuts of meat, such as \u00a0ribs\u00a0 or \u00a0fillets\u00a0, to babies. The site recommends using bones for teething at six months and introducing well-cooked meat strips as part of the \u00a0Baby-Led Weaning\u00a0 approach, ensuring any loose fat or cartilage is eliminated to minimize choking hazards.<\/p>\n
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In sharp contrast, some families are embracing \u00a0vegetarianism\u00a0 and \u00a0veganism\u00a0 for their children. These dietary preferences are also gaining momentum, necessitating careful monitoring to prevent \u00a0nutritional deficits\u00a0. Although infants universally consume \u00a0breast milk\u00a0 or formula until six months, vegan families may resort to specialized formulas based on \u00a0soy\u00a0 or \u00a0rice\u00a0 to meet their babies’ nutritional needs.<\/p>\n
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By six months, protein intake in vegan babies comes from finely ground \u00a0legumes\u00a0, \u00a0nuts\u00a0, and \u00a0seeds\u00a0, as well as entirely plant-based sources like \u00a0tofu\u00a0 and \u00a0tempeh\u00a0. Most specialists agree on one crucial point: vegan infants require a \u00a0vitamin B12\u00a0 supplement when solids are introduced.<\/p>\n
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Amidst the polarization between a diet dominated by meat and one strictly vegan, many experts advocate for a middle ground: \u00a0variety\u00a0 and \u00a0balance\u00a0. Professor \u00a0Steven Abrams\u00a0 from the \u00a0University of Texas\u00a0 emphasizes that, while meat is essential for iron and zinc, young children also need fiber, \u00a0antioxidants\u00a0, and \u00a0polyphenols\u00a0 found in fruits and vegetables. \u201cRestrictive diets in young children are not the way to go,\u201d he cautions.<\/p>\n
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In Spain, the trend of introducing meat to infants is gradual yet settled. Recommendations suggest starting with \u00a0white meats\u00a0 at six months, typically alongside vegetables. The \u00a0Mediterranean diet\u00a0 reinforces the notion of presenting meat not as the main course but rather as a complementary element alongside grains, vegetables, and fruits.<\/p>\n
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As children navigate through diets featuring everything from lamb bones to lentil purees, feeding practices are triggering cultural, scientific, and even ideological debates. While some parents claim that a meat-heavy diet is \u201cbiologically appropriate,\u201d others explore vegan options with meticulous nutrient planning. Ultimately, official guidelines in both the US and Spain stress that the essential factor is not whether the first solid food is meat or a vegetable, but ensuring that children receive a varied, \u00a0safe\u00a0, and \u00a0nutritionally adequate\u00a0 diet tailored to their growth needs.<\/p>\n