The answer to this question is a resounding yes, all excesses are harmful.

The diet of any child should include all food groups in balance, that is to say; carbohydrates present in vegetables, fruits and whole grains, good fats such as avocado, nuts, olive oil, etc; and proteins of animal or vegetable origin according to the lifestyle of the family should be consumed. But restricting one of them or consuming in excess is counterproductive for the body and the hormones that are in development and growth.

Avoid excesses

Example: For breakfast, whole milk with whole grain cereals for lunch, a plate of legumes and a steak, and for dinner, an omelet.

If this is your child’s typical diet, you are giving him/her an excess of proteins that is not recommended. If this is repeated on a daily basis, it can lead to liver and kidney problems, as these organs metabolize a large part of this protein diet. During this process, toxic substances are formed for the organism, and if there is an excess, the liver and kidneys will not be able to filter them all and, then, a hepatic overload may arise or develop fatty liver and kidney stones. Moreover, since in many cases these proteins are contained in foods with a high content of saturated fats, an excess of proteins is also related to the risk of obesity, high cholesterol and cardiovascular problems.

According to FAO and OMS, these are the general recommendations of proteins per day, for children over one year old, although it is necessary to take into account variations with respect to the context or physical activity that each child carries out…

• Children from one to two years of age should have about 1.6 grams of protein per kilogram of weight (about 20 grams per day for a weight of 13 kilograms).
• For children from two to five years of age, 1.5 grams of protein per kilogram (about 30 grams per day for a weight of 20 kilos) is recommended.
• From the age of five, 1.3 grams.

To avoid it

Keep in mind the following recommendations

• It is not necessary for your child to eat meat, fish or eggs at lunch and dinner. A single daily intake of high quality protein is sufficient.
• If he eats moderate portions of meat or fish (70 g), you can give him an egg at dinner, for example, without the risk of giving him an excess of protein. Therefore, so that his meal is satiating, do not give him a large steak; a medium-sized one with a good vegetable or carbohydrate garnish will be better.
• Substitute meat, chicken or fish for a plate of legumes – vegetable proteins – once or twice a week, and complement them with an intake of animal proteins in the evening and/or with dairy products at snack and breakfast.
• Keep in mind that daily caloric intakes should be distributed as follows: 55-60 percent carbohydrate; 30 percent fat; and only 10-15 percent protein.

In addition, excess protein consumption in childhood is related to increased risk of childhood obesity since all excess calories are converted into fat.

If you want to give your child a different touch at breakfast or snacks you can add Foods4kid quinoa pops alone or combined with nuts, fruits or 60% cocoa chips.