Chapter 5 Nutritional Needs of Different Age

Groups

AT A GLANCE

By the end of this chapter, you will be able to:

• Differentiate the nutritional requirements of different age groups

• Explain the factors to consider when planning meals for the
different age groups
• Use different types of nutritional tools to plan meals
• Apply appropriate guidelines when planning meals for the
different age groups

1
 Chapter 5 Nutritional Needs of Different Age
Groups

Nutritional Needs — Children

Characteristics:
• At an important stage of growth
• Very active
• Should have a good supply of nutrients

Nutritional needs:
• Carbohydrates — for energy Factors to consider:
• Make meals colourful and attractive
• Proteins — for growth and
• Serve frequent meals in small
development
• Calcium and vitamin D — for portions
• Include healthy snacks
building strong bones and teeth
• Encourage a higher intake of water,
• Vitamins A, C and the B-group —
fruit and vegetables
for good health

2
 Chapter 5 Nutritional Needs of Different Age
Groups

Nutritional Needs — Teenagers

Characteristics:
• At the stage of rapid growth and puberty
• Physically active
• Require greater amount of nutrients that
provide energy

Factors to consider:
Nutritional needs:
• Encourage an active lifestyle with a
• Proteins — for growth and development
• Carbohydrates — for energy balanced diet
• Calcium and vitamin D — for strong bones and • Discourage eating food high in fats,
teeth salt or sugar
• Vitamin C — for healthy skin, good • Include iron-rich food
complexion and the absorption of iron • Limit deep fried foods
• Iron — especially important for females • Encourage a higher intake of water,
• Water — for proper hydration
fruit and vegetables

3
 Chapter 5 Nutritional Needs of Different Age
Groups

Nutritional Needs — Adults

Characteristics:
• Achieve peak bone mass before the age
of 30 years
• Require an adequate intake of calcium to
help attain maximum bone mass
Factors to consider:
Nutritional needs: • Use My Healthy Plate
• Carbohydrates — for energy for work to plan a balanced diet
and play • Eat a wide variety of
• Calcium and vitamin D — for achieving food
maximum bone mass
• Select healthier food
• Vitamins — for good health
• Iron — for women of childbearing age choices that are lower
• Water — for proper hydration in salt, sugar or fats

4
 Chapter 5 Nutritional Needs of Different Age
Groups

Nutritional Needs — The Elderly

Characteristics:
• Less active
• Body functions have slowed down
• Demand for energy decreases
• May have poor appetite
Factors to consider:
Nutritional needs: • Provide food that is
• Carbohydrates and fats — to consume easy to chew, swallow
moderately for energy and digest
• Sufficient proteins — to maintain and
• Use suitable cooking
repair body cells
• Calcium and vitamin D — to maintain methods such as
bone mass and prevent osteoporosis steaming
• Water and dietary fibre — to prevent • Serve food in smaller
constipation portions in an
attractive way

5
 Chapter 5 Nutritional Needs of Different Age
Groups

Types of Nutritional Tools

• Nutritional tools are guidelines that can help

us plan our meals to achieve a balanced diet.
• The different types of nutritional tools you will
learn are:
- My Healthy Plate
- Dietary Guidelines for Children and Teenagers
- Food Composition Table
- Recommended Dietary Allowances

6
 Chapter 5 Nutritional Needs of Different Age
Groups

Dietary Guidelines for Children and Teenagers

Develop healthy habits

Eat enough fruit and vegetables
Aim for variety and balance
Cut down on saturated fats
Go for whole-grains
Bone up on calcium
Limit your salt intake
Watch the sugar

7
 Chapter 5 Nutritional Needs of Different Age
Groups

Food Composition Table

A Food Composition Table shows the energy and

nutrient values of different types of food.

8
 Chapter 5 Nutritional Needs of Different Age
Groups

Recommended Dietary Allowances

The Recommended
Dietary Allowances
(RDA) refers to the
average amount of
energy and
nutrients that meet
the needs of most
individuals in a day.