Bacon for13mo?

[Hedgehog17]

Hi ladies,

Just wanted to ask about how suitable bacon is for DS!

He really loves it  We've just given him 5 tiny bits of good quality back bacon, the fattier ends for preference, from our plates and it's been consumed with obvious delight 

I know it's high in salt so we can't give too much, but I haven't found any information on how much is appropriate to give to a 13mo.

We need to get more protein & fat into him as his diet is restricted due to MSPI, so if bacon is ok and he'll eat it then that would be wonderful 

Can anybody help?

[~inbalance~]

Well, I suppose bacon isn't good for anyone!    (my kids like it too ).

What about looking for 'healthier' options like reduced salt, preservative free (check your local butcher), or turkey bacon?

[Lemonthyme]

Tricky.  With my food safety hat on, I'd say the salt and nitrates are necessary to ensure the bacon is safe.  I would suggest you limit the amount you give.  Likewise I give him the odd tiny amount if I'm having some.  Perhaps limit any bacon, ham or sausage to once or twice a week and limit other salty foods (e.g. bread, cheese) on days when he does have bacon?

[cuckoochick]

My DD loves bacon (in soup), ham and sausage! I just try to limit other salty things that she might have on those days as pp said.

[Hedgehog17]

Thanks ladies!

We only have bacon once a week so we'll just give him a bit of ours then 

He hasn't had ham or sausages yet! (v slow progress on the weaning  )

He doesn't get cheese as he's MSPI, and eats very little bread. He drank plenty of water after the bacon he had this morning, and got his bottle about 45 mins later, so no dehydration 

Just to find things things he'll eat other than pureed fruit, mashed veg, & rice crackers 

[We Three]

I am almost positive there is nitrate free turkey bacon. 

[Buntybear]

Silly question but what is wrong with nitrates? I am not questioning it just would like to know the facts for future ref!

[Lemonthyme]

I don't think anything is proven.  There is speculation nitrates / nitrites may increase cancer rates.  The problem with research in this area though is people who eat loads of nitrate rich foods i.e. sausages, bacon etc are also more likely to have generally poor diets lacking in fruit and veg.

Personally I think the jury is out but it probably makes sense to limit foods like this which are processed even if the processing is the kind of thing we've been doing for hundreds of years as a race if nothing else than just because they're high in salt.

[Buntybear]

Thank you

[We Three]

JMHO, but I don't think the jury is out at all...       Don't mean to get on a soapbox here, as that is truly not my intention, but I will post this link for anyone who might be interested.     I realize you can find links to support just about anything, but still I wanted to share. 

  http://www.foodmatters.tv/_webapp_226337/Nitrates_in_commercial_foods_more_dangerous_than_we_first_thought

[Hedgehog17]

Just checked the packaging on my organic bacon, and it lists the ingredients as

• organic pork 87%
• water
• salt
• preservatives (potassium nitrate, sodium nitrite

I guess that's not good then 

Haven't heard about any nitrate free stuff being available in the UK - it hasn't been raised as a major concern here yet...

[Buntybear]

Haven't heard about any nitrate free stuff being available in the UK - it hasn't been raised as a major concern here yet...

Me neither - in fact I was looking for some nitrate free ham in sainsburys earlier after this thread! Maybe we should start a specific thread as someone might know? Meanwhile I will have a google 

[Hedgehog17]

Me neither - in fact I was looking for some nitrate free ham in sainsburys earlier after this thread! Maybe we should start a specific thread as someone might know? Meanwhile I will have a google  Smiley

Please do start a thread if google doesn't come up with anything! I'd be very interested to know too

[We Three]

Just found this...so I know it exists, but maybe just in the US? 

  http://www.applegatefarms.com/products/natural_sunday_bacon.aspx

But I also found some sites that said there are still nitrates in "nitrate free" products, BUT...that they are "naturally occurring", which isn't harmful?  UGGGHHH!          I'll just skip it....I can't add another thing to my list of "foods to be wary of"   

 Wonder if Canadian bacon is any different?  You know, the kind that is round and not in strips?

[aisling]

We use the nitrate free bacon too.  Ask at the butchers perhaps UK ladies.

Canadian Bacon as US calls it is the same bacon that the UK has (rashers) but streaky bacon (Uk) is what you are used to Anne (the strips) in the US and we have that in nitrate free here in Canada too. (thank goodness!)

So, if Waitrose or Sainsbury's don't offer either ask at a good butcher perhaps.