The Main Nutrients

Growing up is a challenging time for children, either a toddler or a teen. Proper nutrition is essential to help them to grow and develop well. Moreover, good nutrition in the body can help to build up a better immune system to protect children from foreign particles or other common infections and also helps to recover faster. Usually, knowing what and how much nutrients suppose to provide to your children has been overlooked. In order to get your small ones to have good nutrition, it begins with the parents to find out what and how much nutrients your child required.

A balanced diet with nutrient-dense foods help kids grow up healthy. It is very important that for parents to give the right types of food in the right amount at the correct timing to their children. There are 3 main things that parents must take note: first, there is no single food can provide all nutrient needs for the child. Second, eat a variety of foods to meet the child’s daily nutrients requirement because thirdly, different types of food contain and provide different nutrients.

There are 4 main nutrients required for every child: carbohydrates, protein, fats, vitamins and minerals.

Carbohydrates
Carbohydrates are the main energy source for the human body. Carbohydrates are needed everyday by the body and the brain to function well by breaking them down into simple sugar called glucose. The sources of carbohydrates include rice, noodles, cereals, potatoes, corns and breads.

Proteins
Proteins help to enhance tissue repairing and replacing when kids have wounds on their hands, feet and knees. Other than that, proteins also help to build muscles. Dietary sources of protein are fish, eggs, meat, nuts, legumes, grains, milk and some dairy products like cheese.

Fats
Fats provide essential fatty acids and also energy. Choose healthy fats such as unsaturated vegetable oil and consume in moderation will help in the growth and development of kids. Some dietary sources of healthy fats are nuts, vegetable oil, olive oil, flaxseed, fish and seafood. In addition, due to our bodies cannot make certain essential fatty acids such as Omega-3 and omega-6 fatty acids, therefore, they must be get from the diet like fish. Lastly, vitamins and minerals are very important as they help to build a strong and healthy immune system that protects children from sickness.

Vitamins and minerals
Vitamins and minerals also need to be consumed in moderation, otherwise, they will cause toxicity to the body and can be life threatening. So, a balanced diet supply of vitamins and minerals are needed to keep kids healthy. Most of the vitamins and minerals can obtain from fruits and vegetables.