How Nutrition Affects Children

‘Milk and dairy products are an important part of a child's diet. They are a good source of energy and protein, and contain a wide range of vitamins and minerals. They are rich in calcium, which growing children and young people need to build healthy bones and teeth.’- www.nhs.uk/Livewell/Goodfood

Oils and Fats; For children under two years need a diet with more fat and less fibre then older children. Fat provides extra energy need at this stage of development, too much fibre will fill young children up and other more important nutrients may be left out. It's recommend not to give children processed foods as they contain high levels of saturated fats.

Children and young people’s health and development is closely linked to their dietary choice as they need the right amount of nutrients necessary to keep their energy and to maintain the body for growth, tissue repair, healthy skin, hair and teeth, red blood cells and strong immune system.

When working in a nursery you have to be aware that all the children’s nutritional requirements as well as making sure that these are being met. What this means is that we should always ensure that we are providing them with a balanced and diverse diet which meets the governments guidelines. We should provide children with a diet that is based around the Eat Well Plate this consists on Carbohydrates such as bread, pasta, rice etc. Dairy, like Cheese, Milk, Butter, Protein such as Chicken, Beef, Turkey, etc. Fruit and Vegetables and finally Fats the portion size for fat is much more smaller then all of the other areas on the plate as there not that good for our bodies and they don’t really of offer many nutritional benefits and they can sometimes

Toddlers will get more amounts of nutrients and energy if their diet is based on food from the five food groups. Giving a toddler 6-8 drinks a day increases their hydration. The best type of drink to give your child between meals is milk and water. Large quantities if juice can reduce your child 's appetite or cause loose stools. Some foods can cause harm to your child. Sugary, acidic drinks, and fruit juices can cause tooth decay if it is drunken frequently. Raw eggs or raw shellfish can cause food poisoning. Don 't give young children whole nuts because there is a risk that they might choke. “Toddlers who have parents, brothers or sisters who suffer from hay fever, asthma, eczema or food allergies should not have peanuts or peanut butter before they are three years old. Other nuts such as walnuts, almonds, cashew nuts are fine if they are chopped or ground or as a nut butter.”

What are the best food sources for children to get the nutrients they need for their growing bones?

According to the CDC growth chart, your son Steven is currently at the 95 percentile for his weight and the 75 percentile for his height for his infant age. What these calculations explain is that out of one hundred infant boys Steven’s age, his weight and height fall at these percentages we just briefly discussed. It was brought to my attention, that there were some concerns, you both had about potential weight issues; Steven may develop, as he gets older. Although, Steven’s weight is slightly above the expected percentile for his age, this is not something to be too alarmed about it, as of yet. In addition, giving him additional vitamins is not nutritionally necessary, unless his pediatrician recommends it. Fluoride is sometimes needed

Adding to the impact on food, when a child is young, the brain is still maturing. It is very important the child gets the protein intake one needs in order to develop

“Disease preys on a weak and malnourished mind.” Bernard Jensen. As we grow and develop throughout life, nutrition plays a crucial role in how we develop. During each stage of life, we require different nutrition. Proper nutrition decreases the chances of getting many diseases, physical stressors and mental issues. Many factors attribute to the overall development of a human. Nutritional health affects human growth, cognitive development, reproduction, physical health and mental health.

Make sure your child gets enough calcium. Give your child a calcium supplement if directed by your child's health care provider. Talk to the health care provider about a supplement if your child is not taking one.

To ease the transition through this turbulent period, the newborn needs to be provided with easily digestible and bioavailable nutrition in the form of breast milk or infant formula. The infant depends on a diet of closely regulated composition and does not achieve nutritional independence until weaning.

The first years of life are the most crucial years for brain, immune system and overall physiological development. This is why, it is extremely important to achieve optimal nutrition standards in these early years. Studies have shown that having optimum nutrition in infancy can lead to profound benefits throughout the lifespan of the person. Breastfeeding is extensively recommended, as the best way to achieve the

In the above paragraph I have gained the knowledge on how to balance me and my family's lifestyle. I already knew we needed to be eating health and staying active. It is hard to do so in a busy world. But, this course has definitely reinforced on how to stay healthy and fit and implement new things in my life. This course has also reinforced just as you should get a physical annually, your child needs regular well check-ups. Something further that I have been able to balance and reinforce is getting in a good habit is eating a variety of fruits and vegetables daily. Choosing whole grains as much as possible over refined ones will give your child more nutrients and fiber. Make an effort to avoid foods that are processed, high in sugar or high in saturated fat, all of which can increase risks for health problems such as diabetes. Especially helped reinforce with my diabetes.

The growth and development of the human skeleton requires an adequate supply of many different nutritional factors. Classical nutrient deficiencies are associated with stunting (e.g. energy, protein, Zn), rickets (e.g. vitamin D) and other bone abnormalities. In recent years there has been interest in the role nutrition may play in bone growth at intakes above those required to prevent classical deficiencies, particularly in relation to optimizing peak bone mass and minimizing osteoporosis risk. There is evidence to suggest that peak bone mass and later fracture risk are influenced by the pattern of growth in childhood and by nutritional exposures in utero, in infancy and during childhood and adolescence. Of the individual nutrients, particular attention has been paid to Ca, vitamin D, protein and P. There has also been interest in several food groups, particularly dairy products, fruit and vegetables and foods contributing to acid–base balance. However, it is not possible at the present time to define dietary reference values using bone health as a criterion, and the question of what type of diet constitutes the best support for optimal bone growth and development remains open. As to the 17 month old male toddler that is brought in by the parents, is noticed crawling around on the floor while parents are preparing a snack of Dorito chips and bottle of juice substitute and the weight in the chart starts 32lbs.

It is important for anyone of any age to be eating the right foods; but it is even more important for a young person. This is because they are growing and their bodies are still developing; sometimes even up to the age of 25!