Giving Acorns to your Child:
The tiny nut obtained from the great oak trees was once used to be a staple food for the Native American hunters. However, feeding your child with raw acorns is a bit risky as it might trigger certain digestive problems. Acorns have tannic acid which must be removed before using. The good news is that tannic acid is water soluble and can be removed by boiling or flushing. You need to remove the caps from the acorn and boil the same in four changes for 10 minutes each. You can also use the cold water flushing method to remove the tannic acid by placing the whole or grounded nutmeat kernels inside cheese cloth and secure the opening leech in cold running water for several hours till the bitter taste is gone. Oven drying method can also be used in a thin layer on a sheet pan and drying it slowly in a preheated 200 degree Fahrenheit oven while keeping the door slightly opened till the moisture evaporates. Sun drying method can also be used by placing the damp nutmeats on a sheet pan in direct sunlight for few hours.
Health Benefits of Acorn
There are numerous health benefits that your child can get from the consumption of acorn nut.
Boosts Up Digestion: Acorns belong to the nut family and hence they are rich in fiber which is likely to improve your child’s digestive health. Your child might be still growing the habit of drinking adequate quantity of water at regular intervals and for that reason he/she might suffer from irregular bowel movement. Being rich in fibers, acorn nuts are good for your child’s bowel movements and other gastrointestinal problems.
Improves Skin Health: Providing nutritious alternative to improve the skin health is very essential in your child’s early growth stage. Acorn nuts contain certain amount of tannin acid (some of which remains even after washing/boiling/drying) and it provides enough nutrition to keep your child’s skin healthy.
Provides the Extra Energy: During the early growth stage your child requires plenty of extra energy to sustain the development of the body. Acorn nuts being rich in complex carbohydrates are perfect energy alternative for your child. This kind of energy alternatives, which are easily digestible, are good for your little one because it tends to supplement the shortage of energy which he/she might face particularly if he/she is a fussy eater.
Offers Healthy Fat: Acorn nuts are one of the few nuts which offer more unsaturated fats when compared to the saturated fats. Saturated fats are that kind of fats that causes the cholesterol level to shoot up thereby exposing your little one to early-age obesity. However, acorn nuts are considered to be much safer alternative as they contain unsaturated fat which are not only easily digestible but at the same time they are also healthy alternative for your child’s heart.
Improves Metabolism: If your child is between 3-5 years old then it is certain that he/she is undergoing a very high rate of metabolism to sustain the constant changes and growth. However, sometimes lack of nutritious food hinders the rate of metabolism. Acorn nuts being rich in vitamins from the B family helps your child to maintain the desired level of metabolism. Research has found out that acorn nuts contain Vitamin B12, thiamin, niacin and riboflavin- a super collection of nutrients which not only improves the metabolism but also at the same time boosts the overall growth of your child.
Improves Bone Health: Is your child fussy about drinking milk? And you’re worried that from where he/she will the calcium needed for the bone development? Then worry no more as acorn nuts have proven their worth as a great source of calcium and it is likely to boost your child’s overall bone health. The regular consumption of acorn nuts also makes sure that your child will not suffer from any sort of bone or teeth related issues.
Boosts Healing & Repair: Protein rich foods like acorn nuts are good for repairing damaged tissues and healing any sort of injuries. The amount of protein provided in acorn nuts helps your child to grow new tissues, at a faster rate, thereby helping your little one to recover from any sort of illness and injury quicker.
Precautions & Measures
As a parent you should always be aware of your child’s nut allergies. Normally, peanuts are the nuts which trigger any sort of allergic reactions but it is better to check with the pediatrician and get his/her point of view regarding the matter before introducing acorn nuts to your child.
