|
|
 Nutrition
How
do I know if my child is eating enough?
Children eat when they
are hungry and usually stop when they are full. Some parents worry because
young children appear to eat very small amounts of food, especially when compared
to adult portions. A child who is growing well is getting enough to eat.
To check your child's
eating pattern, pay attention to his or her food choices.
-
Make
sure no one food group is completely left out. If this happens for a few
days, don't worry. But prolonged neglect of a food group could keep your
child from getting enough nutrients.
-
Encourage
your child to be adventurous and eat a variety of foods within the food
groups, too. Even within a food group, different foods provide different
nutrients.
Child-size servings
For youngsters, adult-size
servings can be overwhelming. Offering child-size servings encourages food
acceptance.
Here's an easy guide to
child-size servings:
-
Serve
one-fourth to one-third of the adult portion size, or one measuring tablespoon
for each year of the young child's age.
-
Give
less than you think the child will eat. Let the child ask for more if he
or she is still hungry.
Snacks count
Snacks make up an important
part of childhood nutrition. Children must eat frequently. With their small
stomachs, they cannot eat enough at meals alone for their high energy needs.
Three meals and two or three healthful snacks a day help youngsters meet their
daily nutrition needs.
To make the most of snacks,
parents and caregivers should control the type of snack and time it is served.
-
Type.
Offer a variety of food-group snacks. Choose mostly snack foods that supply
enough nutrients to justify their energy, or calories.
-
Timing.
Plan snacks. Schedule snacks around normal daily events, and space them
at least two hours before meals. Children should learn to get and feel hungry,
instead of feeling full all the time.
-
From
the Bread, Cereal, Rice and Pasta Group: a whole-grain bread, crackers,
cereal, grits, pasta, rice, bagel, tortilla, cornbread, pita bread, muffin,
English muffin, matzo crackers, rice cake, pancakes, breadsticks, pretzels
-
From
the Vegetable Group: asparagus, beets, bok choy, broccoli, carrot, cauliflower,
collard greens, corn, cucumber, green and red peppers, green beans, jicama,
kale, okra, peas, potato, pumpkin, snow peas, squash, spinach, sweet potato,
tomato, vegetable juices, zucchini
-
From
the Fruit Group: apple, applesauce, apricot, banana, berries, cantaloupe,
fruit cocktail, figs, fruit juices, grapefruit, kiwifruit, mango, nectarine,
orange, papaya, peach, pear, plum, pineapple, raisins, prunes, starfruit,
strawberries, tangerine, watermelon
-
From
the Milk, Yogurt and Cheese Group: skim, 1%, 2% and whole* milk, yogurt,
cheese, string cheese, cottage cheese, pudding, custard, frozen yogurt,
ice milk, calcium-fortified soybean milk
-
From
the Meat, Poultry, Fish, Dry Beans, Eggs and Nuts** Group: lean cuts
of beef, veal, pork, ham and lamb; skinless chicken and turkey; fish; shellfish;
cooked beans (kidney beans, black-eyed peas, pinto beans, lentils, black
beans); refried beans (made without lard); peanut butter; eggs; reduced-fat
deli meats; tofu; nuts**; peanuts**
*Children under two years
of age should only drink whole milk.
**Nuts, peanuts and seeds
are not recommended for children under four years of age because they are
a choking hazard. Small pieces of hard, uncooked fruits and vegetables also
pose a choking hazard to children under age four.
Published online: 4/07
Source: Right From the Start: ABCs of Good Nutrition for Young Children
(Copyright © 1991 American Academy of Pediatrics)
Healthcare professionals
may order
this publication in multi-copy packs.
Parents can find more information on this topic in Caring for Your Baby and
Young Child: Birth to Age 5. To order a copy of this book visit the AAP
Bookstore.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
The information contained
in this publication should not be used as a substitute for the medical care
and advice of your pediatrician. There may be variations in treatment that your
pediatrician may recommend based on individual facts and circumstances.
|
|
|
