Weaning or complementary feeding refers to a newborn fed both breast milk and formula, who, upon reaching 6 months, can and must eat the same foods as the family, including extra virgin olive oil.
As we have already illustrated in other in-depth articles, extra virgin olive oil is rich in benefits .
Let's see together how to introduce it during weaning.
Weaning with extra virgin olive oil: timing and doses
EVO oil is essential in the diet of children as young as six months old: this news comes from a study conducted by the Italian Federation of Pediatricians in collaboration with Coldiretti, the Italian Olive Consortium, and the Evooschool Foundation.
The researchers reviewed the recommendations of 1,260 pediatricians, who on average serve more than a million families with children under 14: 85% of them recommended introducing extra virgin olive oil into the diet from the beginning of weaning, which generally begins around 6 months of age.
In fact, once the baby passes the second trimester, it is perfectly fine to integrate extra virgin olive oil into his or her baby food, but be careful with the doses.
Let's say that the correct dose of extra virgin olive oil in complementary foods should not exceed one teaspoon for every 60 grams of baby food.
Therefore, the weaning period can be the right time to promote correct knowledge of quality oils for a healthy diet for the whole family , not just the infant.
Remember that extra virgin olive oil, to bring long-lasting benefits, must be of high quality!
Extra virgin olive oil and breast milk are not the same thing
They don't look or taste the same, but extra virgin olive oil and breast milk are surprisingly similar !
Saverio Pandolfi of the Italian Institute of Plant Genetics explored the topic in depth. The researcher stated that extra virgin olive oil is the food most similar to breast milk for babies and recommends starting with a heaping teaspoon of high-quality extra virgin olive oil with every meal prepared for your baby.
The taste of breast milk is also influenced by the mother's diet, which must be free, healthy and eco-sustainable.
For example, in Eastern European countries mothers follow a diet rich in garlic, producing a “garlic” milk, whereas in India they follow a diet rich in spices and chilli pepper and the milk will be affected by this fragrance.
Indeed, to confirm that a mother's diet and breastfeeding diet influence both the composition and flavor of milk, some studies have shown that, for example, in Russia, where garlic is widely used in the common diet, breast milk does indeed have garlic flavors. So, garlic-flavored formulas have been created because they observed that babies appreciate the aroma.
In this way, in both cases the infant will not refuse maternal nourishment.
The same thing happens in the Mediterranean diet, so when the child eats oil during weaning, it's as if he or she will recognize the flavor of the oil: not only because of the similarity between breast milk and extra virgin olive oil but also because of the mother's diet.
This also applies to other foods introduced into the mother's diet, according to habits and customs, so the infant, when he reaches the age of introducing solid foods (6 months old) consumed by the family, will recognize this imprinting which will facilitate his feeding.
We can therefore say that a mother who has consumed extra virgin olive oil will offer the oil she has consumed to her baby in his diet.
This will also change depending on the region : for example, in Umbria, mothers might opt for Dolce Agogia or Leccino, in Molise for Leccino or Dolce di Mafalda, in Puglia for Bella di Cerignola or Cima di Bitonto, in Calabria for Dolce di Rossano or Ottobratica, and so on depending on the situation.
These references are important for preserving our biodiversity and the Mediterranean diet without embarking on flights of fancy or engaging in inappropriate marketing policies that have nothing to do with the health of the little one.
Why consuming extra virgin olive oil is important for your health
Extra virgin olive oil contains omega-3 and omega-6 in similar amounts to breast milk fat and the same percentage of linoleic acid, making it an essential nutrient for the myelination of nerve fibers and brain development.
It is easily digestible and helps gastric function.
Recent findings have shown an increase in cholesterol levels in children, a significant contribution to the fight against obesity, which affects one in three children between the ages of 6 and 9, especially in countries where the Mediterranean diet is not widespread, such as the United States.
Because the oil lowers total blood cholesterol, LDL cholesterol, and triglyceride levels , doctors have recommended replacing animal fats (butter and lard) with extra virgin olive oil to help combat the rise in obesity in children.
A lower risk of asthma has also been reported in mothers who consumed significant amounts of olive oil during pregnancy: their children have been found to have more developed immune systems and a lower risk of rhinitis and allergies.
Extra virgin olive oil is also said to be effective in treating cradle cap .
Applied to the areas of the head affected by cradle cap before normal cleansing, the moisturizing properties of olive oil can act as a natural remedy.
In Italy, doctors strongly recommend using extra virgin olive oil in solid foods for infants weaning from breast milk, and olive oil intake is generally recommended in the Mediterranean diet, a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
The use of extra virgin olive oil is therefore ideal for children aged 5/6 months and older and offers the health benefits that adults have long enjoyed.
As highlighted above, extra virgin olive oil also provides a series of other benefits for children, especially in terms of weight management.
Combined with a healthy diet, extra virgin olive oil can help fight childhood obesity, reduce blood sugar risks such as diabetes, and provide valuable nutrients that are also great for the skin.
We can confirm that extra virgin olive oil is a product suitable for all members of the family, perfect for cooking and seasoning your dishes and to be used as an ally for your health.
Designer olive oil bottles: when aesthetics meet taste
We know it well, the eye also wants its part!
This is why we've created special collections where the unique, high-quality fragrances of Apulian extra virgin olive oil meet bottles with unforgettable designs.
Among the available collections we recommend some bottles:
- Mediterranea Mix : multicultivar extra virgin olive oil in tin bottles that recall the colors and patterns typical of the Mediterranean.
- Oltremare : the white and blue designer bottle contains a special extra virgin olive oil and recalls the Apulian majolica tiles that covered our grandparents' brick kitchens.
- Shadow : this is the ideal oil bottle for lovers of design and geometry with a reference to shadows in multiple shapes.
- Fanova : the line inspired by the typical colors of the Fanova festival.
- Agnano : here the territoriality around Conversano is celebrated, with a strong reference to Lake Agnano, a suggestive body of water that is often visited during the summer heat.
Discover all our collections and find the one that best suits your tastes!
Souvenirs from Puglia: aromatic oils
And for an extra twist, you can choose from a wide range of aromatic oils, perfect for pouring raw over your dishes to add a special touch.
Frantoio D'Orazio's flavored condiments have a strong Mediterranean influence and are packaged in pastel-colored bottles.
The collection includes:
- white truffle oil
- rosemary oil
- chili oil
- lemon oil
- basil oil
- garlic oil
In short, returning home from vacation with one or more bottles of extra virgin olive oil as a souvenir is certainly a charming way to bring the aromas and flavors of Puglia back to the table.
