Nutritional considerations: All parents wish their children
to be healthy and there’s a great deal you can do to give
your child the best start in life as well as good health in later
years. The first few years are of vital importance, for this is
the crucial time when the foundations for future good health are
laid. Food and nutrients are the building blocks in a good diet,
which help them to form strong teeth and bones, muscles and healthy
tissues. A good diet can also help to protect against illness.
A
child’s diet needs special care and planning- the requirements
for energy and nutrients are high, but appetite is small and eating
habits are likely to be finicky.
The
diet therefore needs to be:
- Made
up of small frequent meals,
-
Diet to be “Nutrients Dense”-providing plenty of
nutrients in small volume of food.
Particularly
important nutrient include:
Iron: Iron deficiency
is common in this age group as iron requirements are high but
dietary intake is often low, especially if little or no meat is
eaten. Foods rich in Vitamin C such as orange or tomato with evening
meal eaten at the same time help maximise iron absorption. Good
sources of iron are listed in Table 1.
Calcium:
This is vital for the growth of bones and teeth.
Requirements will be met as long as the child consumes enough
milk and dairy products. Good sources of dietary calcium are listed
in Table 1.
Vitamin
A, C, D:
Vitamin A is needed for healthy skin and cell development and
can be often be lacking in diets of this age group.
Vitamin C is important for the immune system and growth. It also
helps in the absorption of iron, especially iron from non-meat
sources (non heme iron). Vitamin intakes are often low in children
who eat little.
Vitamin D is essential for calcium metabolism (breakdown of calcium)
and can be synthesised through the action of sunlight on the skin.
In winter, and if your child is always covered, make sure that
you include dietary sources of vitamin D, along with vitamin D
in tablet or liquid form.
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Last
updated on 25-03-2003
