Nutritious_Eating_In_Childhood

1. Nutritious Eating in
Childhood
Ivanna Imran Shaikh

2. Nutritious eating is indulging in rich foods
that will provide the body with vitamins, fats,
and minerals. It is especially essential for
children to receive a healthy amount of food
from each of the food groups. Eating a
variety of foods aids in a child’s physical
and mental development.
What is Nutritious Eating?

3. A child should eat a balanced diet that
consists of each of the food groups. The
amount of food will vary based on the
height, weight, sex, and age of a child.
What should a child eat?

4. How much should a
child eat?
Fruit and Vegetables
Grain Products
Milk and alternatives
Meat and alternatives
The following outline is an average diet of a 24-36 month old child.
1 ½ Servings of each
fruits and vegetables.
2 Servings
2-4 Servings
5 Servings

5. Without an ample amount of nutrition,
children are subject to slower neurological
and physical growth. A child that is
subject to malnutrition may grow up to be
shorter than average, be prone to more
disease, and neurological disorders.
Nutrition is what helps build a healthy
immune system and give energy to a
child’s growing body.
How Does growth and development relate to
nutrition?

6. Eating meals as a family is one of the most
positive reinforcements a parent can do.
Children take influence from their guardians, so
seeing everyone sitting at a table collectively
sticks with them. Don’t force a child to eat.
Children are always growing. Sometimes they
eat more and sometimes less depending on
what their bodies need.
Creating a Positive Eating Environment.

7. Picky eating can be difficult to deal with. It
requires patience and trial and error. Every child
is unique, so they need to be approached in
different ways. Here is a list of possible solutions
to picky eating:
Picky Eaters
 Be Patient with New Foods
 Cook with your child
 Prepare only one meal for the
family (don’t cook something
separate for them.
 Don’t force them to eat, if they
are hungry, they will eat
 Don’t give snacks immediately
before a meal.
 Eat as a family
 Minimize distractions
 Don’t bribe your child
 Make it fun (Cut vegetable
in fun shapes)
 Don’t compare them with
siblings
 Let them put food in their
own plates.

8. Allergies are one of parent’s biggest concerns.
When your child is ready to eat solid foods
(around six months), begin to give your child
small portions of food. If you notice any
reactions or your child is uncomfortable, talk to
your health care provider.
Children are more likely to have allergies if their
parents or siblings have them. Talking to a
doctor can determine whether a child is at risk
of having a food allergy.
Allergies

9. Children look up to their parents. If a parent
shows a dislike for a food so will their child.
Sometimes when children attend a daycare,
they will take influence from other children.
If a child is having trouble with textures,
gagging, vomiting, spitting, not chewing
properly or taking very long to eat, speaking
with a healthcare provider can help.
Aversions

10. A child needs food from each of the food groups. Below is an example of
what one day of meals can look like for a one-year-old child.
What Should a Child Eat in A Day?
6:30/7:00 AM Breastfeed or Bottle Feed Upon Waking Up
7:00/7:30 AM Breakfast: Water, 1 Egg, 2 Strawberries cut into quarters, and half a slice
of bread.
11:00/11:30 AM Breastfeed or Bottle Feed Upon Waking from Nap
11:30/12:00 PM Lunch: Half a Sandwich with either chicken or tuna and ½ cup steamed
broccoli.
3:00/3:30 PM Breastfeed or Bottle Feed Upon Waking from Nap. Follow with a small
snack such as cut up berries and crackers with peanut butter.
6:30/7:00 PM Dinner: Water, ½ cup of rice, cherry tomatoes cut into quarters, one
spoon of yogurt for dipping, and two tablespoons of minced beef.
7:30/8:00 PM Breastfeed or Bottle Feed before sleep.

11. OtherFacts
An Average One-
year-old will eat ¼
of an adult portion
size.
Children ages 2-3
require around
1,000 calories daily.
Babies
grow 1-1.5
cm each
month.
Babies can
remember what
they tasted in
utero.
Babies have
10,000 tastebuds.
https://www.momjunction.com/articles/truly-amazing-facts-about-babies_00389141/

12. References
Brown, T. (2020, June 03). Food aversion 101: what you need to know. Retrieved on May 25, 2021 from
https://napacenter.org/food-aversion/
HealthLinkBC, (2020, March Reducing risk of food allergy in your baby. Retrieved on May 25, 2021 from
https://www.healthlinkbc.ca/healthy-eating/reducing-baby-food-allergy-risk
Masters, M. (2021, February 23). How much should a toddler eat?. Retrieved on May 25, 2021 from
https://www.whattoexpect.com/toddler-nutrition/toddler-eating-enough.aspx#how-much
Mayo Clinic Staff, (2020, August 11). Children's nutrition: 10 tips for picky eaters. Retrieved on May 25, 2021
from https://www.mayoclinic.org/healthy-lifestyle/childrens-health/in-depth/childrens-health/art-20044948
Sutherland, K. The role of nutrition in childhood growth and development . Retrieved on May 25, 2021 from
https://www.nuzest.com/blog/the-role-of-nutrition-in-childhood-growth-and-development/
Ward, E. What and how much to feed your toddler. Retrieved on May 25, 2021 from
https://www.webmd.com/parenting/features/what-and-how-much-to-feed-your-toddler#1