There is bad cholesterol and good cholesterol, and butter is a source of good cholesterol. When it comes to butter for kids, you may be skeptical about adding it to their meals. But a moderate amount is essential for children to get the required nutrients, including vitamins, minerals, and essential fatty acids (1).
The beneficial properties of butter can help the child’s overall growth by promoting brain development, providing immunity, and improving digestion. In addition, butter is a versatile ingredient that you can creatively include in different foods to enhance their flavor.
Scroll through this post to learn more about butter, including its benefits for children, a recipe for homemade butter, and ways to serve it.
Benefits Of Butter For Kids
Child specialist Dr. Mubina Agboatwala says, “Butter plays a key role in the child’s brain and neurological development. Its fat content and vitamins A, D, and E support brain health, while its high calories aid physical growth, especially in underweight children. Arachidonic acid in butter promotes neurological development, and riboflavin, niacin, calcium, and phosphorus benefit overall health. Encourage children to eat organic butter, unless they have a dairy allergy.”
The health properties of butter have been famous for generations. Modern scientific studies prove the health benefits of butter for children. Some of them include (1) (2) (3):
1. High In Nutrients:
Butter is a great source of fat-soluble vitamins like Vitamin A, D, E and K. Yes, butter is quite high in saturated fats, which are not considered to be among healthy fats. But even fats are essential for the assimilationiThe process of absorbing and digesting nutrients by the body. of nutrients, especially water-soluble vitamins. Without fat, your child cannot obtain any nutrition from the food he eats.
2. Source of Healthy Minerals:
- Butter contains traces of vital minerals such as manganese, zinc, copper, selenium, Lauric acidiA saturated fatty acid found in plants and animal fats and oils. and chromium.
- The minerals serve as an effective antioxidant and keep your kid protected from harmful infections.
- Lauric acids present in butter helps your kid fight against fungal infections and candida.
3. Improves Digestion:
Butter contains glycosphingolipidsiA subclass of glycolipids found in the cell membranes of all living organisms. , substances that support against gut infection in kids, thereby promoting digestion.
4. A Good Source Of Healthy Cholesterol:
Image: IStock
Butter is an excellent source of healthy cholesterol. Healthy cholesterol is crucial for the proper growth and development of children. It helps synthesize the naturally occurring steroids in the body. It protects the body against heart diseases, mental illness, and even cancer.
5. Prevents Calcification Of Calcium:
Raw butter contains ‘anti-stiffness’ nutrientsiNutrients that help relieve pain, swelling, and stiffness in the body. that protect from calcification and ensure that the body uses calcium effectively. It is important for growing children.
6. Aids Brain Development:
Butter contains omega-3 and omega-6 fatty acids, the same fats found in fish. The omega-3 fatty acids promote brain development. As your child grows, he will require a regular supply of these fatty acids. So including butter in your kid’s diet would be a good idea, considering not many children like fish.
7. Good For Physical Development:
Butter is high in protein, a nutrient vital for the developing body. It strengthens the muscles of the body, including the muscles of the brain.
8. Improves Immune System:
Image: IStock
Butter is a great source of antioxidants. The antioxidants help counter the attack of the free radicals that the body produces during metabolism. It also contains a high source of Resveratrol, which has some serious disease-fighting potential. It even assists in preventing tissue and DNA damage and slows aging.
9. Contains Conjugated Linoleic Acid (CLA):
- Butter prepared from grass-fed cow’s milk contains a high percentage of CLA.
- The compound helps in boosting the immune system and provides protection from different types of cancer.
10. Contains Glycosphingolipids:
- This specific fatty acid protects the stomach from gastrointestinal infections.
Science Behind Homemade Butter Formation
When you put the heavy cream in a tight-lidded jar and shake it for several minutes, it creates the little globs of fat in the cream to hold them together. The protein present in the cream helps in the formation of the fresh butter. The liquid obtained from all the shaking is buttermilk.
Which Form Of Butter Is The Best?
The best butter for your children would be raw or organic butter. Pasteurization destroys all the essential nutrients. But organic butter retains all the nutrients naturally present in butter. Cultured butter is also a great option. Cultured butter contains health sustaining good bacteria like lactococcus lactis and lactobacillus plantarum (4) (5) . These bacteria are essential for proper functioning of the body.
Homemade Butter Recipe For Kids
Image: Shutterstock
Don’t want to give store-bought butter to your child? Then how to make butter for kids at home? Well, follow these step by step processes for making butter for kids at home!
You Will Need:
- Glass jar with lid
- Heavy Cream
How To:
- Fill the glass jar halfway with cream. Then tighten the lid and shake well.
- You will notice the sloshing stop after a few minutes. Open then jar. You should see whipped cream now.
- Now put back the lid and shake again. Now you will see the butter and buttermilk separate.
- Strain the mixture and then gently knead the butter with cold water.
- Store in the refrigerator for 3 hours. Your delicious, homemade butter is ready.
Quick tipPutting Homemade Butter To Good Use
Image: IStock
Everyone loves cookies. Here is a great butter recipe for kids using the butter you made to cheer up a gloomy day.
You Will Need:
- 1 cup of homemade butter
- 1 egg
- 1 cup of white sugar
- ¼ teaspoon salt
- Two teaspoons vanilla extract
- 2 cups of all-purpose flour
How To Make:
- Take a large bowl and mix the butter and white sugar together to obtain a fluffy mixture.
- Beat the egg in a separate bowl and add it to the butter mixture slowly. Add the vanilla extract, and sugar and mix it well.
- Now, add the all-purpose flour, mix, and fold the content with soft hands.
- Cover the dough and let it chill for one hour.
- Preheat the oven to 400 degrees F. Now place small amounts of dough on the butter-greased cookie sheets.
- Place the cookie sheet in the oven for the next ten minutes or till the cookies rise.
- Your plain butter cookie is ready to serve.
- You can also add Chocó chips or strawberry crush to add some extra flavor to your butter cookie.
Point to considerServing Butter To Kids
Image: Shutterstock
The taste and texture of butter can enhance the flavor of many foods and snacks. A great thing about butter is that most of the kids like it, even the finicky eaters. Some children eat foods that they would not normally eat if it has some butter spread on them. You can spread a spoonful of butter on bagels, or bread toast for breakfast sandwiches. You can also toss some veggies in butter when cooking or baking. Your kid will not refuse it.
Butter can be a delicious addition to sweetcorn. Nims G, a mother of two, says, “My kids love butter corn. They come across it almost everywhere these days- street shops, malls, supermarkets, and a lot more. I don’t encourage them having outside, but at home, we make sure we enjoy every little kernel and nothing less than that.” She goes on to share her simple and healthy recipe. She mixes boiled sweet corn kernels with butter, salt, and pepper and just heats the mixture in a microwave for 30 seconds to make a yummy snack for her children (i).
Frequently Asked Questions
1. Can kids eat a lot of butter?
Experts recommend limiting saturated fat intake to 10% of the total calories in children older than two years. Thus, they must eat all fatty foods, including butter, in moderate amounts as a part of a well-balanced diet (7). Eating butter in excess can disrupt the energy balance and may cause unintentional weight gain in kids, especially if the child is not physically active.
2. How much butter is too much per day?
How much butter a child should consume varies based on age, weight, physical activity, and overall calorie intake. Thus, it is vital to consult a pediatrician and get individualized dietary recommendations for your child. Generally, children should not consume more than one to two teaspoons of butter daily.
3. Is white butter good for kids?
White butter is a milk product made of milk and cream. Unlike yellow butter (commercial butter), it is unsalted and contains several nutrients which can help children meet their dietary needs. However, it is vital to remember that white butter is high in saturated fat, and its excess intake can cause calorie overconsumption. Hence, its regular intake can be good for children, provided it is done in moderation as a part of a well-balanced diet.
4. Are there any safety concerns to keep in mind when giving butter to kids?
When giving butter to children, the main concerns are the choking risk of large, hard pieces of cold butter and potential dairy allergies, especially if the child has an existing milk allergy (8). For safety, soften the butter, spread it thinly, and don’t give in chunks.
5. What is the nutritional difference between homemade butter and store-bought butter?
Homemade butter typically contains only cream and salt (if added), while store-bought butter may contain preservatives and varying salt content. Homemade butter from raw, grass-fed milk may contain more intact enzymes, nutrients, and beneficial compounds than commercial butter. Store-bought butter undergoes pasteurization and homogenization, which may reduce enzyme activity and alter nutrient profiles.
Butter is a source of good fats and minerals that play an important role in the growth and development of children. Its components have been found to prevent intestinal infections, modulate immunity, and maintain brain health. Organic or raw butter for kids is the best choice as it has the highest nutritional value. It can be easily made at home and is usually liked by picky eaters. However, it is advisable to use butter in moderation as a part of a healthy balanced diet for children.
Infographic: Advantages Of Eating Butter For Children
Children need sufficient amounts of fat in their diet to grow into strong adults. Butter provides many health benefits to children of all ages when consumed in moderation. It provides healthy calories and enriches the immunity of children. Here are some key benefits of butter for your child.
Illustration: Momjunction Design Team
Key Pointers
- Organic or raw butter contains all the necessary nutrients and is the healthier option for kids.
- Homemade butter can be produced by shaking heavy cream until butter and buttermilk separate.
- Butter helps the body digest food more easily and builds immunity.
- Butter contains healthy cholesterol, which is essential for growth and development in children.
- Butter also contains omega-3 and omega-6 fatty acids that support the growing brain in children.
Illustration: Butter For Kids - 10 Benefits And Recipe To Make Butter At Home
Image: Stable Diffusion/MomJunction Design Team
Boost your children’s nutrition with indulgent and nutritious butter. Discover delightful ways to include this wholesome ingredient in your daily cooking, promoting a nourishing and balanced diet for your little loved ones.
Personal Experience: Source
MomJunction articles include first-hand experiences to provide you with better insights through real-life narratives. Here are the sources of personal accounts referenced in this article.
i. Sweet corn street-food style… simple butter and salt; https://littlespicelittlestir.blogspot.com/2015/08/sweet-corn-street-food-style-simple.htmlReferences
- The neuropharmacology of butyrate: The bread and butter of the microbiota-gut-brain axis?; NCBI
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/27346602/ - Nutrients for Prevention of Macular Degeneration and Eye-Related Diseases; NCBI
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC6523787/ - Conjugated Linoleic Acid (CLA) in Animal Production and Human Health.
https://extension.psu.edu/conjugated-linoleic-acid-cla-in-animal-production-and-human-health - From Waste to Taste—Efficient Production of the Butter Aroma Compound Acetoin from Low-Value Dairy Side Streams Using a Natural (Nonengineered) Lactococcus lactis Dairy Isolate.
https://pubs.acs.org/doi/10.1021/acs.jafc.0c00882#:~:text=Lactococcus%20lactis%20subsp.diacetyl%20from%20citrate%20in%20milk. - Ability of Lactobacillus plantarum MON03 to mitigate aflatoxins (B1 and M1) immunotoxicities in mice.
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/25441623/ - Is butter good for you?
https://www.heartfoundation.org.nz/wellbeing/healthy-eating/nutrition-facts/is-butter-good-for-you - Fats
https://kidshealth.org/en/parents/fat.html - Milk Allergy
https://www.foodallergy.org/living-food-allergies/food-allergy-essentials/common-allergens/milk
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Read full bio of Dr. Sonal Dhemla
Dr. Mubina Agboatwalla is the head of the department of pediatrics in Karachi Liaquat Hospital, Pakistan. She has over 20 years of experience in the field of pediatrics and 50 research papers published in international journals including Lancet and JAMA. Dr. Agboatwalla is also a public health specialist specializing in preventive health including nutrition, breastfeeding and infectious diseases especially diarrhea, polio and tuberculosis. She has affiliations with the Center of Disease Control Atlanta (CDC), UNICEF, and WHO.Dr. Mubina Agboatwalla is the head of the department of pediatrics in Karachi Liaquat Hospital, Pakistan. She has over 20 years of experience in the field of pediatrics and 50 research papers published in international journals including Lancet and JAMA. Dr. Agboatwalla is also a public health specialist specializing in preventive health including nutrition, breastfeeding and infectious diseases especially diarrhea, polio and tuberculosis. She has affiliations with the Center of Disease Control Atlanta (CDC), UNICEF, and WHO.
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