Sunday, July 20, 2008

A Guide to Child Health and Nutrition

If you have a child, regardless of their age, you are going to need to learn some important nutrition facts and become more informed on child health and nutrition and the foods that your child should be avoiding and including in their diet.

Food Pyramid

If you are concerned with child health and nutrition, one of the first steps you are going to have to take is to learn about the food pyramid. If you do not understand the food pyramid you will not be able to recognize how to provide them with the nutrition that they need to strive.

The food guide pyramid was designed by the US Dept of Agriculture to promote healthy nutrition in children over six years of age. The main emphasis of the pyramid is on the five major food groups, all of which are required for good health.

For proper child health and nutrition you are going to want to make sure that they are eating foods from all of these different food groups. Keep in mind that a serving in the food pyramid is not equal to whatever portion that you can eat at one meal. For instance, although the pyramid says that you should eat 2-3 servings of meat a day this does not mean that you need to eat meat three different times in one day.

Instead it means that you can have all 2-3 servings in a single meal if you have one large 5 to 7 ounce portion.

Also for proper child health and nutrition you want to make sure that they are getting enough exercise. Usually this is not such a major issue with children, but when you take a look at just how many kids are obese these days, it is not optional anymore.

To give your child health and nutrition to keep them healthy, you are going to want to keep them from spending hours on the computer, and instead give them a time limit and then make sure they are doing something active. Whether this means getting them outside to play sports or just having them play around with their friends, anything that they are doing that is physical will be great for their overall health.

You can speak to a child nutritionist if you would like more information on this and some helpful tips and advice. These are professionals who are specially trained in this field and who will be able to offer you valuable information and advice.

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