Child Nutrition or Childhood nutrition involves making sure that child eats healthy foods to help them grow in positive way, develop nor...
Child Nutrition or Childhood nutrition involves making sure that child eats healthy foods to help them grow in positive way, develop normally and naturally, and to prevent obesity and future disease.
Origin of the Concept :
The conception of Child Nutrition begins just about 100 years ago in western countries. It came previously to eastern countries. Nowadays, its popular study and application are practised in western countries mainly because of comparative economic and HDI (Human Development Index) growth.
Food guides with food groups those are being focused today first appeared in USDA publications in the year 1916. They were developed gradually by nutrition specialist Caroline L. Hunt. After that, the first daily food guide was published under the title ‘Food for Young Children’ in 1930 under USDA publication. In 1941, the Food and Nutrition Board of the National Academy of Sciences published the first recommended dietary allowances (RDAs) with the importance of calories and essential nutrients for children. A list of the nine nutrients was revealed. The names were: protein, iron, calcium, vitamin A, vitamin C, vitamin D, thiamin, riboflavin, and niacin.
WHO on Child Nutrition
According to the World Health Organization (WHO), good nutrition is essential for survival, physical growth, mental development, performance, productivity, health and immunity across the entire life-span: from the earliest stages of fetal development, at birth, through infancy, childhood, adolescence and adulthood.
The Department of Maternal, Newborn, Child and Adolescent Health (MCA) makes major investments in the backing and improvement of infant and child feeding. The Global Strategy for Infant and Young Child Feeding provides an agenda for MCA including the gathering of technical information, the development of feeding recommendations, donation research and designing training materials.
Importance of Child Nutrition
Children require a selection of nutrient-dense foods such as fresh fruits, vegetables, whole grains, nuts and other foods containing adequate calories with the purpose of proper growth and development.
The most number of children needs carbohydrates, protein, calcium, iron and vitamins A, C and D. Children are the future of any nation. They deserve the rights to achieve proper environment of surviving with sound physical and mental health.
Nutrition and academic career are co-operative to each other. Adequate breastfeeding and other nutrients providing lead a little one to higher IQ.
Research-based Recommendations to Improve Child Nutrition
Obesity in childhood greatly increases the chances of developing medical problems as an adult. For instance, obesity increases the risks of hypertension, gallbladder disease, osteoarthritis, orthopedic complications, cardiovascular disease, menstrual irregularities, low self-esteem, sleep apnea, learning and memory problems and depression.
The diet-planning and food programme should be maintained as below :
Serving children more fruits, vegetables, and low-fat foods as snacks
Replacing unhealthy food selections in vending machines with healthier alternatives
Replacing sugar-sweetened beverages with non-caloric drinks, such as water, or serving low-fat milk
Replacing high-fat, high-sodium snacks, such as potato and tortilla chips, with baked versions or other types of foods
Limiting the amount of desserts and pastries served
Limiting opportunities for children to indulge in fast food, such as french fries.
