Children aged 3 and 4, often
referred as preschoolers, have unique dietary needs. In general, they require
less food than older children and more food than younger children. In addition
to simply feeding your child the right amount of food, you must ensure that you
feed him the proper amounts of each of the food groups. Learning about your
child's nutritional needs can assist you in creating healthy meals and snacks
that will boost your child's nutritional intake and keep him satisfied.
Once children
start kindergarten or school, life takes on a new routine. A regular intake of
food is needed throughout the day to keep children active and help their
concentration while learning.
1.
Factors that need
to be considered while planning a diet for a preschool child are:
- Toddlers and pre-school children are growing rapidly and are active so their energy requirements are high relative to their body size.
- An adequate intake of protein, calcium, iron and vitamins A and D is important during this time.
- A diet which is low in fat and high in fibre may not supply enough energy for a young child.
- The diet should include enough quantity and quality of different nutrients. In addition to milk, the child should also be given two small servings of a protein rich food.
- The food intake of children can improve if the food is interesting and attractive. For example if chapatis and sandwiches can be cut into interesting shapes to make eating fun for a child. Milk can be given with delicious flavors.
- Food should be seasoned so that they taste better and the child takes it well.
- Forcing children to ‘clean the plate’ or giving sweets as rewards may lead to problems of overeating later in life.
- Child should never be forced to eat more than he can take.
- Regularity of meals is essential.
- Food preferences of the child should be taken into consideration.
- The child should never be hurried while taking food. The atmosphere should be peaceful, pleasant and lacking distraction.
- Foods like tea and coffee should not be given as they over stimulate the system.
- Fried
foods and concentrated foods should not be given as they are difficult to
digest.
5 Basic Food Groups
Dairy : This group (sometimes called milk, yoghurt & cheese group) is pretty important for growing kids.The foods in this group are excellent sources of calcium, which is important for strong, healthy bones.No.of servings required : 2 – 4
No.of servings required : 2 – 3
Fruit and vegetables :
Toddlers should be encouraged to eat a variety of different fruit and vegetables. There are no specific guidelines for portion sizes of fruit and vegetables for young children, but portions will be smaller than for adults. Fruits provides vitamins, minerals, dietary fibre and many phytonutrients (nutrients naturally present in plants), that help your body stay healthy.
Grain (Cereal) food :No.of servings required : 5 – 9
Consists of bread, cereals, rice, pasta and noodles. This is the biggest group because you need to choose most of your daily food from here. You get carbohydrates (the food your body uses for energy), vitamins, calcium, iron and fibre (which helps move your food around your gut) from this group.
No.of servings required : ½ - 2
Lean meats and poultry, fish, eggs, tofu, nuts and seeds:It
is important for toddlers and pre-school children to get enough food from this
food group to ensure they have an adequate intake of protein, iron, zinc,
vitamin D and B vitamins. Protein also builds, maintains, and repairs the tissues in our
body. Muscles and organs (such as your heart) are made of protein.
No.of servings required : 4 – 5
Vegetables, legumes &beans: Vegetables should make up a large part of your daily food intake and
should be encouraged at every meal (including snack times). They provide
vitamins, minerals, dietary fibre and phytonutrients (nutrients naturally
present in plants) to help your body stay healthy.
Foods to avoid- Salt – children aged 1-3 years should have no more than 2g of salt (0.8g sodium) per day to help minimise any health problems related to salt in later life. See also salt.
- Raw eggs – eggs should be cooked until the white and yolk are solid. Foods containing raw or partially cooked eggs should be avoided to reduce the risk of salmonella poisoning.
- Shark, marlin and swordfish should not be given to toddlers because of the high levels of mercury they can contain.
- Whole or chopped nuts should not be given to children under age 5 because of the risk of choking.