Proper Child Nutrition

Proper nutrition will ensure your child's body growth and normal development. It mainly depends on the weight and the level of daily activities of your child. Well balanced child nutrition encourages your children in the areas of proper growth, physical activity, energy supply, learning skills, healthy weight as well as strong bones and muscles. Proper nutrition also keeps the child away from obesity related diseases like type 2 diabetes. In your child's diet, you must include fresh fruits and vegetables, dairy products, grains and liquids.

The following are some guidelines for proper child nutrition:

* Select the food items, which are less spicy and less salty.

* Provide a large selection of child nutrition foods such as fresh fruits, legumes, green leafy vegetables, etc.

* Prefer nutrients that are rich in calcium. This helps build and maintain healthy and strong bones.

* Fat free products and low fat milk are always welcomed into your child's diet.

* Give them milkshakes made with low-fat milk or orange juice and treats made of frozen fruits and yogurt. These items make available required calcium to the body.

* Encourage them to eat lot of cereals.

* Non-vegetarian foods supply the best child nutrition. Encourage your child to eat nuts, lean meat, poultry and fish.

* Choose a diet which is low in fat, cholesterol and saturated fat.

* Milk and milk products are the best child nutrition foods. For the growth and development, you should include these items into the diet. In addition, these are high in calcium that helps to obtain healthy teeth.

* Keep away from the foods that are high in fat and sugar content.

* Grains are the great child nutrition food. Whole grain products hold iron that kids require. Pasta or whole-wheat bread can supply essential grains for the proper functioning of the body.

* Encourage your child to drink low-fat milk and lots of water. Avoid sodas, sugary fruit drinks and milkshakes. Replace ice cream with frozen yogurt.

* Try not to bring junk food into the home.

* Cereals are high in fiber. Stock them over sweet cereals.

* Offer peanut butter and crackers over chips.

* Offer cucumbers, celery and carrots with a childs preferred dip.

* Replace fruit roll-ups with dried fruits.

* In place of high fat cookies, offer them fig cookies, animal crackers, vanilla wafers and graham crackers.

* Replace chips and cracker jacks with pretzels

* Put fresh fruits in bowls at different places in the house.

* Prepare vegetables creatively. Insert cheese to broccoli, mash the cauliflower like potatoes, and give ketchup for pinto beans.

* If your child hates sauce, cook their meat separate without the sauce.

* Stock up on tortillas. Use them at breakfast for sausage and eggs; at lunch for cheese roll ups, grilled chicken and salad; and at supper for rice, tomatoes and beef.

* Young children necessitate healthy snacks to acquire adequate energy and nutrients for growth. Offer snacks at least two hours prior to mealtime.