Good Nutrition in Early Development
No responsible parent or care provider would disagree with the need for children to have good nutrition throughout their lives.
However, what that means and what effects an absence of such has, is less well understood.
What is good nutrition?
At its lowest level, this means the amount of food required to support life and healthy growth.
For example, at the age of about 6 years, boys and girls start to part company due to their biology. Although there is some dispute between expert sources, most would suggest that at that age boys require about 1,600 calories per day and girls 1,400 – assuming both are moderately and equally active.
At that level and assuming no underlying medical conditions, both sexes should grow and prosper without risking either under-nourishment or obesity. As their ages increase, their calorie requirements will do likewise.
Calories and calories
That though is only the mechanics of growth.
There are highly beneficial ways for children to take calories – and some less desirable ones too.
It is now well established that children need a balanced diet covering all the foodstuff groups. Their diet should have protein, carbohydrates, sugars and yes, some fats. Try to remove a food group entirely and it may cause developmental and health difficulties.
The optimal intake distribution of calories by foodstuff category is inevitably the subject of furious debate plus personal belief but there is consensus that the bulk of a child’s calories should come from a diet containing vegetables, meat, fish, pulses and fruit plus some dairy produce.
Highly processed foods, sweets, biscuits and any high-content sugar or saturated fat substances should be avoided or consumed rarely and in extreme moderation.
Of course, there are parents who believe firmly in vegetarianism or veganism. That can require very special attention to a balanced diet and it’s usually advisable to consult a health professional in advance if you plan to make a younger child’s diet entirely meat and fish free etc.
Why a balanced diet is important
It is now widely accepted that a child’s diet and nutrition have a dramatic effect on their overall health and physical/intellectual development.
Setting the right standards at a young age can also help to reduce or eliminate tendencies in later years for some kids to become either “fussy eaters” or those who will eat only junk foods.
It’s worth making the effort to diversify and enrich their diets from the earliest ages possible.
