Children are gaining more weight than ever before, they're eating too much high-fat, high-sugar food and are spending less time being physically active. Weight problems that develop during childhood can lead to weight-related illnesses such as cancer, heart disease, high blood pressure and diabetes, as well as a lack of self-esteem and being bullied at school.
As responsible parents we need to teach our children how to lead healthy lives and what better time to start teaching these lessons is when they are young, before unhealthy choices become lifelong bad habits. If you want to pass on healthy habits to your children, it is important to practice what you preach. Just telling your kids what to do won't necessarily work they need to see you choosing healthy options as well.
By the time your child becomes a toddler, they'll have formed their own likes and dislikes about food. But like adults, they need to eat a balanced diet. When children start school, they're growing fast and should be getting more active. So they need foods that satisfy their high energy needs.
Breastfeeding
In most cases, breast milk is the most perfect food for your baby. It contains easily digestible proteins, many factors that support your new baby's immature immune system, and other factors that aid in digestion. It is also low in cost and requires no preparation.
Breast fed babies are also less likely to have colic, upper respiratory infections, ear infections, constipation, asthma or allergies.
Breastfeed for 6 months exclusively and then, after starting solids, continue to breastfeed for at least 12 months and thereafter for as long as mutually desired.
A few tips to remember
Good website for baby recipes Homemade-baby food recipes
Toddlers can eat the same food as adults, but before they're two years old they can only eat small amounts. Young children need energy (calories) from food and nutrients such as protein, fat, carbohydrate, vitamins and minerals, to make sure their bodies work properly and can repair themselves.
What to give
At this age, children grow very quickly and are usually very active, so they need plenty of calories and nutrients. A healthy and varied diet should provide all the nutrients your toddler need.
Remember to include these sorts of foods every day:
Avoid
When your child first starts school, he or she will suddenly start growing fast and becoming more active. Children's energy and nutrient needs are high in relation to their body size compared to adults.
What to give
Children need a healthy, balanced diet, which is rich in fruit, vegetables and starchy foods.
Meal size
Children often like to be treated like little grown-ups before they've really grown up and this applies to mealtimes as well, make sure they are given child size portions and not adult sizes. If they are presented with more food than their body needs and then made to clear their plates, that excess food converts to stored fat. So make sure they have a small plate and not an adult one.
Encourage your child to choose a variety of foods to help ensure that they obtain the wide range of nutrients they need to stay healthy.
Remember to include these sorts of foods:
Encourage your child to drink water or milk and avoid sugary drinks, which can damage teeth.
Limit sweets and snacks such as cakes, biscuits, chocolate and sweets.
Fruits:
Vegetables:
Encourage them to get plenty of exercise, sporting activities and fresh air daily, remember you owe it to your children to start their lives off with a healthy eating pattern and lifestyle habits, so they can grow into healthy adults.
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