DR.
ANITA VERMA (PT)
(B.P.T), (PGDPPHC),(M.I.A.P)
(B.P.T), (PGDPPHC),(M.I.A.P)
Wellness consultant
Preventive & promotive healthcare specialist
Preventive & promotive healthcare specialist
Email: evahealthcare@gmail.com
NUTRITION AND FOOD REQUIREMENTS FOR PRESCHOOL CHILDREN (1-6
YEARS)
The years between 1 and 6,
growth is generally slower than in the first year of life but continue gradually.
Activity increases markedly during the second year of life , as the child
become increasingly mobile. Development of a full dentition by about the age of
2 years also increases the range of food that can be easily eaten. There is an
increased need for all nutrients, but the pattern of specific tissues. During
these years children continue to develop new food behaviours. Protein, calcium,
iron, vitamin A , vitamin B12, are very important minerals and vitamins
required to be take care for kids. Mothers should calculate and monitor the
intake of food containing all this for RDA.
Recommended dietary allowances
(RDA) for pre – school children
Nutrient
|
Years
|
|
1-3
|
4-6
|
|
Weight kg
|
12.2
|
19
|
Energy k. cal
|
1240
|
1690
|
Protein g
|
22
|
30
|
Fat g
|
25
|
25
|
MINERALS AND VITAMINS
|
||
Calcium mg
|
400
|
400
|
Iron mg
|
12
|
18
|
Vitamin A
|
400
|
400
|
Vitamin B12 mg
|
0.2-1
|
0.2-1
|
Protein
The recommended protein
allowance per unit of body weight is 1.8 per kg body weight for 1 to 3 yrs and old 1.5 g per kg of body weight for the
4- 6 yr old . Protein is required for tissue building and other function of body,
along with protein carbohydrate and fat are also important. If a young Childs
diet is inadequate in the amount of carbohydrate and fat, protein will be used
for energy rather then for tissues building and other important body functions.
Weight will be lost and there rate of growth will decrease.
Fat
Fat energy including invisible
fat for children should be 2.5 % of total energy and essential fatty acid
energy is 5 – 6 %. Excessive intake of fat ( such as from drinking too much
whole milk) may dull a child apatite and crowd out other nutrition food.
Vitamins and minerals
Requirements for vitamins and
minerals remain high as growth and development progress. A varied died usually
provides most vitamins minerals in amount needed by your children. The
incidence of vitamin a deficiencies sings is high and serum vitamins A level
are generally low among Indian children whose dietary intake is less then 100
mg. daily requirement of vitamin A is 400 mcg. Deficiency of vitamin A in
children can cause Bitot’s spots, night blindness, or in several cases total
blindness also. Milk, eggs, carrots, and green leaves, vegetables, yellow
fruits e.g papaya , mango etc. should be included in the diet
Guidelines to be considered while planning a diet for
pre school child.
Ø
The diet should be
adequate in quantity and quality of
different nutrients
Ø
Toddlers want be
feed themselves and should encouraged to do so
Ø
Thereby finger
foods such as carrot can be given
Ø
The diet should
include variety of foods
Ø
The child who is
taught to eat every thing on his plate is much more likely to enjoy optimal
health then is the one who picks and chooses.
Ø
The food served
should be of different shapes, flavour and colours; this will improve the food
intake.
Ø
The child should
be never forced to eat more then he can take
Ø
Young children
have high taste sensitivity therefore they prefer mildly flavoured foods
Ø
Food preferences
should be taken in to consideration
Ø
Child should never
be hurried while taking food
Ø
They have short
attention span and are easily distracted from eating
Ø
The person feeding
should not show any dislike of that food in front of the child this may lead to
rejection of the food by the child.
NUTRITION RELATED PROBLEMS OF PRESCHOOL
CHILDREN
Nutritionally adequate diet
with suitable calories levels to bring about desirable growth and development
can prevent obesity, under weight, growth failure dental caries and anaemia .continuous
monitoring of growth and nutritional status by health professionals and parents
is essential to nip any budding problems in the kids. The primary case for
malnutrition is inadequate and faulty diet. Apart from poverty and
socioeconomic factors environmental factors also play an important role in aggravating
the dietary deficiency diseases. Thus a marginal intake of nutrients which by
itself may not lead to clinical deficiency may do so when infectious disease
super imposed.
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