PROPER nutrition is important for all growing children.
Children between the ages of four and eight need almost 33% more vitamin A, 20% to 33% more of the vitamin B complex, 17% more vitamin E and 60% more calcium.
These “informative nutrients” shape a child’s development, which is why Danone’s One Planet One Health programme aims to connect people with the food they eat.
Dietician Monique Piderit lists a balanced healthy diet based on the five food groups.
Starches: These are samp, rice, oats, maize, brown and wholewheat bread or cereal grains. Starchy vegetables like potatoes and sweet potato fall into the starch group too. Starchy food should be the basis of all meals.
Vegetables: Vary your vegetables. Choose a variety of colourful vegetables including dark green, red and orange vegetables. Don’t force your child to eat vegetables if they don’t enjoy them but do offer a range of carrots, beetroot, cucumber, tomatoes, pumpkin, spinach and green beans. Your child will find some yummy.
Fruit: Fresh fruit is not only affordable but it has much less sugar and more fibre than fruit juice. Fruit can be served whole, cut up or pureed. Focus on fruit your kids like, whether it’s apples, bananas, pears, watermelon, peaches or plums.
Dairy: Milk products and food made from milk such as yoghurt and maas are considered part of this food group.
Some yoghurts have added vitamin A, the B vitamins and vitamins D and E.
Protein: Choose lean meat and poultry. Adjust your protein intake by choosing more fish – even if its tinned fish – eggs, lentils, chickpeas and beans, nuts and tofu.
Dairy products like yoghurt are also a great source of protein.
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