Food Facts
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.
Protein
Protein is made up of two types of amino acids
- essential – are obtained directly from food
- non essential – can be produced by the body
Why your baby needs proteins?
Proteins help the body to build and repair muscles, tissues and other parts of the body.
If your child does not get enough energy in their diet, the body uses protein as a source of energy rather than using it to repair muscles and for growth and development. Because babies and children are growing quickly, their require more protein in their diet than adults. Breast or formula milk are a major source of protein.
Sources of Protein
- Meat, such as lamb or chicken
- Fish, like salmon or tuna
- Dairy products, like milk or cheese or eggs
- Soya beans or pulses
- Cereals and grain foods, like rice or pasta, oats and musueli
- Seeds, like sunflower seeds
Fats
There are three types of fat
- saturated – e.g. butter
- mono-saturated fats – e.g. olive oil
- polyunsturated fats – e.g. sunflower oil
Why do Toddlers need fat?
Fat is essential to a toddlers diet, fat is needed for energy, fats also contain vitamins A,D,E and K.
A low fat diet is not suitable for young children, it is better that your child has a balanced.diet.
Fibre
Babies and toddlers only need a small amount of fibre to keep their small bowels working properly.
Children under two should not be given too much fibre, as their immature digestive systems will have difficult coping. Too much will prevent the absoption of vitamins and minerals like calcuim and iron.
Sources of fibre
Good sources of fibre for children are peas, oats, beans, and fresh fruit.
Vitamins
Vitamins are important for brain function and preventing disease.
Most vitamins cannot be made by the body and so can only be obtained through diet.
- Vitamin A – is needed for growth, healthy skin, vision, and helps the immune system fight infections
- Vitamin C – helps the immune system, growth and creating collagen which is a protein needed for healthy bones and teeth
- Vitamin D – is needed for the absorption of calcium and a healthy central nervous system
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