Looking for ways to improve your child’s health? Dr. Giraldo Cepeda in Fort Pierce, FL, offers help with child nutrition and more.
Guide to Nutrition for Children
As wonderful and rewarding as parenting is, there’s no denying that it comes with a lot of work. Every moment is worth it, of course, but it still takes a great deal of effort. Of the many things parents need to do, making sure their children get the proper nutrition is a very important one. Below, Dr. Cepeda and his team in Fort Pierce, FL, share some of the many reasons child nutrition is important, how both you and your children can benefit from it, and how to help them eat well.
Why Is Nutrition So Important?
Your child’s body is like a machine that needs the proper fuel to operate. When a child’s body doesn’t get what it needs, it can have a very significant impact on everything – their concentration, energy, sleep quality, mood, and more. Additionally, poor nutrition – especially combined with a lack of physical activity – can lead to being overweight or obese. This can not only have an impact on your child’s physical health but also their mental and emotional health. Though proper nutrition can’t stop everything that comes a child’s way, eating well can help regulate moods, improve focus in school, help improve self-esteem, and much more.
How Do I Know What My Child Needs to Eat?
"Eating well” can often be hard to accomplish because it’s such a general term. Everyone has unique needs based on their health, activity level, and other lifestyle factors. Not every person needs to eat the same amount of calories or protein, for example. General recommendations for your child’s age are available and can be a great place to start. However, it can be highly beneficial to work with your child’s pediatrician on specific areas of concern or if the general guidelines do not suit your child due to allergies or other issues.
How Do I Get My Kids to Eat Better?
You don’t need to cut out every unhealthy item. Instead, it’s important to focus on balancing meals through a variety of options. Introducing several small changes over a few months will likely be more successful than drastic changes. Start with steps such as:
- Cutting drive-thru stops and freezer meals in half.
- Sitting down to eat a balanced meal together a few times a week.
- Leave fruit on the counter for a quick snack instead of chips.