The National Institutes of Health reports that peer pressure and media can influence children to develop poor dietary habits, which can lead to malnutrition. Malnutrition is a medical condition in which the body does not get the proper nutrients it needs to function well. Malnutrition can cause weight loss, dizziness and fatigue, as well as other more complicated medical conditions, including death. Poor dietary habits can also cause obesity.
Identification
According to Medline Plus, children should consume five helpings of fruits and vegetables per day. Parents should provide foods that contain healthy sources of protein, such as eggs, nuts and lean meats. Whole-grain cereals are also part of a healthy diet for children. Medline Plus recommends that parents grill, broil or steam food rather than frying food. Parents should also place restrictions around the amount of junk and fast food they provide for their children. Healthy beverages for children include water and milk instead of sugary fruit drinks and sodas.
Significance
According to the National Institutes of Health, it is important for parents to be aware of how to provide children with a healthy diet early on in their lives to help them grow healthy and strong. A healthy diet also enables children to have adequate energy, to avoid diseases like type 2 diabetes, to maintain a normal weight and to enjoy a general sense of health and well-being.
Features
The National Institutes of Health recommends that children receive enough calcium, in particular when they are under the age of 18, in order to gain strong teeth and bones. Milk, cheese and yogurt are excellent dietary sources of calcium. If your child is lactose-intolerant (meaning he cannot properly digest dairy food items), there are other ways to provide him an adequate amount of calcium. You can feed him calcium-rich vegetables like broccoli, mustard greens, kale and Brussels sprouts. You can also provide your child with high-calcium beans like navy and black turtle beans. Rice-based and soy drinks are an additional option. You can even buy lactose-free cheese, milk and yogurt.
Considerations
The National Institutes of Health reports that parents play a major role in helping shape the dietary habits of their children. When you eat a variety of foods that are low in fat and sugar, your child can learn to enjoy these types of food as well. When you are not around your child, make sure your child-care provider offers well-balanced meals and snacks. Pack healthy lunches for your child to eat at school.
Prevention/Solution
To prevent your child from becoming obese, you can make sure she eats breakfast each morning. This is important because not eating breakfast in the morning causes children to eat more during the rest of the day and not have as much time to burn the calories they consume. Provide low-sugar cereal, fruit, oatmeal, low-fat milk and toast as breakfast options. Instead of providing artificially sweetened snack items, you can give your children fresh vegetables, fruits, whole-grain crackers and rice cakes as snacks.
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