Children's Nutrition


Children must meet the special needs for growth, development and daily activity by eating a healthy diet. It is important for children to eat a variety of healthy foods to meet these special needs.

Children have unique nutritional needs. Not only must they meet their requirements for daily activity, but they must also meet the special needs of growth and development. It is essential that children receive all the nutrients they need to ensure that they grow and develop normally. Poor nutrition in childhood is difficult to make up for later in life.

The Dietary Guidelines for Children and Adolescents are designed to help children choose foods that will promote healthy growth and development. The guidelines are:

Encourage and support breastfeeding.

    Children and adolescents need sufficient nutritious foods to grow and develop normally.

  • Growth should be checked regularly for young children.
  • Physical activity is important for all children and adolescents.

      Enjoy a wide variety of nutritious foods.
    • Eat plenty of vegetables, legumes and fruit.
    • Eat plenty of cereals (including breads, rice, pasta and noodles), preferably wholegrain.
    • Include lean meat, fish, poultry and/or alternatives.
    • Include milks, yoghurts, cheese and/or alternatives. Reduced-fat milks are not suitable for young children under 2 years, because of their high energy needs, but reduced-fat varieties should be encouraged for older children and adolescents.
    • Choose water as a drink. Alcohol is not recommended for children,

      and care should be taken to

    • Limit saturated fat and moderate total fat intake. Low-fat diets are not suitable for infants.
    • Choose foods low in salt.
    • Consume only moderate amounts of sugars and foods containing added sugars.
    • Care for your child's food: prepare and store it safely.
        Encourage children to eat a variety of foods from each food group to best meet their needs. Many children develop fussy eating habits at some stage. This is usually of great concern to parents who are worried about their children's health. Children's food likes and dislikes often change frequently so that they generally eat enough different types of food to provide adequate variety.

        The following tips will help parents to best deal with fussy eaters:
        • When considering how much a child is eating, don't forget to consider snacks eaten throughout the day, children are very good at responding to their appetites and therefore may eat most of their food as snacks rather than at meal-times.
        • No one food is essential. Try to offer children a variety of choices from each food group. It is possible to receive similar nutrients from a number of foods within each food group.
        • Offer food and then take it away if not eaten, it is best not to make a fuss. If the child is hungry later, re-offer food provided previously rather than something extra.
        • Encourage children to at least try each food on their plate. It may help to serve new foods with at least one food you know the child likes.
        • Involve children in shopping and food preparation, this will often increase their interest in eating.
        For more information
      • Easy Family Eating for Healthy Kids
      • Family Feud Video


        • An Accredited Practising Dietitian (APD) can provide helpful tips to improve the variety in a child's diet as well as making sure that they are receiving all the important nutrients they need.

         

        Page Last Updated: Thursday, 20 May 2010