Covid 19 Cases Rising: Nutrition Tips to Strengthen Your Child’s Health During Covid 19 Resurgence

According to the recent coronavirus update, Covid 19 and symptoms of covid are re-emerging globally and child nutrition is once again becoming the topmost priority for a lot of parents. Trying to include the correct set of nutrients in your child’s daily diet can help in supporting the immune system and fighting against corona symptoms thereby reducing Covid cases.

Table of Contents

• The Importance of Child Nutrition during Covid 19
• Why Protein for Kids Matters: Building Blocks for Growth & Immunity
• Best Sources of Protein for Kids
• Immune-Boosting Meal Ideas for Children
• Lifestyle Habits to Complement Good Child Nutrition
• Covid 19 – Safe Grocery Shopping and Meal Prep Tips
• Conclusion

The Importance of Child Nutrition during Covid 19

With the recent coronavirus update, it is essential to note that optimal child nutrition plays a key role in supporting immunity and assisting them in resisting infections and recover from corona symptoms if affected.

Good child nutrition can help with:

1. Support towards Strengthening immunity: powerful antioxidants like vitamin A, C, E from dietary sources like carrot, green leafy vegetables, citrus fruits, lemon, nuts and oilseeds help in fighting off the inflammation.
2. Supports growth, development, and cognitive function.
3. Helps in preventing nutrient deficiencies that can hamper the immune system’s capability to fight.

Why Protein for Kids Matters: Building Blocks for Growth & Immunity

Growth and development in children is always associated with protein intake. And rightly so, because protein for kids is a macronutrient that builds the foundation for their physical and cognitive development.

Different types of amino acids act as building blocks to make various proteins. These amino acids are essential to support different biological functions in the body. Protein promotes formation of antibodies to promote the immune response and plays an important role in tissue repair and regeneration and hence promotes wound healing. With the rise of Covid cases, make sure that you are including enough protein sources as lack of protein in the diet can not only impair growth but also lead to increased risk of infections.

Best Sources of Protein for Kids

Secure enough protein for kids by including both:

1. Animal sources: milk and milk products like curd and paneer, eggs, chicken, meat, and fish
2. Plant-based sources: dals, pulses, legumes, quinoa, soyabean and soya products like tofu, tempeh, soy milk, and soya chunks.

However, if your child is a fussy eater and is not able to meet the, then you can include a nutritional drink like Complan which has 63% more protein than malt based nutritional drink.

Immune-Boosting Meal Ideas for Children

You can support your child’s immunity to fight against Covid 19 by including healthy well-balanced meals and putting many colors on the plate.

Designing healthy meal plan for kids should include 3 well-balanced main meals and 1-2 healthy snacks for kids. Every healthy meal for kids should be balanced by including:

1. Protein: milk, curd, paneer, eggs, meat, seafood, dals, whole pulses, soyabean
2. Complex carbs: whole grains, millets, quinoa, rolled oats
3. Healthy Fats: nuts and oilseeds, avocado, fatty fish, olives
4. Vitamins and Minerals (antioxidants): Fruits and vegetables

Sample Meal Plan for Kids

Focus on the pro tips to build the immune-boosting capacity of the meal

Lifestyle Habits to Complement Good Child Nutrition

Following are some crucial lifestyle habits that that can help with the new wave of Covid 19:

1. Adequate sleep: secure at least 9 hours of good quality sleep every night
2. Physical Activity: physical activity releases endorphins, increases blood flow to the brain, and improves energy levels.
3. Hydration: adequate water intake prevents dehydration and mood swings.
4. Hygiene: practices like washing hands correctly and using masks can help in preventing corona transmission.

COVID 19 – Safe Grocery Shopping and Meal Prep Tips

With increasing Covid cases based on the recent coronavirus update, if you or your child is experiencing any symptoms of Covid, then take following safe precautions for grocery shopping and use the meal prep tips:

1. Avoid shopping in the rush hours. Choose to go when there is lesser crowd to avoid corona transmission.
2. Wash and sanitize the packages and fresh produce thoroughly.
3. Stock your pantry with enough staples for the family.
4. Include your kids in meal prepping to stimulate their interest.
5. Frozen vegetables and fruits can be an equally nutritious and convenient choice.

Conclusion

Increasing Covid cases as per the recent coronavirus update serves as a reminder to look out for the classic symptoms of covid and take the necessary precautions. Emphasizing good child nutrition by including well balanced meals with adequate amount of protein for kids and ample of antioxidants through fruits and vegetables can used as a natural shield against corona symptoms. It is important to make sure that your child’s meals are not only diverse in colors and textures but also safe and hygienically prepared. If your child is a fussy eater and is not able to meet the requirement through food, then you can include a nutritional drink like Complan. Promote your child’s immunity during this resurfacing wave of Covid 19 by making smart dietary and lifestyle choices.

References:

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Bottin, J. H., Morin, C., Guelinckx, I., & Perrier, E. T. (2019). Hydration in Children: What Do We Know and Why Does it Matter?. Annals of nutrition & metabolism, 74 Suppl 3, 11–18. https://doi.org/10.1159/000500340

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