How Do I find out if my child is getting all the required nutrients?

How Can I Tell Whether My Child Is Receiving All the Nutrients They Need?

Offering proper child nutrition is key to supporting healthy growth and development. Child health and nutrition is one of our top priorities as parents. Immunity, cognitive function, and physical growth are all greatly aided by proper diet for children. However, how can you be certain that your child is receiving all of the nutrients they require on a regular basis?

The indicators of child nutrition such as balanced diet, how to spot nutritional shortages, and doable tactics to enhance child health and nutrition at home are all covered below.

The Importance of Adequate Child Nutrition

Compared to adults, children have higher nutritional requirements per kg of body weight. This is because children are developing additional new tissues, bones, and brain connections. A diet that is balanced:

• Stimulates development and growth¹
• Improves focus and learning
• Builds immunity ²
• Avoids inadequacies that might result in long-term health problems ³

According to research, poor child health and nutrition throughout a child’s early years might raise the likelihood of later-life immune system weakness, delayed growth, and even chronic illnesses.

Evidence That Your Child Is Not Getting Enough Nutrients

Although each child is different, there are several indicators that may point to dietary deficits. You should check for:

• Slower-than-anticipated weight increase or growth
• Regular diseases or illnesses
• Weakness, exhaustion, or inability to concentrate
• Delayed developmental milestones in cognitive or physical domains
• Alterations to the skin, hair, or nails (dry hair, brittle nails, etc.)²

It is advisable to consult a paediatrician or dietician if you observe recurring problems. Using height and weight charts to track your child’s growth on a regular basis can also help you determine whether their diet is promoting healthy development.

How to Evaluate Your Child Nutrition and Dietary Consumption

You don’t have to speculate about how balanced your child’s food is. Here are a few efficient methods:

• Maintain a Food Journal:

For a week, keep track of your child’s diet. Check for the absence of important food categories by comparing it to suggested dietary requirements. Children should eat a variety of cereals, proteins, fruits, vegetables, and dairy products each day.

• Verify the Size of the Portion:

Children can consume the correct meals in the wrong amounts. Nutrient deficiencies resulting from undereating from key categories, such as dairy or proteins, can have an impact on the nutrition and health of children.

• Make Use of BMI and Growth Charts:

To ascertain if your child’s dietary intake promotes healthy development, your paediatrician can evaluate your child’s growth trends and body mass index (BMI).

• If necessary, blood tests:

Doctors may suggest testing for iron, vitamin D, or calcium deficits in situations of concern (such as anaemia, exhaustion, or stunted development).⁴

Crucial Elements All Children Must Have

Including all of the important nutritional categories in a child’s diet is known as balanced nutrition. Important nutrients consist of:

• Proteins: For growth, repair, and muscle building
• The main energy source for kids is carbohydrates
• Good fats promote the synthesis of hormone and development of brain
• Minerals like calcium, iron, zinc and vitamins like B complex, vitamin C, vitamin A and Vitamin D for energy metabolism, immunity, and bone health
• Fibre to prevent constipation and promote digestive health⁵

Doable Strategies to Enhance Child Health and Nutrition

Nutrient adequacy can be guaranteed by making little but steady adjustments to regular eating routines. Daily advice for parents

• You can provide diversity to guarantee a broad spectrum of nutrients. You can even alternate between various fruits, vegetables, and proteins.
• Plates that include half fruits and vegetables, 25% protein, and 25% healthy grains should be encouraged.
• Healthy snacking should be promoted by replacing chips and drinks with yoghurt, almonds, fruit slices, or smoothies.
• Kids imitate what they observe so parents should set an example by eating well-balanced meals themselves inspiring others to do the same.
• To fill nutritional shortages, certain kids could benefit from fortified milk or health beverages so consider usage of healthy fortified foods.⁶

Taking Care of Picky Eating

Picky eating is widespread. Few helpful tactics to deal with picky eaters are:

• Gradually introduce new meals alongside well-known favourites.
• Parents can add fun and colour elements to their child’s meals
• Start by serving little portions and letting go of the need to consume everything at once
• Include your child in cooking to stimulate their interest⁷

When to Look for Expert Advice

A registered dietician can offer customised dietary guidance if you believe your child’s growth or development is not proceeding as planned. In addition to suggesting food substitutions and supplements as necessary, they are able to evaluate dietary consumption. In order to rule out medical reasons for low nutrition absorption, paediatricians are also essential.

In conclusion, balanced child nutrition supports growth

One of the most crucial things you can do for your child’s long-term growth and health is to make sure they eat a healthy and balanced diet. You may provide a solid basis for your child health and nutrition by keeping an eye on development, looking for indications of inadequacies, and offering a range of meals.

Options that have been scientifically developed might assist fill up any nutrient shortfalls that may worry you. Experience Complan, a scientifically developed beverage that contains 34 vital nutrients to support growth and development, which is crucial for growing youngsters. It also has 63% more protein than popular malt-based drink. Tomorrows will be healthier if you support your child nutrition now.

Never let kid’s nutrition leave behind, find Complan for kids on Zydus India website or platforms like Amazon and Flipkart.

Find Complan at the nearest grocery store, or online platforms like Amazon, Flipkart, Zepto, Blinkit, and Swiggy Instamart and don’t let your child’s nutrition take a back seat.

References:

1.  Ayuba, D. G. (2023). Why nutrition programs for children remain important. Current Research in Food Science, 6, 100209. https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S2452263523000095

2. Kozioł-Kozakowska A. (2023). Adequate Nutrition in Early Childhood. Children (Basel, Switzerland), 10(7), 1155. https://doi.org/10.3390/children10071155

3. De Sanctis, V., Soliman, A., Alaaraj, N., Ahmed, S., Alyafei, F., & Hamed, N. (2021). Early and Long-term Consequences of Nutritional Stunting: From Childhood to Adulthood. Acta bio-medica : Atenei Parmensis, 92(1), e2021168. https://doi.org/10.23750/abm.v92i1.11346

4. American Academy of Pediatric Dentistry. (2022). Policy on dietary recommendations for infants, children, and adolescents. The Reference Manual of Pediatric Dentistry. https://www.aapd.org/media/policies_guidelines/p_recdietary.pdf

5. American Heart Association. (n.d.). Dietary recommendations for healthy children. https://www.heart.org/en/healthy-living/healthy-eating/eat-smart/nutrition-basics/dietary-recommendations-for-healthy-children

6. American Academy of Pediatrics. (n.d.). Infant food and feeding. Healthy Active Living for Families. https://www.aap.org/en/patient-care/healthy-active-living-for-families/infant-food-and-feeding/

7. American Heart Association. (n.d.). 5 tips to deal with picky eaters—both kids and adults. https://www.heart.org/en/healthy-living/healthy-eating/eat-smart/nutrition-basics/5-tips-to-deal-with-picky-eaters-both-kids-and-adults