Food Facts

Energy and Carbohydrates

Food Facts – Energy and Carbohydrates

Nutrition for growth and development for children is very important, but how do you ensure that your child gets a balanced healthy diet, and do you know what to feed your children and what not to give them.

Parents like you are swamped with information on healthy eating and nutrition, but how to make sense of it all when you haven’t got the time to read dozens of books.

To help here are the key facts that you need to know.

Energy

Energy is needed to help kids grow. The main sources of enegry in our diet comes from Carbohydrates, protein and fat. Fat is the most concentrated source of energy, producing twice as much energy by weight as protein and carbohydrates.

Carbohydrates

There are two types of carbohydrates

• simple – sugars
• complex – starches and fibre

Why do babies and toddlers need carbohydrates ?

Babies and toddlers need carbohydrates to provide them with energy to fuel their activity while awake, it also gives them the energy to grow and develop.

Too much refined carbohydrates, like sugar and honey, aren’t a good thing as they can lead to dental cavities and obesity and health problems.

Too much fibre, like brown rice or wholewheat pasta, can inihibit the absorption of other nutrients and is not good for babies or toddlers.

Remember, everything in moderation.

Sources of carbohydrates

Natural Sugar foods

• Fruit and vegetables
• Breast milk and full fat milk

Natural Starch foods

• Potatoes and bread
• Breakfast cereals
• Sweetcorn
• Root vegetables e.g. pasnips, carrots etc
• Nuts – do not give nuts to children under 3yrs of age if there is a family history of food allergies
• Chickpeas
• Fruit – Bananas , apples etc

Refined Sugar foods

• White and brown sugar
• Biscuits, cakes and jellies

Refiined Starch foods

• Some sugary breakfast cereals
• White flour and white bread
• Biscuits and cakes
• White rice