The idea that you are what you eat has some special relevance when it comes to babies. Infants’ growth patterns are influenced by the type of protein they eat during their first year of life.

That’s the upshot of recent findings by University of Colorado researchers. They studied 64 infants, with the group evenly divided between those who ate meat and those who consumed dairy in addition to vegetables, fruit and baby formula. It turns out that the type of protein they ate influenced their growth — especially in length, the researchers found.

The researchers started with 3- to 5-month-old babies. Those on the meat-based diet were given pureed meat, while the dairy-based group of children got infant yogurt, cheese and powdered whey protein.

Researchers tracked the babies’ weight, length, head size and blood chemistry through their first birthday. They found the meat diet made children grow longer than the dairy-eating infants. The dairy-fed babies tended to be heavier, having weight-to-length ratios that were larger than their meat-fed counterparts.

The study, published recently in the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition, is believed to be the first of its kind to discern how protein other than baby formula affects infant growth, the researchers said. The results can provide evidence-based feeding guidance to help prevent obesity and promote optimal growth.

Previous studies have linked cow milk-based infant formula with rapid weight gain and increased body fat. While the researchers aren’t suggesting giving cheeseburgers to the little ones, protein from meat seems to play a role in encouraging healthier growth.