A well-balanced diet will help you child be as healthy as she can be. According to Kids Health, your child needs to eat a variety of foods from each of the five food groups in order to consume adequate amounts of essential vitamins and nutrients. Understanding what foods are in each group will help you make the best choices when preparing her meals.
Grains
According to Healthy Children, consuming foods from the grain group will help ensure that your child gets enough carbohydrates for energy. Whole grains are ideal because they also provide fiber in addition to giving your child plenty of energy to move and grow. Kids Health reports that half of the grains he eats should be whole. Offer your child sandwiches made on whole wheat bread or serve whole wheat pasta with your child's favorite sauce. Oatmeal, rice, tortillas and cereal are other healthy grains.
Vegetables
Vegetables are an important part of your child's diet because they contain important vitamins and minerals and are low in calories, says Kids Health. You should serve your child a variety of vegetables in many different colors in order to ensure that she gets a broad range of nutrients. Healthy Children recommends offering your child vegetables such as broccoli, carrots, green beans, beets, peas and spinach on a daily basis to help promote optimal health.
Fruits
Fruit is an important part of your child's diet because it provides him with vitamins and minerals, such as potassium and Vitamin C, as well as a healthy dose of fiber, reports Kids Health. Offer your child a variety of different fruits in many different colors to ensure that he gets the nutrients his growing body needs. Bananas, apples, pears, strawberries, cantaloupes and watermelon are some of the options you have, says Healthy Children. Dried fruits and fruit juice also provide healthy fruits for your child.
Dairy
Dairy foods give your child the calcium her body needs to grow strong bones and teeth. Kids Health adds that many dairy products also provide your child with Vitamin D so her body can absorb the calcium. Dairy foods also contain protein to give your child energy and help her grow. Milk is one of the most common foods in the dairy group, but Healthy Children adds low-fat yogurt, low-fat cheese and cottage cheese as healthy choices.
Meat and Beans
Meat and beans are an important source of protein to help foster proper growth and development, says Kids Health. Adding meat and beans to your child's diet will help his body grow strong and will also help him repair damaged tissue. Lean cuts of beef and pork as well as skinless chicken and fish provide healthy doses of protein. Beans, such as pinto, black, kidney and white, provide fiber in addition to protein.
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