The right meal for your child

 

Introduction:

Giving your child the right meal is paramount for its maximum growth and development. That is why careful measures and nutritional directions must be strictly adhered to in order to ensure that every nutrient required by your child’s body system is provided in the right quantity. I commend some schools that made a compulsory lunch roster for their pupils, which their parents must adhere to.

Why give your child the right meal:

Childhood is an important stage in one’s life. It is the time when there is rapid cell division, which brings about the growth of body tissues and the body in general. Choosing the right meal for your child provides the necessary nutrients in the right quantity required for these metabolic processes.

The foods below are important for the growth and development of your child.

Beans, legumes, and bean-related foods— Beans and other legumes are known to contain protein. Protein is needed for tissue growth and repair. Most substances in the human body system are made of protein or are proteins, e.g., some hormones. Imagine when there is no protein to build these substances. Soybean is nutritious for your child.

Cranberries, organic yoghurt, organic strawberries, organic cheese, and organic potatoes—these and many more are rich in iodine. Iodine can also be found in iodised salt. Iodine is needed for the formation of thyroid hormone (a hormone that manages metabolism, detoxification, and growth and development of your child). The recommended daily allowance (RDA) for children ages 1-8 is 90 micrograms every day.

Eggs, Fish, and Meat—These are animal proteins and are more efficient than the plant variety (e.g., beans). They are also required for the growth and repair of the tissues of the body. Egg albumin is rich in protein, while the yolk is energy-giving because it is rich in calories.

Green leafy vegetables are rich in vitamin K, necessary for blood clotting. Haemorrhagic disease of the newborn is caused by vitamin K deficiency.

Guava, lime, lemon, green leafy vegetables, orange, and other citrus fruits—these provide vitamin C. Your children do not need to take a vitamin C supplement when they eat enough citrus fruit. Vitamin C helps to boost your child’s immune system and is also necessary for wound healing.

Milk, butter, cream, cheese, egg yolk, liver, fish liver oils (cod liver oil and shark liver oil), carrots, papayas, mangoes, pumpkins, and green leafy vegetables (spinach, amaranth) – all these provide vitamin A necessary for good sight. Some sugars are fortified with vitamin A; always go for those ones. The recommended daily allowance (RDA) of vitamin A for children is 400-600 micrograms/day.

Milk—Breast milk for children under the age of one. Milk is required for the proper function of the brain and boosts the memory of your child. Milk also contains calcium, which is needed for strong bones and teeth. The daily requirement of calcium for a child is about 1200 mg/day.

Fish liver oil, fish milk, and egg yolk—these foods are rich in vitamin D. Vitamin D is required for strong bones. Its deficiency causes rickets in children. The requirement of vitamin D for children is 10 micrograms (400 IU)/day.

Banana—The health benefits of bananas for children include improving urinary disorders, controlling diarrhoea, treating constipation, being easy on the stomach, and helping in reducing skin inflammation. It is also rich in energy and vitamins.

Apple—Apples contain fibre, vitamin C, and polyphenols, which are antioxidants. Fibre helps the digestive system, vitamin C helps the immune system and wound healing, while polyphenols help to destroy dangerous oxidants.

Love for your child entails care and protection. Choose the right meal for your child.

Be happy, live healthily, and be successful.