New US Guidelines Recommend Eggs for Babies

Published 5 February 2021

In critical new nutritional news, the latest version of the USA’s dietary guidelines has recommended eggs as an important first food for babies and toddlers, largely due to their contribution to brain development. Eggs contain important nutrients that contribute to brain health. 

The 2020-2025 Dietary Guidelines for Americans (DGA) has published findings that report that eggs should form part of the diets of infants and toddlers, as well as pregnant women and breastfeeding mothers. The guidelines report that eggs contain several of the key nutrients that are critical for babies during the very stage in which their brain development is most rapid. 

Eggs contain high amounts of choline, a nutrient which has been praised as a vital nutritional support for neurological development throughout all life stages.  Choline is reportedly under-consumed by most people, and around 92% of pregnant mothers do not consume the recommended daily choline intake. One hard-boiled egg contains around 164 mg of choline in the yolk, approximately 30% of your daily requirement. For babies and toddlers, eating one egg would supply the daily choline levels they need, while for pregnant women, two eggs contain more than half of the daily recommended choline intake.  

For parents concerned about allergies, the report also included valuable insights. THE DGA reports that the early introduction of eggs can reduce the chance of egg allergies. Nutritional experts recommend that parents introduce eggs into babies’ diets at around 4-6 months.

Eggs are an important nutritional staple, and research has demonstrated that eggs contain many of the valuable nutrients critical for development at any age. Eggs contain important nutrients such as protein, vitamin D, choline, biotin, vitamin B12, iodine, selenium, riboflavin and pantothenic acid. These nutrients assist in supporting bone health, muscle health and brain development.

For parents looking to introduce more eggs into their children’s diets, why not try easy options like creamy scrambled eggs, omelettes or soft-boiled eggs?

For great egg recipes, head over to our recipe page!