*Sponsored post
Sienna choosing salad over Steak!
The first few years of a
child’s development are very important in terms of physical,
cognitive, and behavioral development. Newborns double their weight
by the time they reach their sixth month, and triple the initial
weight when they reach one year. From 2-5 years of age, children gain
around 2 kilograms per year. From 6 – 10 years of age, kids gain
about 3 kilograms per year due to growth spurts. From 9 years of age,
the child will enter puberty and experience the final growth spurt. A
child’s development relies heavily on his daily food diet. Thus,
having a healthy and balanced diet will ensure that a child will
reach his utmost development potential.
A Balanced Diet
Kids need a balanced
diet of key nutrients found in their food to reach optimal
growth. Some of these key nutrients include protein, fat,
carbohydrate, calcium, and fiber. Protein found in lean meats, eggs,
fish, poultry, nuts, cheese, and beans will help the child build
tissue and muscle. Carbohydrates from dairy products, starches, and
vegetables are sources of energy. Fats found in fatty meats and fish
can be stored and be used as energy. Calcium from dairy products is
necessary for bone building and teeth development. Lastly, fiber from
legumes and whole grain products is useful for the digestive system.
To
check the nutritional value of food items available for children,
NutritionalInformation Database Download contains detailedinformation consisting of more than 50,000 food items and theirnutrition information.
Why it is important
Having a balanced diet
enables children to reach optimal growth potential. Healthy eating
preferences during early childhood influences height, immunity, and
general health. Furthermore, a healthy diet influences a child’s
brain development. Poor nutrition during the early years can lead to
lower IQ levels as well as learning disabilities. Social and
behavioral problems, particularly attentional issues, are also linked
with poor eating habits and poor nutrition during early childhood.
Early
food choices influence the child’s health even in later life.
Healthy eating habits in early life will translate to healthy eating
habits in adulthood. Healthy eating can also prevent childhood
obesity. Obesity is prevalent in American children, with almost 1 out
of 3 children being overweight or obese. Childhood obesity leads to
some chronic diseases include diabetes and high blood pressure.
Maintaining a healthy lifestyle is a habit that has to be learned
from childhood. A healthy diet early in childhood will teach the
child to prefer healthier food choices in later life. In this day and
age of fast food items, store-bought frozen food items, and salty
junk foods, learning to prefer healthier food choices is important.
Fresh food such as fruits and vegetables should make up the bulk of a
child’s diet. Dairy products and fatty meats should be kept to the
minimum. Frozen food items should be avoided or minimized. Overly
sweet products such as candy and chocolates should also be consumed
minimally to avoid diabetes and other weight-related issues.
No comments:
Post a Comment