Nutrition for Children

18 Jun

Posted by admin as Uncategorized

Kids Food Guide Pyramid:

Your child’s nutrition is important to her overall health. Proper nutrition can also prevent many medical problems, including becoming overweight, developing weak bones, and developing diabetes. It will also ensure that your child physically grows to her full potential. The best nutrition advise to keep your child healthy includes encouraging her to: Eat a variety of foods, Balance the food you eat with physical activity,Choose a diet with plenty of grain products, vegetables and fruits, Choose a diet low in fat, saturated fat, and cholesterol, Choose a diet moderate in sugars and salt.

A healthy diet helps children grow and learn:

It also helps prevent obesity and weight-related diseases, such as diabetes. The following guidelines will help you give your child a nutritious diet: Offer five servings of fruits and vegetables a day, Choose healthy sources of protein, such as lean meat, nuts and eggs, Serve whole-grain breads and cereals because they are high in fiber, Broil, grill or steam foods instead of frying them, Limit fast food and junk food, Offer water and milk instead of sugary fruit drinks and sodas.

Vitamins and Minerals:

Parents often worry that their kids don’t get enough vitamins, minerals, and other nutrients from the foods they are eating. This often leads to their kids getting vitamins and other supplements. Although this can be OK, it is usually a much better practice to try and provide these nutrients to your child through the foods he is eating, such as: High Fiber Foods, Protein Rich Foods, and Iron Rich Foods.

Kids approach school age, they should gradually move towards a diet that’s lower in fat and higher in fibre. And by the age of five, their diet should be low in fat, sugar and salt and high in fibre with five fruit and veg a day – just like adults. Fortunately, whatever their age, children can easily get a balanced diet – and lower their risk of becoming overweight or obese – by eating a variety of foods from four main food groups: Bread, other cereals and potatoes – these starchy foods, which also include pasta and rice, provide energy, fibre, vitamins and minerals, Fruit and vegetables – these provide fibre, vitamins and minerals and are a source of antioxidants. Milk and dairy foods – these provide calcium for healthy bones and teeth, protein for growth, plus vitamins and minerals.

Nutrition for kids: is in some ways similar to nutrition for adults. Everyone, regardless of age, needs the same types of nutrients such as carbohydrates, protein, fat, vitamins and minerals just in different amounts. Children differ from adults in that they have periods of rapid growth and development. And children generally have fewer nutrient stores to draw from, making proper nutritional intake essential for healthy growth and development.

Get Kids Involved:

Most kids will enjoy deciding what to make for dinner. Talk to them about making choices and planning a balanced meal. Some might even want to help shop for ingredients and prepare the meal. At the store, teach kids to check out food labels to begin understanding what to look for.In the kitchen, select age-appropriate tasks so your child can play a part without getting injured or feeling overwhelmed. And at the end of the meal, don’t forget to praise the chef.

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