This document provides nutritional guidelines for children of different age groups from infancy to adolescence. It stresses the importance of appropriate nutrition during childhood for growth, development and lifelong health. For infants, exclusive breastfeeding for six months is recommended, along with introducing complementary foods after six months in a gradual manner. For toddlers and preschoolers, the guidelines focus on food variety, frequent meals and ensuring intake of vitamins, minerals and fibre. For school-going children, the guidelines address having a balanced diet as per food pyramid and making healthy choices. For adolescents, the increased nutritional needs due to development are highlighted, along with tips like balanced meals, limiting junk food and involving them in food choices.

1. NUTRITIONAL
COUNSELLING
BY:
Mr. Dinabandhu Barad
MSc Tutor, Department of Pediatric Nursing
SNC, S’O’A DTU.

2. INTRODUCTION
When it comes to choosing a colour for the child: IT’S ALWAYS A BLUE
FOR BOYS & PINK FOR GIRLS.
But when it comes to Nutrition for a child,these differences fade away.
There is no other time in life when the provision of appropriate nutrition is of
greater importance than during infancy andchildhood.
Thus understanding the importance of Pediatric Nutrition and implementing
correct nutritional guidelines at the right agebecomes very essential.

3. NUTRITION DURING
DIFFERENT AGE GROUPS
INFANTS
 The first year of life is a period of rapid growth and development.
 Adequate Nutrition is essential for lifelong health and well being.
 It is also essential to achieve optimal growth, development and
health.
 Thus it is essential to identify and correct any nutritional problems to avoid it to
carryinnextyearof life.

4. Infants should be exclusively breast fed for the first six months (wherever
possible).
Breast milk is a sufficient source of calories for the first six months for the
infant.
Also provides right amount of other nutrients which are easily digestible.
NUTRITIONAL GUIDELINES FOR
INFANTS

5. Contains various antibodies which help to build the infant’s immune system.
Commentary foods has to be gradually introduced after 6 months along with
breast feeding.
Single grain cereals (mashed and in porridge form, malted form), pureed
vegetables and fruits, dal water are advisable.
NUTRITIONAL GUIDELINES FOR
INFANTS

6. NUTRITIONAL GUIDELINES FOR
INFANTS
 Adding sugar, jaggery, oil or ghee will increase the calorific value of food.
 Once the child starts eating well, food items like khichadi, upma, daliya, kheer,
idli, curd, milk can be introduced.
 Never overfeed or force the child to eat
 Careful hygienic practices and storage of Complementary food is very essential
to prevent contamination and infection.

7.  Several developmental changes in brain, body and organ occur at this time.
 Best time for Visual development.
 Vitamins and minerals are very important for bone health, brain
development and to strengthen the immune system.
TODDLERS AND PRESCHOOLERS
(1-6 YEARS )

8. NUTRITIONAL GUIDELINES FOR
TODDLERS
 Introduce new foods at regular intervals to increase acceptance of new
food.
 Provide a variety of food using the Food Guide Pyramid for children.
 Provide them with small frequent meals rather than three large meals.
 Provide adequate green leafy vegetable, other vegetables and fruits for goods
sources of vitamins, minerals (specially Iron) and fibre.

9. NUTRITIONAL GUIDELINES FOR
TODDLERS
 Provide enough dairy sources for calcium intake.
 Provide food in a colourful and appealing way.
 Encourage the child to play actively each day.
 Don't force to eat or bribe the child with sweets or
treats.
 Limit television watching to 1 to 2 hours a day

10. SCHOOL GOING CHILDREN
(6-12 YEARS )
It is a growth spurt time where
nutritional needs are high but fairly
small appetite.
Important for good development for
cognitive skills,bone mineralization
and life long eating patterns.

11. SCHOOL GOING CHILDREN
(6-12 YEARS )
According to the “National Nutrition Monitoring Bureau of India”, over
50% of apparently healthy looking children have sub-clinical or
biochemical deficiencies of vitamin A, vitamins B2, B6, folate and
vitamin C.
Food choices largely depends a lot on family food choices, peer groups,
media.

12. NUTRITIONAL GUIDELINES FOR
SCHOOL GOING CHILDREN
 Provide variety in meals. Avoid Monotony.
 Encourage healthier options for snacks rather than fried and
unhealthy snacks like crisps, fries etc.
 School meals and packed lunches are very important part of daily
nutritional intake.
 Balance food with physical activity.

13. NUTRITIONAL GUIDELINES FOR
SCHOOL GOING CHILDREN
 Set good examples for healthy eating habit.
 Provide plenty of grains, fruits and vegetable, low fat dairy products.
 Moderate sugars and salt.
 Involve the child in making food choices.

14.  Encourage the child to eat with family at the
dining table.
 Never skip breakfast.
 Don't serve food in front of TV
 Avoid foods rich in saturated fats and
cholesterol.
NUTRITIONAL GUIDELINES FOR
SCHOOL GOING CHILDREN

15. ADOLESCENTS
(12 TO 18 YEARS)
 WHO states: It is a time of intense physical,
psychosocial, and cognitive development.
 Increased nutritional needs at this juncture relate to
the fact that adolescents gain up to 50% of their adult
weight, more than 20% of their adult height, and 50%
of their adult skeletal mass during this period.

16. ADOLESCENTS
(12 TO 18 YEARS)
 Thus it is important to take care and fuel it with
nutritious food so that it may develop to its
potential.
 Important for prevention of health problems such
as obesity, dental caries, iron deficiency, and
osteoporosis.
 Peers influence easily so harder to make healthy
choices.

17. NUTRITIONAL GUIDELINES FOR
ADOLESCENTS
 Consume balanced and small frequent meals with lot of variety in them.
 Teach adequate portion sizes of foods from all food groups.
 Choosing the diet with plenty of grains, vegetables, pulses, dairy
products.
 Choosing the diet low in salt, sugar, fat (saturated fats).

18. NUTRITIONAL GUIDELINES FOR
ADOLESCENTS
 Provide with readily available healthy
food choices even while eating
outside food.
 Involve the adolescent in making
good choices as well as
preparations oh healthy food.
 Drink less of sugar-sweetened
beverages (e.g., soft drinks, sport
drinks, fruit drinks, etc.)

19. THANK
YOU