Good health is directly linked to ’good’ nutrition. Children need to get the right balance of all necessary nutrients: proteins, fats, carbohydrates, vitamins and minerals on a daily basis.
If there are insufficient nutrients then growth, development and immunity may all be affected.
As young children begin to socialise in daycare, school or simply group play, these new environments can challenge their immune system as they come into contact with new and different germs. The result can be frequent runny noses and colds, as well as stomach bugs and diarrhoea. At the same time young children can be fussy about what they eat, due to tiredness, being unwell or simply being too busy to bother with meal times.
Children are physically, mentally and emotionally growing at a rapid rate. Ensuring both pre-school and school-aged children consume appropriate levels of essential nutrients may assist in supporting the development of essential “tools” for their schooling. These include behaviour, concentration, vision and brain function, as well as growth and development.
Tips for getting children to eat more fruits and vegetables and other healthy foods!
• Set a good example - when it comes to eating fruits and vegetables, the actions of older family members will definitely influence how kids react. If you eat and enjoy fruit and vegetables every day, your children may eventually follow your lead.
• Offer variety - offer children a variety of fruit and vegetables every day. Choose different coloured fruit and vegetables, particularly yellow, green and red.
• Offer choices - when it comes to serving fruits and vegetables, offering kids two to three fruit or vegetable choices at each meal is a smart idea. Choosing between baby carrots or celery sticks allows children to make decisions and exercise power.
• Add fruits and vegetables to favourite foods - adding fruits and vegetables to favourite foods is an easy way to get a child to eat more fruits and vegetables. e.g. if bread is the favourite, offer different types of bread and play around with different toppings. Put sliced bananas on top of cereal or add extra vegies to spaghetti sauce.
• Involve your child in food preparation and planning - kids are more likely to try something they've helped prepare. To get your kids interested in making fruit and vegetable recipes or have them help find recipes to try.
• If a food is rejected don’t make a big deal, try it another time. Children may need to taste a new food a number of times in order to decide whether they like the taste.
• Make mealtimes sociable and enjoyable rather than a chore. Eat together as a family as often as possible.
• Don’t give children new food when they are tired and fussy. They are less likely to try it or enjoy it.
• Make it easy - keep a bowl of fresh fruit handy, and vegetables such as peas, cherry tomatoes, baby carrots and mushrooms in the fridge to grab for a quick snack.
• Don’t offer snacks close to meal times. This will help ensure your children are hungry and will more likely eat what is on their plate.
• Make meal times fun: capturing the imagination of kids can make eating fruits and vegetables more exciting. Present young kids with cut up fruits and vegetables, and then let them create funny faces or animals. While creating their masterpiece, they're likely to snack on the tasty building blocks.
• Consider giving the child a naturally sweetened multi-vitamin designed specifically for children to cover the gaps.
