NUTRITION IN CHILDHOOD

Nutrition in Preschool Age

 The preschool age period is from 1-6 years of age.
 Changes occur in children’s rate of growth and development e.g.,
continuing maturation of fine and gross motor skills
 Personality development influences both the amount of food they
consume and also the foods acceptable to them.
 Children at this stage need considerable amount of energy and
nutrient requirements to support their growth.

Age-related food guidelines

 1-2 years old
- Provide simple finger food
- Avoid choking hazard
- Introduce one new food a time.
 2-3 years old
- Continue with the introduction of new taste/new look
- Provide variety and observe right kind and amount of food
- Make mealtimes enjoyable
- Child joins at the family table and is taught proper table manners
 3-5 years old
- Bring your child in food shopping, include his suggestions in meal-
planning
- Guide selection using items in the food pyramid.

Nutrient Allowances
 Energy/ Calories
- Determined by age, activity, and basal metabolism
- Average energy requirement during the first 12-18 months is 55
kcal/kg body weight
- If the child’s diet lacks calories, the body will utilize the proteins for
energy resulting in protein calorie malnutrition (PCN). If protein is
also not adequate, tissue reserves are used for energy and body
building needs leading to Marasmus.
 Protein
- About 1.5 to 2 g/kg of body weight is required.
 - This amount will provide for the increase in skeletal and muscle
tissue
- Recommended that foods in this group should be served about
once or twice a day
 Vitamins and Minerals
 Fluids
- The total fluid requirement of a healthy child is 4-6 glasses, 1-1/2
quarts o1 1,000 to 1,500 ml.

Feeding the Preschool Child

 Children should not be forced to eat because a normal, healthy child
will eat without prodding.
 Snacks should not be given 1- 1.5 hours before a meal because this
reduces appetite.
 Preschool children do best with small servings of food offered several
times during the day because of their smaller capacity and variable
appetite.
 Snacks should be those dense in nutrients and should not promote
dental caries.
 Children should eat sitting down so they can concentrate on chewing
and swallowing.

Common Nutrition Problems

1. Protein-Energy Malnutrition – aged 1-3 years are vulnerable to PEM. Its
manifestation is a weight for height that is below the reference standard.
Severe form of PEM are Marasmus and Kwashiorkor.
2. Iron Deficiency Anemia (IDA) – either low hemoglobin or a low hematocrit
or both compared with normal concentrations.
3. Vitamin A deficiency – results in night blindness (inability to see in dim
light), xeropthalmia (dryness of the eyes), rough dry skin and membranes of
nose and throat, increased susceptibility to infections, poor growth and
blindness in severe cases.
4. Iodine-deficiency Disorders – refers to a group of clinical entities caused by
inadequacy of dietary iodine that includes goiter, hot or cold intolerance,
mental retardation, deaf-mutism, difficulty in standing or walking normally,
and stunting of the limbs of children of goitrous mothers.
Nutrition in School Age
 School age years is generally considered to be 6-12 years of age.
 Characterized by a slow, steady growth compared with the extremes
of growth and development seen in infancy and adolescence.
 Increased body promotions, enhanced mental capabilities, and more
mind and body coordination.
 Weight generally increases an average of 2-3 kg per year until 9-10
years old.
 Body composition remains relatively constant.
 Fat gradually deceases during early childhood reaching a minimum at
6 years old. After this, it increases I preparation for pubertal growth
spurt.

Nutrient allowances
 Energy
- Allowances for school children decline gradually to approximately
80-90 kcal/kg for aged 7-9 years old and 70-80 kcal/kg for aged 10-12
years.
- Must be adjusted individually since there are wide variations in the
children’s physical activity.
 Protein
- Approximately 35 g is recommended
- Milk, cheese and/or yogurt may be given 3 servings per day. Meat,
fish and alternatives are given 2 servings per day.
 Vitamins and Minerals
- Calcium is needed for continued mineralization of bones and
prevention of osteoporosis.
- Iron is essential for growth and development and prevention of
anemia especially for girls who start to menstruate at age of 11-12
years.
Feeding the School Age Child
 School children eat less frequently than younger children, perhaps 4-
5 times on school days and they do not eat well when tired.
A quiet activity or rest immediately before eating is conducive to a
relaxed, enjoyable meal.
 Breakfast is an important meal ad provides ¼ to 1/3 of the daily
nutrient allowances.
 Make green leafy and yellow vegetables and fruits a “must” in daily
family meals.
 Pack nutritious lunch. Remember that one packed lunch should
supply at least 1/3 of the child’s daily food needs.
 Avoid serving too spicy and highly seasoned foods because it can
destroy their appetite for a bland, highly nutritious foods.
 Make snack counts. Serve nutritious snacks like root crops, beans, or
fresh fruit instead of candies and soft drinks.