We are all aware that good nutrition is important for all ages and at all stages in life. Good nutrition however is especially important for infants, toddlers, and young children as they need various vitamins and minerals in balanced proportions to help their bodies and minds develop and mature.
Giving your child a healthy and balanced diet from young will also keep malnutrition problems at bay as well as help to create good nutrition habits in your children in years to come.
Why is nutrition important?
If a healthy body and mind is what you want for your child, then understanding nutrition is of the utmost importance. Good nutrition can help maintain both your child’s mental and physical health as well as their development. His/her diet must contain adequate amounts of carbohydrates, protein, fats, vitamins, and minerals.
Grow strong bones
Nutrition plays a vital role in your child’s bone development throughout life. As your child’s bones grow, so does his height! Bone is a living and growing tissue; childhood and early teen years are the best times to build up bones. Give your child a diet which includes sufficient amount of calcium and vitamin D. These nutrients can be found in milk and dairy products such as cheese and yogurt. You should also encourage your child to get some sun outside the home as the sun provides natural vitamin D.
Build ’em muscles
As your child grows and develops, he or she will continually become more active. An active child needs to have healthy muscles in order to make sure they can move safely. To build and repair muscle tissues, give your child a diet that contains adequate protein. Protein can be found in lean meats such as chicken and turkey, eggs, cheese, milk, nuts, and legumes.
Fuel for the body
The food your child eats will provide the energy his body needs. The main source of energy is carbohydrates. Provide him with complex carbohydrates that not only provide him with energy but also fibre, vitamins, and minerals. Good examples include cereals (preferably whole grain variety) such as rice, bread, oats, breakfast cereals, noodles, and pasta.
Prevent obesity and chronic lifestyle diseases!
Giving your child a healthy, balanced diet will help to prevent obesity and chronic lifestyle diseases like diabetes, obesity, heart disease, high cholesterol, and hypertension, and even certain cancers! Learning correct portion sizes at a young age and eating a healthy, balanced diet will help prevent your kids from being overweight as they get older. Being overweight puts one at risk for these diseases and even causes low self-esteem.
Food for thought…
Good nutrition during the early years of a child’s life is linked to better performance in school as well as in the later years. Under-nourished children have lower resistance or lower immunity to fight infections thus become sick more often, miss school, and fail to keep up with school work.
As a parent, you can help prevent nutritional deficiencies in your child by providing him with a well-balanced diet. Remember that you don’t need a degree in chemistry or medicine to do this. You can start by simply selecting and cooking the right foods containing the essential nutrients his body needs to grow and develop. Use the Malaysian Food Pyramid or the Malaysian Dietary Guidelines as a guide to help you.
It is also important to remember that physical activity is just as essential to your child’s overall physical and psychological health. Encourage him to be active everyday by helping you around the house, kicking a ball around, playing a game of chase, or having fun on the monkey bars at the park. Children should also do moderately intensive physical activities like cycling , swimming, or participate in sports like football, badminton, or basketball at least 5-6 times a week.
Limit your child’s physical inactivity and sedentary habits like watching television or playing video games on the computer. Children who regularly exercise or maintain an activity that is of a longer duration or more vigorous in intensity will gain more health benefits.
So, get your child into the habit of healthy eating and healthy living.
Note: If you have questions about nutrition for children or specific concerns about your child’s diet, talk to your child’s doctor, nutritionist, or dietitian.
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