Your child's diet is important for his growth and for his overall health. Instilling healthy eating habits in your children can help them maintain a healthy weight and allow them to make better eating decisions later in life. One way of choosing healthy foods for your kids is to use the updated FoodPyramid from MyPyramid.gov.
Grains
Grains make up one of the largest portions of the standard food pyramid. Grains are rich in carbohydrates and can contain many different nutrients, especially if your child consumes cereals that have been fortified with vitamins and minerals. Grains can come as whole grains or refined grains; KeepKidsHealthy.com recommends that half of your child's grains come from foods made with whole grains, such as whole grain bread, pasta made with whole wheat and foods made with bran.
Fruits and Vegetables
Fruits and vegetables are both important food groups for your child's diet. Vegetables are rich in the nutrients needed to help children grow, are typically low in calories, and are a good source of fiber. KidsHealth.org recommends that children get a variety of different types of vegetables each week. Fruit is another important source of vitamins and minerals. Choose whole or cut-up fruit over fruit juices, because many fruit juices lack the fiber that fresh fruit provides.
Dairy
The dairy or milk group is important for children because it can help supply calcium and vitamin D, which are both essential for the growth and development of bones. According to MyPyramid.gov, all fluid milk products, as well as foods which are made from milk and still contain calcium, are considered to be members of the dairy group. Butter, cream and cream cheese are not considered dairy products in this food pyramid due to their lack of calcium.
Meat and Beans
Meat and beans provide protein to make new muscle tissue and help promote growth. Lean meats, such as skinless poultry and lean cuts of pork are in general better than fattier meats, such as red meat, because they contain less fat and cholesterol. Fish are a good source of lean protein and can also provide beneficial fats known as omega-3 fatty acids. You may also consider adding beans, lentils and peas to the diet as a good source of lean protein.
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