In order for your body to work efficiently, amino acids help make the proteins that your body needs. Amino acids are what you get when the protein in foods are broken down.

Your body can make 13 of the very important 22 amino acids necessary for good health. The other 9 amino acids come from the foods that you eat. These are known as essential amino acids since it is essential that your body has them.

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Not All Protein Is the Same

Some protein sources, like dairy products and lean meats, are complete sources of protein. That is, they contain all 9 of the essential amino acids that your body needs. However, most vegetables are incomplete because they lack at least 1 of the 9 essential amino acids.

By eating a variety of foods throughout the day, including vegetables, you can still get all the protein requirements that are necessary. By the end of the day, you will have probably gotten enough protein sources.

How Much Protein Should My Child Be Getting?

How much protein your child needs will depend on their weight and age.