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SHOW NOTES

Soy is one of the Big 8 allergenic foods. But compared to the other 7 on the list, soy is the least likely to cause an allergic reaction in your baby. It doesn’t mean we can’t introduce soy, and there’s no evidence that waiting to introduce soy will prevent allergy. As such: put soy on the list of allergenic foods to expose your baby to early and often!

In this episode, we’re taking a look at soy and how to introduce your baby to this potentially allergenic food. You’ll learn the easiest way to introduce your baby to soy and why it’s not true that soy foods are harmful for babies and children. In fact, soy foods are an important piece of the plant protein and iron foods puzzle that babies CAN safely eat.

SUMMARY of episode

In this episode, I’m covering:

• Why soy is less allergenic than the other 7 foods on the Big 8 list of potentially allergenic foods, but still no less important to introduce to your baby early and often

• The easiest way to introduce your baby to soy (...spoiler alert: it’s tofu) and I’m including tips on what type of tofu to choose and how to serve to baby safely

• A comparison of tofu vs. soymilk for the introduction of soy to baby and why tofu is a better bet than soy milk for a number of reasons

LINKS from episode

• Food Allergy Research and Education (FARE) information page on soy and soy allergy.

TRANSCRIPT of episode

RESEARCH links from episode

• American Academy of Pediatrics policy on safe use of soy-based infant formulas in infant feeding, includes information on safety of soy for babies and children. 

• AAP recommendations on healthy beverages for 0-5 year olds, includes discussion about soy vs. other plant milks compared to cow’s milk.

• Nutrition Today article on Recent Surveys on Food Allergy Prevalence by Mark Messina of Soy Nutrition Institute discussing prevalence rates of soy allergy in pediatric and adult populations.

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• SUBSCRIBE to the Baby-Led Weaning Made Easy Podcast here - new episodes are released on Monday and Thursday and subscribing means you’ll never miss what’s new (+ you’ll get notified about special bonus episodes too!)

• FOLLOW my baby-led weaning Instagram page @babyledweanteam for daily video trainings - lots of great info on keeping baby’s food tasting good without adding salt

• SIGN UP for my online workshop called BABY-LED WEANING FOR BEGINNERS. Inside this free online workshop you’ll learn everything you need to know to get your baby to eat 100 foods before turning 1 without you having to spoon-feed purees or buy pouches. Everyone on the workshop gets a copy of my 100 First Foods list...including the Big 8 allergenic foods which includes soy and other 7 foods your baby should be introduced to early and often. Register for this week’s workshop times.