| g is perhaps one of life’s greatest pleasures. | | | | and general well-being. For girls, the bone formation is |
| It is necessary for us to survive. Yet the kinds and | | | | concentrated on the first two decades of life. About |
| amounts of food that we ingest, instead of aiding | | | | half of the bone’s density is formed during |
| survival, takes a toll on our longevity. We have to be | | | | these years. Eating the right amounts of food rich in |
| conscious about the kind of food that we eat. Our | | | | calcium will build up the supply of calcium and prevent |
| eating habits and our penchant for certain tastes and | | | | osteoporosis and brittle bone disease in later years. |
| flavors are developed from childhood. Healthy eating | | | | Nutritionists and dieticians recommend a calcium |
| habits are formed from birth. For our children to grow | | | | intake of anywhere from 500 milligrams to 1300 |
| healthy, we have to train them to eat healthy at an | | | | milligrams depending on the child’s age. Giving |
| early stage. | | | | our children milk instead of sodas or flavored drinks |
| Our initiation to anything gustatory started from the | | | | will contribute to their calcium intake. Other foods |
| time we were fed our first drop of mother’s | | | | that are rich in calcium include cheese and yogurt. |
| milk. As we introduce solid food to our children, | | | | Fiber is another must in a child’s diet. Fibrous |
| whatever food we feed them should be as healthy | | | | foods are loaded with lots of vitamins and minerals to |
| as possible. While baby food is conveniently available | | | | aid your child’s growth and development. |
| in hermetically sealed jars and packages, your baby | | | | Phytonutrients found in high-fiber foods give your |
| can derive more nutritional benefits from homemade | | | | child’s immune system a boost. Fiber can add |
| baby food. Boiled pieces of meat and vegetables can | | | | bulk to your child’s bowel movements and |
| be pureed or mashed to make baby food. You can | | | | consequently prevent constipation. Eating adequate |
| make a batch and put the excess in an ice cube tray | | | | amounts of fiber-rich foods can reduce risks of |
| for freezing. On the next feeding time, all you have | | | | acquiring diabetes and heart diseases in later years. |
| to do is to pop one baby food cube from the tray | | | | Other minerals that help in your child’s growth |
| and heat it up. | | | | and development are magnesium and potassium. |
| A child’s salt and sugar intake especially during | | | | While not commonly seen in food labels, magnesium |
| the early years should be controlled lest they develop | | | | and potassium are essential nutrients in bodily |
| a sweet-tooth or an addiction to salty food. Keep | | | | functions that make your child go, glow and grow. |
| your kids away from sweets, sugary foods like | | | | Magnesium rich foods include green leafy vegetables, |
| cakes and pastries, flavored drinks, soda and | | | | beans and nuts. Potassium, on the other hand, may |
| anything containing sucrose. This can help curb | | | | be found in dairy, meat and seafood. Both |
| predisposition to childhood diabetes and obesity. | | | | magnesium and potassium improves your |
| Excessive sugar consumption for a child whose | | | | child’s bone, heart and muscle functions. |
| physical activity is limited can result in increased fat | | | | Healthy children make for a healthy future. As |
| stores, making him more susceptible to fat-related | | | | parents, it goes without saying that we want the |
| diseases such as hypertension. | | | | best future for our children. Raising them to lead |
| Calcium is an important element in a child’s | | | | healthy lives is a step towards a healthy and |
| diet. This plays a great role in a child’s growth | | | | productive future. |