Bones Worth Chewing: Feeding Children Marrow

Tara Carpenter, NC.

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This fatty, nourishing food is traditionally known to have healing properties for both the digestive and immune system. A king of primal ‘brain foods’ that has long been utilized as a healthy source of vitamins (A, K2), fats (omega-3 and 6), and minerals (iron, zinc, selenium, boron, manganese).

What is bone marrow?

Bone marrow is the spongy tissue inside any bone, say your hip or thigh bone. Marrow contains valuable health building bone cells to assist the body to revitalize itself and promoting bone growth, among other important things.

Marrow has a dense nutritional profile and when sourced from healthy grass-fed animals plays a key role in bone and connective tissue formation. The unique fat profile inside marrow is made of monounsaturated fat, polyunsaturated fat, and in beef and lamb marrow is conjugated linoleic acid (CLA) – a ‘potent cancer inhibitor’. A nutrient in marrow worthy to mention is DHA, an omega-3 fatty acid good for the health and development of eyes and brain.

If you are pregnant or still in childbearing years, this wonderful food is good for you and for baby to be. If you still have children at home then setting bone marrow in front of them instills a healthy habit set early in life that they will one day feed their own children.

Introducing marrow to children:

The trick to is to make the bone marrow pleasant to the eyes and the nose! Even the ‘weirdest’ foods (i.e., fish heads, heart, kidneys) are often well received if made to look and taste good. I will also note that I find best to introduce this food at an early age before the child begins to question what is put in front of them or to develop judgment. If your child is older, then try camouflaging and hiding the marrow in other food. I like to roast bones ahead of time and spoon out the marrow which I later add to soup, gravy, mashed red-skinned potatoes, etc. 

Bone marrow can be eaten raw or cooked and is incredibly easy-to-digest, which makes it a perfect first food for baby or for an elderly person. The strengthening and healing properties in marrow also is a perfect food for those that are ill or enduring a challenge of any sort. Ramiel Nagel, author of Cure Tooth Decay, believed marrow like fermented cod liver oil is a secret to reversing tooth/bone decay because qualities within re-mineralize the tooth/bone dentin.

Marrow adds a measure of safety to an already healthy diet. 

I source grass-fed bones from nearby farmers for an affordable price and found them by asking around at the local farmer’s market. You can also buy from online farmers. Keep in mind the broader the bone the more the marrow! After the kids are done eating the marrow, further utilize the minerals inside the bones by making a pot of bone stock 🙂  

May all bellies be happy!

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