NUTRITION FROM INFANCY TO CHILDHOOD AGE 🙍‍♀️🙍‍♂️🥗🥪🍗

  Nutrition :

             " It is the process of consuming, absorbing and using nutrients needed by the body for growth, development and maintenance of life." 

                                OR

          We can say that the role of food in the maintenance of health.

Nutritional requirements of individual vary depending upon several factors including age, sex, activities, income, climate, environment, habits and other factors.

If we talk about nutrition from prenatal to childhood.... 

PRENATAL NUTRITION :

               We can say that during prenatal nutrition responsibilities fall on mother because the proper development during prenatal period depends on proper and right nutrients.  Excellent food sources include fishes, meat, poultry, egg 🥚, dry bean, bread, cereal, legumes and dark green leaf vegetables.

NEW BORN TO INFANT :(0 to 18 months): 

Feeding newborns:

  There are 2 choices for feeding newborn infant are following :

✨Breast feeding 

✨Bottles feeding

The protein in breast milk is more easily digested and absorbed than cow's milk. 

The mother's breast milk provides many  essential nutrients and antibodies which provide protection to baby against infections. 

The women who is breast-feeding should be eat same kind of food recommended during pregnancy and should drink plenty of liquid. 

After first 4 to 6 months, baby will be ready for "semi solid" food. 

Cow milk,egg white, fresh fruit juice and green vegetables soup are liquid foods for the beginning (After 1 year ).

    WARNING FOR INFANTS!⚠️

Never give honey 🍯 to infant younger than 1 year of age. Honey has a spore which produce botulism. Infant's do not have  the enzymes In their digestive tracts necessary to prevent growth of this bacteria within their bodies.

      "It can be Fatal!" 

Children have very small stomachs, that can not hold very much food at one time. Therefore, they need between meal snacks to help supply enough energy and nutrients. Nutrient  dense snacks could 

include :

Yogurt,

Juices, 

Milk, 

Fruits ,

Vegetables, 

Unsweetened cereal 

Whole grains, 

Crackers. 

Introduce food one at a time, not all at once

Hence, feeding sweetened liquids by bottle should be avoided. After feeding the baby, teeth and gums should be cleaned by soft damp pieces of cloth. Teeth decay rapidly especially if baby sleeps with bottle in the mouth. 

Salt and sugar should be limited as too much salt and sugar can be harmful. Similarly, too much protein can cause indigestion and other problems. 

     

          TODDLERS (18 MONTHS TO 4 YEAR) :

💫 Serve foods that vary in color, shape, texture,  size, and temperature. If the food has eye   appeal, childern will be more likely to eat it and to meet their nutritional needs. 

✨Eat meal with children and be a role-model for good eating habits and behaviors. 

✨Avoid using food as a reward or punishment. It give the children wrong impression about the purpose of food. 

*(Eating habits and attitudes of children usually Do Not be changed in adulthood) so don't encourage children to become members of "Clean your plate society", insisting that they finish all their food, even after their hunger is satisfied  can lead to over eating in later life. 

When possible, let children choose what food they want eat for some meal. Children taste buds are very sensitive so avoid serving  extremely spicy, sweet or sour food. 

Dietary recommendations for children of age 1-3 year:

Weight(Kg)      =                 12.2kg

Energy (kcal)  =                 1240kcal

Protein (g)       =                 22g

Fat(g)                =                 25g

Calcium (mg) =                 400 mg

Iron (mg)        =                 12mg

 

         CHILDHOOD NUTRITION (4 YEARS TO 11 years) :

At this age children are in rapidly growing state; hence their nutritional requirements increase with age. Their physical activity is high, as they tend to play more. Hence, they need appreciably more energy than infant or sedentary adults. 

Protein needs of children also increase since they are constantly adding tissues to their body.The needs till remain the same the age of 9 year for both girls and boys, after which the requirements differ. As greatest nutritional need for boy are between "12 to 15" years and for girls "10 to 13" years.

Children are generally restless and do not have enough time to eating. Quick eating dishes can serve their purpose. They also like to eat variety in diet, like chocolate candy's, strawberry ice-cream etc, therefore different foods should occasionally be introduced into menu. 

Children should be encouraged to eat with family 👪. Their diet should be from each food group.

⭕ Grains, carbohydrate 🍞🍔🍕🥪🌭

⭕Fruits and vegetables 🍓🍊🍉🍇🥗

⭕Meat and poultry, bean🍗🐡🥩🥚🥘

⭕Milk🥛🍼

⭕Fat

They must be provided with suitable nourishing snacks for school. Commercial prepared foods are not that nourishing. These sometimes contain ingredients that may be toxic in nature. 

It is suggested that whole wheat flour be used for chapati making and preferably blended with 10% gram flour ('basan') . This will increase protein content of the flour. 

  Dietary recommendations for children at the age of 4 to 11 years:

Weight (kg)        =       19kg to 26.9kg

Energy (kcal)    =        1690kcal to 1950kcal

Protein (g)         =        30g to 41g

Calcium (mg)    =         400g

Iron (g)               =          18g to 26g

Fat(g)                   =           25g