A Child Health and Nutrition Guide

Raising a child of any age requires an awareness of child health and nutrition; you will need to be well informed about important nutrition facts. This includes knowledge of the kinds of foods your child should avoid as well as what needs to be included in his or her diet.

Children have a natural affinity for processed sugary treats. It is a parent’s responsibility to limit unhealthy foods and provide wholesome, healthy alternatives to promote child health and nutrition. A balanced diet will include a variety of foods represented by the five major food groups.

Using the Food Pyramid

With a concern for child health and nutrition, a good place to start is learning about the food pyramid. Understanding the food pyramid will help you know how to provide your child with the nutrition they need to thrive and grow. The nutrition facts needed to maintain good child health and nutrition are represented by the concepts in the pyramid.

The U.S. Department of Agriculture designed the food pyramid as a guide for promoting good nutrition in children over the age of six.  The focus of the pyramid is the five major food groups, each contributing a distinct part of the whole required for good health. The pyramid can form the foundation of nutrition facts you need to learn about child health and nutrition.

Proper child health and nutrition requires an assurance that children are getting foods from all five food groups. It is important to know that servings in the food pyramid do not refer to meal-size portions.

For example, the pyramid recommendation for 2-3 servings of meat each day doesn’t mean you must eat meat three different times in one day. It means you can eat the equivalent of 2-3 servings in one meal if one large 5-7 ounce portion of meat is eaten. The 2-3 servings combined would equal that single 5-7 ounce portion.

Proper child health and nutrition also means keeping a child active enough to satisfy his or her need for exercise. Although this isn’t always a major issue with children, the percentage of obese children has steadily increased. Fighting child obesity necessitates a focus on increased exercise for optimum health.

To ensure quality child health and nutrition for your child, you will want to monitor time spent on the computer or playing video games on the sofa. Place limitations on this physically idle time and redirect them to something that will get them moving.

Playing sports or just running and playing with friends will provide the physical activity they need to stay healthy and fit. Good child health and nutrition needs a parent’s commitment to keeping their child’s activity at a healthy level.

Talk to a child nutritionist if you feel you need more information along with useful tips and advice on providing quality child health and nutrition for your children. These professionals are specially trained to offer helpful information for keeping your child in the best of health.