Parents are extremely important when it comes to children and nutrition. Their own eating habits set an example for their children, and they have the ability to control what their children do and do not eat, especially before they begin attending school. Managing your children's food and nutrition intake can help prevent them from developing unhealthy eating habits that can harm their health and follow them into adulthood.
Significance
Eating a balanced diet with adequate nutrition is essential for the proper development and growth of children. When your child consumes the right amounts and types of food, she is less likely to become overweight and more likely to have sufficient energy and strong muscles and bones. Remaining at a healthy weight and reaping the related benefits is easier to accomplish if your child is also physically active, explains the National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases, or NIDDK.
General Nutrition
Your child's nutrition requirements depend on his age, although the diet of all children older than age 2 should revolve around nutrient-rich foods, according to NIDDK. Appropriate choices include fruits, vegetables, eggs, low-fat or skim milk and dairy items, fish, lean meat, poultry, beans, nuts and whole grains. Foods high in calcium--such as milk and related products, broccoli and low-fat yogurt, for instance--help promote strong teeth and bones as your child grows. You should provide your child with foods that have little or no cholesterol, salt, saturated fats, sugar, sugar additives and trans fats, because they can contribute to health problems.
Young Children
An infant's diet should consist primarily of milk until about 5 months of age, when you may begin feeding him solid foods, such as pureed meat and strained fruit, states the American Academy of Pediatrics. You should make sure your baby gets adequate iron and zinc if you breastfeed, and also sufficient fat, which helps your child's brain and nerves develop properly.
Toddlers and preschool-aged children often have variable appetites that reflect their tendency to grow in spurts. The American Academy of Pediatrics suggests not worrying if your child eats a lot on some days and barely anything on others, as long as he gets sufficient calcium, most often from milk, and fiber from such foods as whole grains, beans, fruits and vegetables. Fiber discourages constipation, improves digestion and helps prevent certain health conditions, including heart disease.
Older Children
Elementary school-aged children need to eat enough protein and limit their consumption of fat, salt and sugar, which are common ingredients in snack foods, explains the American Academy of Pediatrics. Healthy sources of protein include eggs, fish, lean meat, nuts, peanut butter in moderation and beans. Protein helps your child's body function correctly, but a diet with too much fat, salt and sugar can make her gain weight unnecessarily. As your child reaches puberty and her teenage years, she will require additional calories and calcium to promote healthy development.
Calories
Boys and girls aged 2 to 8 typically need the same amount of essential foods, according to the American Academy of Pediatrics, which recommends 1,000 calories a day for children aged 2 to 3 and approximately 1,300 calories a day for children aged 4 to 8. The daily diet for both groups should include about 1 cup of fruit, 2 cups of milk and vegetables, 3 oz. of beans and meat and 3 oz. of grains.
Boys and girls need different amounts of essential foods when they reach age 9. The American Academy of Pediatrics suggests a daily intake of 1,600 calories for girls aged 9 to 13, 1,800 calories for boys aged 9 to 13 and girls aged 14 to 18, and 2,200 calories for boys aged 14 to 18. Each group's daily diet should include about 2 cups of fruit, 3 cups of milk and vegetables, 5 oz. of beans and meat and 6 oz. of grains.
Member Comments