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Thursday, December 15, 2022

How To Give Your Children The Best Nutrition

  This post may contain affiliate or sponsored links. All opinions expressed are 100% my own.


For parents, nutrition is important to their children's development and growth. The right combination of vitamins, minerals, and proteins can help ensure your children get the nourishment they need to reach their full potential. But how do you know what your kids need? This blog post will cover the basics of giving your children the best nutrition possible.

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What Nutrients Do Children Need?

The most important thing to remember when considering a balanced diet for your child is that they need various essential nutrients. These include proteins, fats, carbohydrates, vitamins, minerals, and water. A good way to ensure they're getting all these things is to create a meal plan that includes a variety of foods from different food groups.

Carbohydrates

Carbohydrates are the body's main source of energy. They provide fuel for activities like sports or studying. Good sources of carbohydrates include whole grains (such as oatmeal or brown rice), fruits and vegetables (like apples or broccoli), and legumes (such as black beans or lentils). Aim for at least three servings of carbohydrates per day for your children.

Proteins

Protein helps build and repair muscle tissue in the body and is essential for healthy growth during childhood. Good sources of protein include lean meats (turkey breast or chicken thighs), fish (tuna or salmon), eggs, nuts/seeds (almonds or pumpkin seeds), dairy products (yogurt or cheese), and legumes (lentils or black beans). Aim for two to three servings per day of protein-rich foods for your children. Here you can play around with how you present these proteins; for example, if you know how to make protein cookies, you can add those to your children's diet as a snack.

Fats

Fats are essential for providing energy to the body but should be consumed in moderation due to their high caloric content. Healthy fat sources include olive oil, avocados, nut butter (such as peanut butter), and fatty fish like salmon or mackerel. Limit saturated fats such as those found in processed foods like chips and cookies and animal products like red meat, butter, and lard. Aim for one serving per day of healthy fats for your children.

VItamins & Minerals

Vitamins and minerals are essential micronutrients that help build strong bones and teeth and support healthy organ function throughout the body. Vitamins are found in many plant-based foods such as leafy greens (spinach or kale) and fruits like oranges or strawberries. Minerals can also be found in plant-based foods such as nuts/seeds (almonds or pumpkin seeds). Still, they can also be obtained through supplementation if needed due to dietary restrictions or allergies/intolerances. Aim for at least five servings per day of fruits/vegetables combined with one serving each day of nuts/seeds plus any additional vitamin supplementation if needed by your child's doctor/nutritionist/dietitian, depending on individual needs.

As a parent, you must understand how to provide your children with the nutrition they need throughout their development stages so they can reach their full mental and physical potential! By creating a meal plan with a variety from all five food groups - carbohydrates, proteins, fats, vitamins & minerals - you'll ensure that your kids get all the essential nutrients necessary so they can grow into happy & healthy adults!

 

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