Child nutrition
The news on modern child nutrition is not good. A recent survey showed that nearly half of parents in Britain don't think their children eat in a healthy way.
While researchers recently reported that childrens nutrition is worse now than in the 1950s.
Despite the food shortages of the post-war period, modern child nutrition is mising key nutrients such as fibre, calcium, vitamins and iron.
Getting your child's nutrition right is crucial for their overall health. Proper nutrition prevents the onset of many medical problems, including obesity, weak bones, and diabetes.
The keys to a good child's diet are:
- Encourage them to eat a variety of foods
- Include plenty of grains, fruits and vegetables
- Restrict their intake of fat (especially saturated fat) and cholesterol
- Eat moderate quantities of sugar and salt
- Be sure they get enough calcium and iron - crucial for growing bodies
- Balance the food they eat with physical activity
Parents play a crucial role - not only are they the main providers of food for their kids (school often being the other), but they should also encourage good nutrition by setting a good example.
Healthy eating and regular exercise are habits that we acquire when young, and should therefore be a part of every family's life. By setting an example when kids are young, and encouraging the whole family to adopt healthy habits, you can set your kids on a path to lifelong good health.