Whole Wheat

Seeds don't agree with everyone, but are they sesame or flax? Flax are good for you and I don't know of any nutritional value in sesame.

If the tummy is bad after eating the bread, try something without seeds.

It is a healthier option to white bread! I give my kids Roman Meal bread - it is whole grain and has calcium. This is helpful for us since my son is not a big milk drinker.

Updating...

Since your post is only in regards to wheat breads and pastas...it's a personal preference. My son won't eat bread if it's whole wheat now, and he used to not mind it when he was younger. There is tons of research supporting wheat as healhty, but again personal preference. So, I get him healthier organic made white from Whole Foods. Unless your child, yourself or in your immediate family is allergic to nuts/seeds you shouldn't have an issue with bread that has seeds.

Good Luck!

Whole wheat and whole grains are higher in fiber than their white counterparts. That is a very beneficial thing for kids, especially those that don't like vegetables. LOL. Our pediatrician told us occasional white breads, rice and pastas are fine, but should not be a regular part of their diet. Most white products are heavily processed and bleached. Whole wheat and whole grains are more pure. Depending on your child's age and family's allery history, I would talk to your doctor about the sesame seeds. The should be fine, but it's better to be safe than sorry!

Whole foods & grains are always the healthiest and sesame seeds are ok depending on the age of the child and allergies in your family.

Whole wheat is a great option for kids. Whole grains have a lot more fiber and nutritional value then white flour, but at the end of the day it doesn't always have to be the only choice. -www.weelicious.com

Hi M.,

I don't know if anyone "has to" eat whole wheat breads and pastas, but certainly the whole grain foods are the healthier ones, in that they contain more nutrients and fiber.

At our house, rice is always brown, breads and pastas are always whole grain, and I sneak flax seed meal into homemade cookies and muffins. My son loves his carbs, so he's never complained (and there's never been an option).

I don't think sesame seeds are a problem (except for old people with diverticulitis).

:-) D.

Everychild is different and I see no problem with feeding him food especially if he is interested. Give him one thing at a time and see how he does, mainly because of food allergies then you can pinpoint it if he does have a reaction. Myself, and my sisters all have fed our children all types of food. They ate what we ate minus the hot sauce, although my daughter at 2 eats hot sauce and jalepenos with no problem. Of course stay away from honey and peanuts until after 2 years old but if he is interested then of course let him try. Yes he can have things that are not whole wheat, why not, and quaker oatmeal is fine as well what do you think children ate in the old days tons of oatmeal, it is good for you and filling. Well that is my 2 cents Happy Feeding!!

This is what I know:

1. White breads, pastas, buns etc are made with "Enriched white flour" white flour has been bleached (really to make it pretty) and "enriched" means "we took everything good out when we processed it so we need to put something back in."

2. "Whole wheat" is not always "whole" the ingredients often lists "enriched wheat flour" and glucose/frustose, there is nothing "whole" about those. Read the ingreidents, if you don't know something that is in the bread, don't buy it. Remember, you grandmother used to make bread with yeast, flour, butter, milk, water, salt and sugar. Those are things to look for on the labels. This goes for pastas as well. Breads with "sticks and twigs" as my daughters call them, are not always better either. Read the labels.

I know that when I read the labels, I make better choices for my family.

B.
Family Wellness Coach

I don't think a child has to have whole wheat. I think that's a matter of preference. The same for the sesame seed thing. It's your preference.

I am no expert, but this is something I read about in the book "Raising Vegetarian Children" (Joanne Stepaniak and Vesanto Melina); note: I am not raising my children vegetarian, but I am vegetarian, so gleaned some good health and nutrition info from the book. Anyhow, this is my understanding of it...

Dietary fiber, found in whole grains is not easily digested in our intestines. It does soak up water, so makes stool soft and helps prevent constipation. Great, especially for adults.

For children, however, who need lots of calories to grow, this dietary fiber fills them up quickly without providing calories (because it is not easily digested). The book recommends including refined grains in childrens' diets in order to give them enough calories. It also recommends high calorie foods such as avocados, nut butters (including tahini- made from sesame seeds, so maybe whole seeds are good too? Or they're just passed- no harm done?) and oils.

just some extra food for thought!

No, no one HAS to have whole wheat. But, it is healthier. I have never bought white bread. So, my kids do not even ask. I grew up w/ the hard as a rock, dry wheat bread. It is so much better now! my husband even prefers it!

White bread was never an option for my kids and seeds depend on age and tolerance.

whole wheat is better than refined if that is a choice. but if the question is does the child need to have wheat in general - it is your preference. the longer you can go wheat-free the better, at any age.
Good Luck
V

Not whole wheat, but whole grain is best. Try to avoid breads where Enriched White flour is in the 1st 5 ingredients.

Whole grains are better than anything white. I don't give my son anything that is white... it lacks nutrients and what is added back in after the processing is so minute that it isn't even worth listing really. Stick with whole wheat... takes longer to break down in the system, which helps lessen the shock to the pancreas. White enriched products are quickly broken down in to sugars... which leads to weight gain, diabetes, etc. However, you might want to try other grain products as well as many children often have allergies (celiac's disease) to wheat. So try quinoa or brown rice products as well.

Whole wheat breads and pastas are better for everyone because they contain complex carbohydrates that digest slowly and don't make your heart rate go up like white refined breads and products. White bread has very little nutritive value. I've never heard any contradictions with kids consuming sesame seeds. As far as what kind I suggest choosing one that has the smallest amount of ingredients, the first being whole wheat. Good luck!