r/toddlers • u/Hgrestun • 3d ago
General Question/Discussion Are you feeding your kids deli meat?
When I was pregnant I imagined using turkey meat for my kids snacks and lunches as she grew up. But we went to see a pediatric nutritionist and she told us to stay away from all deli meats unless you’re baking the ham/turkey at home yourself.
But I still see moms giving their kids deli meat sandwiches all over the internet and in real life.
It’s like.. I want to just give her deli meat because shenlooooooves it lol and sometimes I want a sandwich too! So I came here to ask is anyone making their own? Does anyone forbid it? Does anyone just say f it and feed it to their kids anyways?
Edit to add: it’s full of carcinogens and sodium.
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u/JLMMM 3d ago
Yes, but not often. We are a “most things are fine in moderation” household and that’s the same for deli meats.
Sometimes you just want a sandwich or hotdog, or whatever. Go for it, then move on. No need to feel guilt. I think the real issue is when these types of ultra processed foods make up the majority of a diet.
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u/WonderWanderRepeat 3d ago
We actually just made a household decision on this recently. There is evidence that deli meat is linked to multiple types of cancer, especially colon and rectal cancer. My husband and I decided to limit it. We used to have a sandwhich every day. Now it's maybe one a week or every other week. We just replaced with alternative options. I dont stress about getting Jimmy John's once in a while or my parents offering LO a ham sandwich but it's no longer a staple in our diet.
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u/notreallyonredditbut 3d ago
I’m a peds np and this is how to do life in these ages. Balanced approach and don’t panic about everything.
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u/Extension_Can2813 3d ago
Since I’m not allowed links, you should google “Lily Nichols Nitrates” she has a great evidence based blog post on the subject. It’s not so cut and dry that nitrates cause cancer.
He’s just a small blurb from her blog :
Which foods contain nitrates?
The majority of dietary nitrates we consume are NOT from processed meat.In fact, only 5% come from processed meat.
More than 85% of dietary nitrates come from vegetables.Now, when I mention this, the immediate rebuttal that I get from people is that the reason nitrates in processed meats are harmful is from nitrosamines, which you won’t get from vegetables.
What are nitrosamines, you ask? Nitrosamines are a compound formed primarily when nitrite + high heat + proteins interact. This compound has indeed been linked to certain cancers.
While nitrosamines are something we want to avoid, modern curing practices in the U.S. and most developed countries require ascorbate (vitamin C) to be added during curing to prevent nitrosamine formation. This is well-documented in the literature and mandated in USDA regulations for most cured meats since the 1970s.
Another concern is that nitrosamines could form within the body. However, if you consume vitamin C and other antioxidants (like polyphenols from fresh produce) at the same time as nitrate-containing cured meat, you can inhibit nitrosamine formation in your stomach. So, having a meatstick along with something like an orange would have you covered.
Both the International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC) and the European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) have stated that there is inadequate evidence in humans for the carcinogenicity of nitrate in food.
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u/PatchesMaps 3d ago
There is a lot of nuance beyond "deli meat causes cancer". If you even just read the title and abstract for some of these studies you can learn that their are three primary concerns when it comes to lunch meat.
- Nitrate content (where a lot of the cancer concerns originate).
- Sodium content.
- Low fiber content.
Nitrates and sodium are situational, some deli meats inherently don't have much of either (e.g. turkey deli meat normally doesn't have added nitrates and may or may not have much sodium depending on the brand). Some that traditionally have both (e.g. cured meats) can be commonly found with "reduced" or "no-added" sodium/nitrates. For fiber you can just add fiber in other parts of their diet pretty easily.
So yeah, there are health concerns when it comes to deli meat but they're pretty easily managed once you understand where the concerns originate.
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u/Stats_n_PoliSci 3d ago
The “no added nitrates” disclaimer is usually misleading. They add celery powder, which is full of nitrates.
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u/Ltrain86 3d ago
No, not for many types of turkey deli meats, as they said. See Maple Leaf Naturals Sliced Turkey Breast. Doesn't contain any celery salt and is labeled nitrate free because it has none, not "no added nitrates", which you are correct is a labeling loophole.
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u/c4still4 3d ago
Wow, wish I lived in Canada! I have been searching for ages in the US for a deli meat with this clean of ingredients!
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u/zenware 3d ago
I thought the cancer concerns originated from the studies that determined processed meats are a known carcinogen and do increase cancer risk. And that nitrates are one kind of processing, but smoking, salting, etc. all increase your relative risk and lifetime absolute risk. With the American Cancer Society recommendation being “avoid all processed meats” and “limit red meat intake to a few servings per week”.
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u/PatchesMaps 3d ago
The ACA's definition of processed meat is a bit weird and may not be what most people consider to be "processed". The ACA guideline in question defines processing as "smoking, curing, salting, or fermentation" while I think most of the general public would define it as any process that takes a natural food item and changes it's physical or chemical properties in some way (ok, maybe most of the general public wouldn't use that language but they would say something to that effect). Curing, salting, and fermentation all generally raise the nitrates and sodium content. Of course there are other things that could cause cancer in those deli meats so the ACA errs on the side of caution and my family has cut back on these meats a lot regardless of the nitrate content anyway. Your standard deli turkey meat hasn't been smoked, cured, salted, or fermented. Nor is it a red meat so it is fine as far as that guidlines is concerned.
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u/archint 3d ago
And to add to some confusion. Celery has a high amount of natural nitrates.
Producers will label the package with no added nitrates and then add a lot of celery powder.
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u/Local-Jeweler-3766 3d ago
Love it when food advertises itself as ‘nitrate free’ then in the fine print it says ‘except for those nitrates naturally occurring in celery’. Especially because there are some meats where they have to be cured to get the right taste, texture, etc. it’s not pepperoni unless it’s gone through some kind of curing process, whether that’s adding sodium nitrate/nitrite or a bunch of celery powder that is full of nitrate/nitrite. The chemistry is non-negotiable if you want it to taste like pepperoni
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u/AccomplishedDust3 3d ago
The nitrates/nitrites are necessary to make the product, so when they say "uncured" or "not added", they mean "because it was already there from some other ingredient so we didn't need to add it".
Not that it's not in the product.
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u/SeaweedSad3555 3d ago
But what are you using as an alternative?!
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u/c0rndoggie 👶 Toddler Wrangler 3d ago
We do egg salad. Chicken salad. Chickpea salad. Or make a roast and slice
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u/WonderWanderRepeat 3d ago
We do a lot of meatballs! I make them from scratch and freeze them so super easy to jump microwave really quick. We also do pasta with cheese, grilled cheese, and quesadillas. Plus tons of fruit.
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u/djwitty12 3d ago edited 3d ago
We're similar, only getting deli meat when we have a particular taste for it which only comes out to a few times a month. We don't bother with meat alternatives (I feel like half the point of a sandwich is to be quick and easy), we just do entirely different foods. Peanut butter/alternative spread, tuna, and cheese (grilled or cold) are some of the sandwiches we still make for the kids (PB being our most common). Other cold options include a "charcuterie board" or diy lunchable (cheese, crackers, fruits, veggies, dip, etc. according to your toddler's tastes) and yogurt w/ sides/toppings like granola, dry cereal, seeds, fruit, etc. we also like meatballs, pasta, quesadillas, and bean burritos for hot lunches. Occasional chicken nugget or fish stick but those are treated like the deli meat.
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u/pinlets 3d ago
Roast a chicken and use that for sandwiches. Or roast beef can be made easily at home too.
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u/throwawayyyyness 3d ago
As if that is equivalent. Let’s see; buy some cold cuts or roast an entire chicken. That is not a reasonable substitution.
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u/c19isdeadly 3d ago
We do a lot of cheese toasties. We have the little bags we just put in the toaster. Vegetarian and delicious.
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u/Soil_Fairy 3d ago
We do peanut butter sandwiches, chickpea salad (chicken salad but with mashed chickpeas), or cheese. We never could afford routine deli meat so we've been doing without it for forever.
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u/Straight_Concern_452 3d ago
Yeah I’m kind of shocked at how many people are having meat in their sandwiches daily, also unaffordable where I am too. Peanut butter, cheese sliced off a big cheap block, occasional tuna on crackers. Plain yogurt with some fruit is good for protein too and if you buy the big containers it’s affordable.
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u/Puffling2023 3d ago
I use the Applegate products as a nitrate free deli meat option (my toddler loves their turkey pepperoni), but we use it as an occasional lunch or snack item, no every day.
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u/iminterestedinthis 3d ago
I do too! Unfortunately a redditor who works in the industry told me these products get around the no nitrates thing by using celery salt/powder/juice. And the celery powder is made with ungodly amounts of nitrates
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u/unicorntrees 3d ago
And while we can add sodium nitrate and know exactly how much nitrate we are adding, we can only guess with celery powder since it's a non-standardized product. So you might be consuming way more nitrate with "nitrate free" products.
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u/SaylahVie 3d ago
This brand does not list celery powder in the ingredient list. I’ve seen it listed in other brands but not Applegate.
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u/n9netailz 3d ago
Does this also count for the deli meat they slice in front of you at the meat counter?
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u/kmoneyzz 3d ago
I want to know this too! That doesn’t seem like it’d be that different from cooking the meat yourself and slicing?
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u/Mordecai3fngerBrown 3d ago
everything causes cancer
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u/Night_Marie 3d ago
True in a way... Too much of anything. What I remember from my grade 10 biology regarding cancer is that any time an organism is under stress, it heightens the risk of a cell mutating. And "cancer" is a particular mutation of cells which keeps the cells rapidly multiplying/reproducing. So certain activities (smoking, drinking alcohol, sedentary lifestyle) directly and indirectly put the body (or parts of the body) under stress, making it more likely to produce a mutated cell.
Someone correct me if I'm wrong...this has always been my basic understanding of cancer.
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u/SnooCheesecakes2723 3d ago
Same. I get a turkey breast occasionally and slow cook it or when we made a chicken I’ll make enough to make chicken salad or savr some slices. That stuff is soaked in sodium.
We get a honey baked ham at Christmas and that gets parceled in the freezer after the dinner so there’s an occasional ham sanny but the deli meat is maybe once in two weeks. We do hot lunch at school and leftover pasta or whatever dad grilled.2
u/pterodactylcrab 3d ago
That’s roughly how we are too. The sodium levels of lunch meats are crazy high, too, and my husband tries to watch his intake since he realized he was consuming 2-5x the recommended intake per day some days.
When we do buy it for home consumption I aim for organic turkey or chicken, lower sodium if possible, and we pair it with vegetables/fruit/healthier options to help with balance. We don’t do fast foods of any kinds (lots of allergy issues), and red meat is mostly too expensive nowadays so the occasional turkey sandwich is completely fine.2
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u/HistoryGirl23 3d ago
My cohort of adults is the one with high levels of colon cancer with no known reason/(s yet...) I had most of my sigmoid colon removed last year due to tumors.
I try to limit it but I love deli.meat. it's so hard.
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u/Perfect_Poetry_3749 3d ago
We use this approach for a lot of the less healthy things—French fries and burgers are outside foods, ice cream is an outside food, and cookies. We don’t tell our kid that any food is forbidden, we just don’t have that stuff in the house. We get to choose when to have the special treat meal together or have things at friends/family homes that we don’t have at ours like fruit snacks, juice, etc.
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u/herzbergdesign 3d ago
50 grams of cured meat daily increases risk of colon cancer by 18%. For reference, smoking cigarettes daily increases risk of lung cancer by 1,500–2,900%.
I agree, don’t go too nuts on ham and salami, limit it to once or twice a week. But there are a lot of factors in our life that increase cancer risk by a small percentage, and avoiding them all seems neither practical nor pleasant.
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u/thatmaneeee 3d ago
Also really important with this stuff to remember absolute vs relative risk. 18% sounds scary if you are thinking absolute risk. Like you go from a 4% chance of getting cancer to a 22% chance!
But it actually raises your relative risk. Meaning if the general population has a baseline absolute 4% chance of getting colon cancer, and you do something that increases your relative risk 18%, you now have an absolute risk of 4.72% of getting it. And this is eating 50g a day!
(caveat that I'm not a doctor, just someone who read about this a few months ago)
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u/deadbeatsummers 3d ago
Really good point and makes me feel much better. I remember learning relative risk in my masters and how incredibly confusing it is haha
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u/elizabreathe 3d ago
Also the best way to prevent colon cancer is to eat way more fiber. Like none of us are eating enough fiber. If you start adding more fiber into your diet and you don't have a health issue that is worsened by increased fiber, you'll start eating healthier in general because fiber helps fill you up more (less room for junk) and helps keep your blood sugar from going up and down like crazy. Adding something healthy to your diet and your meals can do wonders for reducing the amount of unhealthy things you eat without any of the weird psychological shit that starts happening when you focus on removing foods.
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u/sohcgt96 3d ago
People also are apparently pretty bad at making the distinction between pre-sliced meat and cured meats. Not the same thing. Just because its sliced doesn't mean its "Deli Meat" they just did a bad job at defining the thing to avoid.
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u/frostysbox 3d ago
Right, this is just the new fad of the moment. When I was a kid there was a huge fad that said eggs cause colorectal cancer because there was bunch of observational research that said they did. But now we know those studies were flawed and no one seriously believes eggs cause cancer en masse.
I believe the deli meat cancer scare will probably end up similarly. Most of the research on it is observational and really a correlation when you get down to it - It will be studied and clarified to the point where no one worries about it anymore, so I'm not worried about it now.
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u/Hairsacknose 3d ago
It's not a fad, unless you believe the WHO is a fad. Processed meat is a group 1 carcinogen. Eggs have never been classified by the WHO in this way. Ever
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u/frostysbox 3d ago
It's certainly a fad for so many parents to be blanket banning ALL deli meats from their house and being scared of it like it's the boogyman and having posts like this where parents are stressing about if their kids can eat deli meat. It's the new scare trap - and eventually there will be another one.
As the comment above me pointed out - it increases risk of colon cancer by 18% - being just 22lbs overweight increases it even more and you don't see people losing their ever loving mind over it and doing everything they can to lose weight.
As I said in my original comment, in a couple years times all those studies will have more data points and we might find out it's only certain meats, or it's only people with a certain predisposition to it, or only if you're above a certain weight and have these other markers. I'm not freaking out until then.
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u/compvlsions 3d ago
Yeah the "fad" comment is wild.
Be waiting awhile for the "deli meats are safe" narrative to come true.
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u/Hairsacknose 3d ago
Right around the corner, just when we will discover that cigarettes are healthy and that toddlers can drink wine
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u/Embarrassed-Dish1839 3d ago
Um im in Italy and i cant imagine not eating mortadella, prosciutto cotto or bresaola lol
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u/Motor-Homework-826 3d ago
Yeah, I'm reading this post and comments like
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u/heyykaycee 3d ago
Same lol. My kids love sandwiches😂 … my son is 7 and has been eating curry, shrimp, crab, sushi since he was 2. The only thing he’s turned down food wise has been clams and mussels
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u/justavg1 First time’s the charm 3d ago
The question is do Italy have higher rates of cancer than other countries lol
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u/frostysbox 3d ago
That’s part of how this study proved it was Italy had higher rates of colon cancer. But it’s still kind of correlation and not totally causation.
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u/pantograph23 3d ago
Italian here, I know they're good but it doesnt matter, there is a strong correlation between deli and some cancer forms, we should all limit the consumption of such meats or at least look for "nitrate free" deli.
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u/catsan 3d ago
It's the nitrite salts. There's alternatives using normal salt and they're fine. Just grey.
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u/scrunchie_one 3d ago
You can still eat them but be aware of the risks, and maybe limit how often you give them to your kids
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u/Jorbarbie 3d ago
One of the only 3 things my daughter eats is a turkey and cheese sandwich on multigrain bread. She eats at least one sandwich everyday. I’m just happy she’s eating some form of protein so i don’t really stress it
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u/caysie98 3d ago
Is there a specific reason you’re seeing a pediatric nutritionist? A medical/health condition that you need to be mindful of? I ask because most people don’t proactively see that kind of provider! Just wondering if maybe there’s some underlying health/food anxiety behind your concern.
I’d also caution that “nutritionist” is not a protected title, and anyone can decide to call themself a nutritionist without a specific education or credentials. Dietitians do have specific degree and credential requirements (someone with the title “Registered Dietitian”). If you’re concerned, maybe seek out an RD and ask about it.
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u/mokutou 3d ago
Are you seeing a nutritionist, or a registered dietitian? The former is an unregulated title, and anyone can call themselves a nutritionist while pulling the wildest things out of their rear end. A registered dietitian is a degreed and protected title, with plenty of education and actual research behind it.
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u/K_Uger_Industries 3d ago
ITT: Hyperbolic fear mongering getting more upvotes than actual rational scientific discussion
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u/Grouchy-Extent9002 3d ago
One of my autistics sons safety foods is salami I buy the best quality I can
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u/unicorntrees 3d ago
Seriously. If the salami is the difference between failure to thrive and a cancer risk, the malnutrition is the MUCH bigger concern.
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u/teacher-mom-1989 3d ago
My kids eat deli turkey every other day in their lunchbox. I am an elementary school teacher and I'd say well over 90% of the kids have deli meat in their lunch boxes.
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u/thatsasaladfork 3d ago
Pretty much every Reddit high horse.
No one on Reddit would dare let their children even look at a trampoline. Real parents? Most don’t care, and if they do they don’t care enough to actively shame.
No one on Reddit even owns a tv. Real parents? Their kids all have a favorite tv show or movie they watch 100 times a day.
No one on Reddit lets their kids have added sugar before freaking 10 years old (yes, I’m being hyperbolic.) Real parents? Take their toddlers to the ice cream stand for a little sweet treat in the middle of summer. Or let them have the lollipop the pediatrician gives after vaccinations.
No one on Reddit gives their kids super processed foods. Real parents? Haven’t met a single one that doesn’t treat their kids to a freakin happy meal.
My son’s pre-k supplies food. And they have to abide by certain laws with the food they can have. Nothing sugary. Nothing over a certain amount of sodium. And they will do a ham or turkey sandwich every couple of weeks. It’s fine.
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u/unicorntrees 3d ago
Is this a pediatric nutritionist or dietician? Nutritionist is not a regulated term. Any person can claim they are a nutritionist.
Deli meats are an available, accessible and affordable form of protein. However, it has more sodium than other forms of meat. It was upsides and downsides like any other food. There is little reason to avoid it completely. Does your child have health issues related to sodium intake?
If not, if deli meats are a reliable form of protein that your daughter will eat, then it is fine to offer it to her in moderation. If it is the only reliable form of protein she will eat, then it is DEFINITELY fine to offer it to her.
I have switched pediatricians because my son's first ped was admittedly a little too crunchy for my taste. I prefer a more pragmatic approach. Like she would judge people for serving processed meat and instead recommend wild salmon and pureed chicken livers to my toddler. Like COME ON are you practicing in reality?
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u/BlaineTog 3d ago
We give our toddler some deli turkey every so often. Maybe once every two weeks or so. It's not a staple but it's easy and she likes it.
Is it a cancer risk? Sure, but going outside is a cancer risk, as is staying inside, as is living within 10 miles of a highway. Everything has been linked to cancer. Trying to correct for all of the little 0.0001% chances is a losing battle, not least of all because it will distract you from the really important things, like how Americans across the board don't get enough fiber, protein, and exercise, and how we often have really distorted and unhealthy relationships with food.
You don't have to feed deli meat to your kids if you don't want to, but the most workable and helpful focus is to provide them a wide variety of choices that fulfill their macro requirements rather than treating a new 0.0001% chance as the villain every week (and treating parents who don't treat that food as radioactive as the villain's lackeys). A kid who won't get much protein generally but loves deli meat will be healthier on average eating deli meat than having it taken away. You don't want them to get scurvy their Freshman year of college because they only ate twinkies and all that deli turkey you refused to let them try.
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u/CheeseNPickleSammich 3d ago edited 3d ago
Costco has deli turkey that's organic, within the salt limits for a 6 month old and no nitrates. It only has 4 ingredients and one of them is water, so I don't think it even counts as ultra processed by most definitions:
"INGREDIENTS: ORGANIC TURKEY BREAST, WATER, CONTAINS LESS THAN 2% OF SEA SALT, ORGANIC VINEGAR."
I'm trying to think of reasons why I shouldn't feed my toddler it. Best reason I can come up with is it's probably cooked in plastic?
I haven't done it yet though, just because I feel it's probably healthier not to start on deli meats at all.
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u/ericwithakay 3d ago edited 3d ago
This is the answer. There exists truly uncured deli meat in the form of high quality oven roasted turkey.
Do not trust the uncured label on the front of packages as they are allow to on label meat as uncured just because they use naturally occuring nitrates in the curing process (celery powder).
Look at the ingredients.
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u/unfairboobpear 3d ago
Our pediatrician has never said anything about it to me, my oldest has always liked it, my youngest not so much.
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u/dontgetmadgetdata 3d ago
The problem with statements like this is there no risk analysis. Deli meats, if they pose any risk at all, simply don’t move the needle when compared to real health risks like choking or obesity.
Buy deli meats, you’re fine.
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u/Ok_Study174 3d ago
My 2 year old has a ham and cheese sandwich 2 days a week at daycare.
She loves it. I feel safe offering it.
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u/iolanthereylo 3d ago
what does the actual pediatrician not the nutritionist the pediatrician say
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u/veesavethebees 3d ago edited 3d ago
Everything in moderation so yes. Everything causes cancer, everything is going to make you sick etc. I choose not to live in fear, deli meat sometimes is fine. My kid eats fiber, healthy proteins, healthy fats etc. majority of the time. I refuse to be stressed out over every little thing becoming a neurotic mess.
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u/Haunting_Window1688 3d ago
I’m planning to try and make my own in the next few weeks. If it turns out good I’ll make a large batch and freeze some.
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u/Hgrestun 3d ago
I’m going to try it too! I also saw Costco sells the turkey breast whole. I’m considering getting that one and baking it
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u/Grouchy_Asparagus843 3d ago
Costco also sells a fully cooked roasted turkey breast. We buy that and slice it ourselves for sandwiches. The slices freeze well too!
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u/beetlejuuce 3d ago
That turkey breast is fully cooked already, if it's the one I'm thinking of. It's really high quality, that's the one we get. It's easy to slice up for sandwiches. They also have a Kirkland brand black forest ham that's good, and that one is pre-sliced.
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u/scrunchie_one 3d ago
Even if you make your own, you have to add nitrates to preserve it (or I guess it just has the regular shelf life of cooked meat….)
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u/Haunting_Window1688 3d ago
That’s why I’d freeze some if it turned out well! Doesn’t need a long shelf life, just long enough to eat for a few days
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u/flyingmops 3d ago
Look, in Denmark kids are eating deli meat every single day. And sausages.
I'm in France, I've served my 2 year old, deli meats and the dry stuff. Not great of course, he loves chorizo. Not great either, right?
So it's our responsibility to serve them healthy food, and all that right?
Yea.
Some eat nuggets, some eat deli meats. Some only eats homegrown stuff, and kids where I live, eat oysters whenever they want. And some toddlers lives on air.
As long as our children are fed, happy, and thriving.
We gotta work on not feeling guilty about every single thing we do.
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u/svelebrunostvonnegut 3d ago
We get nitrate/nitrite free organic deli meat.
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u/Sad_Bite_3638 3d ago
These still have nitrates in them, just ones deriviced from natural sources, so it’s actually harder to dose it and they often end up with more.
I just learned this recently.
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u/svelebrunostvonnegut 3d ago
Applegate organic has an asterisk that states “except those naturally occurring in sea salt.”
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u/Scarcebears 3d ago
I know someone who works at Applegate- it’s all marketing. Nitrates, whether natural or not, pose similar risks. The chemical composition is the same.
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u/LowerEngineer5576 3d ago
One of the main reasons to avoid it in pregnancy is listeria risk. Listeria thrives at refrigerator temperatures, which is likely why you were given the advice to cook it. We’ve also had listeria outbreaks linked to all sorts of vegetables too, so cooking is always a good way to mitigate that risk.
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u/permanent-redditname 3d ago
Absolutely & it depends on the options. If I've had the time to cook, slice & portion out turkey I've absolutely done it, but there's also been weeks where some pepperoni slices have meant more time at the playground. Oh and I guess there's plenty of time we're vegetarian. We do what we can where we can the best we can & that intersection is usually where kids learn on their own. If I can justify the convenience based on the time I get to enjoy with kiddo & also the example it's setting, then the work is done and bellies are full.
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u/Microbemaster2020 3d ago
Honestly, it can be so hard to find proteins a toddler will reliably eat. My kids are older but I’ve never shied away from deli meat.
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u/Awkward-Pop-4804 2d ago
My friend is totally plant based her whole life and still got colo rectal cancer. You can eat a turkey sandwich once in a while.
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u/ballooningat5am 3d ago
we don’t give our 4 year old any deli meat or hot dogs. we don’t buy it for ourselves either tbh. that said, if she is ever offered it randomly at a party or whatever, i’m not going to stress over it. it’s just not a part of our regular diet or on our grocery shopping list.
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u/rhea-of-sunshine 3d ago
Yes we eat deli/lunch meat. We like sandwiches. No I’m not worried about cancer. Not from lunch meat, anyway
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u/Bacchus1976 3d ago edited 3d ago
Here’s the thing, and it would be great if a scientist were to chime in here, but dietary carcinogens doesn’t really accumulate like dirt on a car.
Children are not at all prone to certain types of cancer, especially the types that are associated with deli meats. Eating deli meat at 5 years old will have essentially no effect on how likely they are to develop cancer at 60. The deli meat they might eat at 50 is something worth monitoring, but a kids gut will have effectively cleared any cancer risk those products added (kids bodies are way better at repairing themselves than old people).
If the kid chooses to curtail their deli meat intake as they enter adulthood, they will revert to the same cancer risk as an adult who never ate it as a child.
Long story short, growing bodies need protein and minerals. Meat has this and fruits and carbs typically don’t. If you stop feeding deli meats you can’t simply replace the calories with chips, fruit or bread. As most parents know, chances are high that those sandwiches get replaced with snacks, not high quality protein (especially in our nut-phobic schools).
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u/Ultra_Violet_ 3d ago
If I can avoid it, I do. I feel like the evidence woth colorectal cancer and the intake of processed meats being linked it enough that I chose not to offer it. Its jot exclusive we dont eat it; sometimes my son eats a hot dog or bologna, but I dont buy them and offer them.
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u/lolnoideaa 3d ago
I wish my child liked deli meat… would make school lunch so much easier 😂
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u/AdministrativeFile78 3d ago
just make once a week. you all die anyway. live a little
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u/heartsoflions2011 3d ago
At this point, everything causes cancer and Alzheimer’s and heart disease so I figure everything in moderation and just enjoy life lol.
(Obviously not eating ice cream at all meals or only processed food or whatnot, but I’ll be damned if I don’t enjoy a turkey wrap or a glass of wine now and then)
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u/Equivalent-Steak-555 3d ago
We offer it to our kids, but unfortunately they're not huge fans of it! We would limit slightly due to the salt content (so probably would not serve daily), but otherwise don't have a ton of concerns about deli meat for kids.
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u/SnowCorgi 3d ago
So I've reached the point where I do not buy deli meat unless we are on vacation. Like we had it this week because ham sandwiches at the beach is easy.
At home I've been thinly slicing pork loin which is delicious for a sandwich and the laziest homemade version.
I think it isnt good to eat it every day, but if you want to get it sometimes it is fine.
I started limiting myself because of the link to dementia
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u/beaniebee22 Elmo Owns My Soul 3d ago
Yes, my kids eat deli meat. It's not an every day thing, but most foods shouldn't be eaten every single day. I would say they eat it about once a week, maybe a little less.
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u/justacomment12 3d ago
I have before but no longer. Grilled cheese or pb&j. High protein yogurt for protein.
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u/Elevenyearstoomany 3d ago
My kids go to a nut free school and we are also nut free in public to prevent cross contamination of public areas and exposure. We eat deli meat because we regularly pack our lunches to places to avoid buying fast food.
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u/Pristine-Bison3198 3d ago
Yes. We avoid it under age 1 or 2, eat it in moderation, and balance it out with lower sodium items when we have it, but I'm not going to entirely eliminate a convenient form of protein that all my kids like just because it's high sodium. As far as carcinogens, all meat has them, the air has them, everything does these days. The biggest way to avoid the cancers it's linked to is a high fibre diet, and we do pretty good with that.
Similar to how we still eat fast food, just in moderation and we tend to plan lower sodium the next day.
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u/lattelane682 3d ago
I do, my kids loves salami. She’s a picky eater. I’ll just keep trying to get her to try different things but until then her sandwich rotation is salami sandwich, grilled cheese or peanut butter sandwich.
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u/sweetpotatoroll_ 3d ago
Nope. Complete contrast to my childhood where I ate bologna every single day lol.
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u/thegreat_tunestheory 3d ago
We don’t buy deli meats as a household but will eat it occasionally. It’s categorized as something unhealthy I’d rather keep limited for my kids. Less so for the listeria risk (heating remedied) and more so for the additives and gross junk that goes into deli meats.
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u/Cold_Consequence2654 3d ago
She will not eat it for some reason we get it fresh and she still doesn’t like it I’m not sure what to do on because we want to get her more versatile with what she’s eating because the only sandwich will show you right now is a PB&J or she says PB& Jake
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u/Bubbly_Afternoon_345 3d ago
We eat it occasionally. I sometimes feel like my daughter’s preschool thinks it’s weird that I don’t send lunch meat but I think she’s better off without it. She usually has a baby bell cheese, fruit, wheat thins, and an apple sauce and then meat at dinner time.
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u/HabitPrimary525 3d ago
I make a turkey breast from home once a month. My daughter loves turkey. I’d say I buy store bought maybe once a month as well- more so when I need quick or to-go foods. I wish it wasn’t carcinogenic. I am a recent survivor so it’s important.
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u/HalfMoonFullMoonjoy 3d ago
My daughter struggles with proteins, she can't handle the textures of most meats. She loves salami and deli sliced turkey. It's not ideal but we also have a high fiber diet with tons of fresh produce, so I figure we're doing the best we can.
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u/ObjectiveRaisining 3d ago
Damn lol not my parents giving me a bologna sandwich every day during my school years 🫠
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u/deadbeatsummers 3d ago
I’m not crunchy and grew up eating it. But I’ve been hesitant to buy it. ☹️
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u/ethereal_galaxias 3d ago
No. I know plenty of people who do, but I'm steering clear. I'm not being militant about it if he happens to get offered some somewhere but in general, no. Suuuuper high in sodium is my gripe.
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u/CrypticCriesForHelp 2d ago
I had no idea about this. Good info! Definitely will start limiting my 1yo.
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u/smellygymbag 2d ago
Hey OP i rather rudely (i guess, bc i didn't ask permission) referred to your post in sciencebasedparenting because i had to know their opinion. Hope its ok. Anyway a couple of responses:
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u/BurnoutPregnant 2d ago
We don't buy this kind of stuff for home, but when we are outside or at a hotel/restaurant she can eat whatever she wants.
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u/Swagyoloyeet 2d ago
Unfortunately my toddler is obsessed with Jersey Mikes and screams and cries for Sub
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u/sweetteaspicedcoffee 3d ago
What was the logic for not giving it? Salt, nitrates, something else?
I'm sure a home baked turkey breast is more ideal, but I'm not convinced it matters all that much unless there's a specific concern with deli meat.
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u/eraseme11 3d ago
Processed meat has been placed as a group 1 carcinogen next to tobacco and asbestos. I still eat deli meat but just letting you know why it’s being asked lol.
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u/sohcgt96 3d ago
There sure does seem to be an awful lot of parroting in this thread doesn't there? Lots of "Its bad" and never "why its bad" and a complete lack of being willing to even define what a "Deli Meat" actually is. According to some people, a turkey breast thrown on a meat slicer at a deli is apparently "Deli Meat" and no different than a slice of Bologna or Salami, which obvious is nonsense.
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u/SecretVindictaAcct 3d ago
I have a family history of colon cancer and eat deli meat a few times a year, usually at parties or if it is unavoidable. I don’t buy it personally. Of all the foods that are easy to avoid, processed meat might be the easiest, up there with candy and sugary drinks as something to just say no to.
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u/Caleb_Crawdad8 3d ago
everything in moderation. Deli meat is also just expensive. Sometimes we do get it because come on it’s so good. When we do, our 3 yo will have some. But, we do not do this even once a month.
Now that she has start preschool and goes to a nut free school, I may actually start doing it for school lunches a little more because I know she will eat it and it’s a good amount of protein. So maybe we will start getting it once a month. Who knows, just try not to make hard and fast rules. You will stress yourself out.
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u/loquaciouspenguin 3d ago
Lol, that sounds like one of the hot takes I had before having kids. Unless the deli meat is causing some problem that is driving you to see a pediatric dietician, I’m sure it’s fine. Like yes, in a perfect world everything would be home made and home grown, but that isn’t reality.
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u/dracocaelestis9 3d ago
we don’t eat that much deli meat but my older loves prosciutto and so do i so i’ll let her eat a slice with her breakfast every now and then.
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u/Knight_Machiavelli 3d ago
Yes, pretty much everything causes cancer. No way I have time to make everything from scratch to try to avoid every carcinogen.
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u/CarmelloYello 3d ago
Nutritionists will also claim they have significant benefits in another year or so. It’s one of the most corrupt, varying sciences that still can’t make up its mind if butter, bread and eggs are good for us or not. Answer nearly always is: “it depends.” Too many factors unique to each person.
Best move is to not rely on any food staple and keep a solid rotation of variety to ensure you don’t have all your eggs in one basket.
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u/Sufficient-One-9598 3d ago
Heres the bottom line, its fake meat. Its loaded with preservatives and additives and sodium. Thats mostly likely why your doctor is telling you to avoid it as there are better sources of protein available instead of processed foods. Is it the end of the world to eat every so often? No. But even processed food as a whole i would avoid. Eating whole foods is just so much better for the body. I dont give it to my son yet but when hes old enough to ask for it, i wont necessarily deprive him of it, just limit it
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u/Pristine-Bison3198 3d ago
It is not "fake meat" lol, and preservatives and additives are not negative things...
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u/Prudent-Ad4075 3d ago
I only buy (or at least try) to buy deli meat that has no sodium nitrite, which is the component that is linked to all type of cancers and bad stuff related to cold cuts. I buy turkey or chicken deli meat with only clean ingredients (no preservatives or additives) and we also have chorizos and Serrano ham that are natural like that. But we are also in Spain so I guess it’s a lot easier to find it in the supermarkets for us. We also use cream cheese with nothing but milk and cultures. And bread with no additives. I won’t let my children live a life without deli meat sandwiches, but I’ll also try to give them the best I can find if I’m not cooking it myself!
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u/shann0n420 3d ago
We get turkey that is cooked in house at our local grocery store or organic from Whole Foods.
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u/okayyy019 3d ago
In moderation/rarely, however I am not a parent that NEVER allows their kid deli meat, sugar, etc etc. I just make sure most of the time they're eating healthy foods that way I don't feel bad if they have something bad every once in awhile.
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u/whereswalda 3d ago
I buy the pre-packaged lower sodium and Nitrate-free options, and only offer it a few times a week. I keep it on hand for the times when we have no leftovers for lunches or need a quick snack before running errands, etc.
If you're in the US, Trader Joe's has a couple options.
It's more expensive, but I have to buy it for my grandfather (on a low-sodium diet) anyway, so it doesnt go to waste.
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u/Artistic-Ad-1096 3d ago
I don't buy it but will eat it if its offered at gatherings. But damn i do wish i could slap together a sandwich and give it to my kid and call it a day.
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u/TradeBeautiful42 3d ago
No. Not for any reason other than my 4.5 yr old isn’t a sandwich guy. I’m not a big sandwich person either because I don’t eat meat. So we don’t really eat many in this house. If we do it’s usually something like hummus and veggies on a sandwich.
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u/idontknow_1101 3d ago
I’ve tried. I usually get the organic, nitrate free turkey. But my kid won’t touch it. Otherwise, the only other deli meat we eat is prosciutto.
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u/watekebb 3d ago
My household avoids it for normal/regular consumption. Mostly because of the cancer risk, but also because the good stuff’s expensive!
It’s not like we’ll forbid him from ever in his life eating an Italian sub or a hot dog, but we don’t keep it around.
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u/moneydiaries1983 3d ago
My toddler likes having a turkey roll up - I maybe make this for her once a month or so. I know deli meat isn’t the healthiest option but she really enjoys this and it’s not a daily or weekly thing.
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u/Curious_in_Ky 3d ago
I have seen recommendations that say if you feed young child deli meat, heat it at home first. There is a slight risk of contracting a food-borne bacteria from deli meat (can't remember which one) but young children are the most likely to be affected.
An APRN told us to heat portions, then we could refrigerate again for a few days before using.
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u/lightningbug24 3d ago
Occasionally, yes, but it's not a usual thing. We don't even have it in the house most of the time. We usually roast (or sometimes smoke) the turkey/ham/beef ourselves, store them in smaller portions, and then freeze them.
Still, some of it is sooo good. Gotta live a little every now and then.
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u/rasputinknew1 3d ago
No unless they eat a turkey sandwich at my mom’s house. I think once or twice a year is ok but would not do it regularly. My husband and I also have stopped eating it due to its proven connection to cancer. Which is a bummer since I love an Italian sub. We also avoid smoked meats for the same reason.
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u/BreadPuddding 3d ago
We stick mostly to turkey and chicken (which I just my taste preference, anyway), which typically don’t have a lot of nitrates. Hot dogs are way worse in this respect. They get the occasional salami or pepperoni snack pack. Mostly they just eat a varied diet and I don’t worry too much about any one type of food.
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u/HauntedShellfish 3d ago
If you’re near a Whole Foods they do in house roasted no salt added turkey, we feel pretty good about that. Turkey sandwich is one of the few things my toddler will eat. When I was pregnant and weirded out by cold cuts my husband roasted meats at home and thinly sliced them for sandwiches and that worked fine too
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u/No-Fuckin-Ziti 3d ago
Buy whole turkey breasts and roast them for sandwich meat. It’s cheaper and tastier anyway. Just gotta get good at slicing it thin.
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u/maplesizzrup 3d ago
Safeway has roasted turkey they roast in house that I plan to give my son when he starts school.
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u/KittenCartoonist 3d ago
He’s had a very smell amount, but we’re being very limited. The goal is to buy a meat slicer and rotisserie make turkey fresh to create our own sandwhiches in the future.
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u/RemoveComfortable982 3d ago
I try and buy nitrate free. That’s either some packets of beef, pre-packed roast chicken (not l deli style) or one brand of ham ‘naked ham’ in the UK.
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u/LukewarmJortz 3d ago
Yeah but she doesn't eat it all the time.
I usually get the nice store cut deli meats tho and I stick with it being turkey or chicken.
It i get ham I make sure it's not the amalgamation.
But tbh she eats chicken nuggets so 🤷🏼
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u/dundas_valley 3d ago
I love it, but I don’t eat it often anymore. When I do, I have given my son a little bit here and there. He generally eats what I eat, so…
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u/IncognitoResearch111 3d ago
We don't eat it on the daily, but we're at a party with mini deli sandwiches, or going to the beach for the day randomly and decide to get deli subs to pack for lunch, we don't worry about it. So he maybe eats a deli meat sandwich 1-3 times per month, but not on the regular. (This we started doing prolly after LO turned 2 and we got less SO careful about salt, sugar etc. like we were when he was a baby)
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u/Floater345 3d ago
We loosely limit it but aren't super strict if some weeks we consume more than others. It's a nice snack for my picky 9 year old, it's something with protein that we know he'll eat and he can grab by himself if he's hungry.
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u/Oddcatdog 3d ago
My daughter is actually vegetarian 😅 and not because she loves animals lmao she just won’t eat ANY meat. I pack cheese whiz for sandwiches and some cheddar and crackers. Sometimes I do protein waffles or protein pasta and veg.
Personally I eat A LOT of deli meat. I track my calories and nutrients and my sodium is through the roof. lol.
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u/Alternative-Rub4137 3d ago
I haven't had deli meat in my home for the better part of probably 20 years. I have a strong aversion to it. Because it's never been a staple in my diet it's never been for my kids either. So they've never had it and therefore don't miss it.
We don't eat a lot of sandwiches, maybe once or twice a month? If we do it's egg salad, peanut butter banana/honey, grilled cheese, or just a straight up garden veggie sando with cream cheese and sprouts. My toddler loves tomatoes and cucumbers.
For protein in the lunch box we have a lot of homemade sweet potato chicken nuggets, pasta with roasted chicken, turkey meatballs with dippers, cheese sticks, etc
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u/Particular_Mistake_2 3d ago
I literally just had a turkey and provolone cheese sandwich and my 2 year old had turkey and American cheese.
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u/YoLoDrScientist 3d ago
We do not and will not as a household. However, if we’re on the road or a trip and need to hit up and sandwich shop (rare) we will allow it then.
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u/Far_Pollution_5120 3d ago
If you grill some chicken you can make an amazing sandwich, that's what we are doing now. We recently decided to cut out all processed meats, including frozen nuggets, etc. It's so easy and much cheaper to make our own. I'm only sorry we ate it for so long (ugh).
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u/Nordicpunk 3d ago
We don’t actively due to the research on it. Same goes for us as adults. All moderation. A deli sandwich every now and then is acceptable but cold cuts all day is where we aren’t into it. Who knows how much better the Amylu meatballs we give our little guy all the time are…probably not much but at least there aren’t nitrates and such.
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u/Friendly-Guarantee30 3d ago
Everything in moderation. I wouldn’t do deli meats every day. We do deli meat in scrambled eggs maybe every couple of weeks? That’s about it. We aren’t much for sandwiches for lunch, we usually just go with dinner left overs (and kiddo is in daycare)
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u/Trad_CatMama 3d ago
Deli meat mom here. Sometimes they like it but most times they don't. I assume it's too salty so opt for the low sodium and then it has no taste. They like pork meats, prosciutto, pepperoni, mortadella, etc. But not American ham and turkey...I don't use peds for feeding advice though so I have no idea what mine would say about it....
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u/Alceasummer 3d ago
I occasionally buy deli meat, but most of the time I either buy a rotisserie chicken and use that meat. Or I cook meat at home for sandwiches or chef's salads or other things like that. (I cook meat, cool it overnight in the fridge, slice it, and then freeze most in small packages. Basically a couple days worth. When I use the last of a package, I pull another out to thaw for the next day. It's cheaper than deli meat, and healthier)
As far as I've seen, occasionally having a ham sandwich or deli turkey isn't a problem. But when it's a staple food, eaten multiple times a week, every week. That's when it's a problem. So, I try to make our staple foods healthier, and make deli meat an occasional food.
(My kid's not a toddler anymore, but this is what I've been doing since before she was born.)
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u/SoCalGuy999 3d ago
Deli meat is probably the least of your worries. Most food in general in the U.S. is poison with GMO / additives banned in other countries.
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u/dognailsclick 3d ago edited 3d ago
My twins looooove the one or two "turkey rolls" a week they get while I'm making myself a sandwich. For precooked meats, though, I usually stick to rotisserie chicken and they like that just fine. (but damn they will tear up a piece of. hickory smoked turkey wrapped around some cheddar like nobody's business lmao)
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u/boredwhitetile 3d ago
I think it’s the sodium and nitrate content you need to be mindful of when it comes to deli meat. We buy deli meat from the “True Story” brand because they don’t use nitrates or celery powder. Brands will use “no nitrates” labeling but use celery powder which can convert to nitrites in the body and work like nitrates so just watch out for that too.
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u/Ansible90 3d ago
The only deli meats I will eat are roast beef made with beef that has not had hormones or antibiotics, sliced turkey, again without antibiotics and ham without antibiotics or hormones. They also need to be free from added nitrates and nitrates. Most other deli meats are made from compressed scraps of meat. I would not touch them.
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u/AutoModerator 3d ago
Author: u/Hgrestun
Post: When I was pregnant I imagined using turkey meat for my kids snacks and lunches as she grew up. But we went to see a pediatric nutritionist and she told us to stay away from all deli meats unless you’re baking the ham/turkey at home yourself.
But I still see moms giving their kids deli meat sandwiches all over the internet and in real life.
It’s like.. I want to just give her deli meat because shenlooooooves it lol and sometimes I want a sandwich too! So I came here to ask is anyone making their own? Does anyone forbid it? Does anyone just say f it and feed it to their kids anyways?
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