4. Give the nutritional requirement of a preschooler & School going child with suitable reasons?
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Answers
Explanation:
Through parental education, the practice nurse plays an important role in ensuring the nutritional needs of children are adequately met, writes Ruth Taylor
Nutrition in children of all ages is instrumental for healthy development in all areas of living physical, psychological and social well-being. A diet inadequate in nutrient dense foods may result in delayed development, psychomotor delay and behavioural disorders. These are all preventable by educating parents and families about basic nutrition.
Nutrition can be defined as what foods the individual consumes and how the body uses them.
Young children should not be regarded as young adults. As they are still growing, in order to achieve satisfactory growth children require larger amounts of nutrients per unit of body weight than adults. Therefore, when children are fed foods which contain inadequate amounts of nutrients, they may fail to grow and develop adequately.1 Lack of adequate nutrition will cause failure to gain weight in the short term and in the longer term will result in small stature.
Energy
Energy requirements for pre-school children increase as the child grows older:
A one year old girl requires 1,165 kcal/day
A one year boy needs 1,230 kcal/day
A four year old girl requires 1,545 kcal/day
A four year a boy needs 1,715 kcal/day.2
Fats
A low fat diet for children can result in insufficient energy. Fat is a concentrated source of energy, fat soluble vitamins and essential fatty acids. Fats also make food more palatable. A diet with adequate amounts of fat enables children to take in energy in a limited volume of food as they have small stomachs and cannot eat large volumes. It is necessary to educate parents particularly that low fat milks and foods are not suitable for young children.
Fibre
Fibre foods are bulky and young children with small appetites who are offered a diet high in fibre, may not ingest adequate energy. Phytate, a substance associated with cereal fibre, can bind with and prevent the efficient absorption of certain minerals such as calcium, phosphorus, iron, copper and zinc.1 Children who may be eating sufficient amounts of these minerals but are consuming too much fibre, may actually become deficient in these minerals.
Dietary fibre should be encouraged but not excessively so in small children. Wholemeal bread, wholemeal breakfast cereals, pulse vegetables, fruit and vegetables all should be encouraged, particularly as the child gets older.
Protein
Protein intake ranges from 14.5g/day in 1-3 year olds up to 19.7g/day in 4-6 year olds.2 All pre-school children should have adequate intake of protein and they can eat meat, dairy produce, eggs, chicken and fish to meet their protein needs.
Iron
Iron intakes in children have been shown to be low3 and many pre-school children have been found to be anaemic.4 A study carried out in a general practice setting in 1995 found that 36% of one year olds were anaemic. Following the introduction of education programmes for mothers by primary care professionals, one year later it was found that the percentage of anaemic children had decreased to 24% of 122 children screened at 14 months.4 The practice nurse can educate parents with regard to increasing iron in the diet through iron rich foods such as red meat, liver, fortified cereals and green vegetables. Vitamin C increases the absorption of iron from food and a small drink of juice should be offered at mealtimes.
Carbohydrates
Carbohydrates are an important source of energy. Starchy foods such as pasta, bread and rice should be plentiful in the diet. Payne in 1991 found that the main source of sugar in the diet of pre-school children was pure fruit juices and blackcurrant syrups.5 There are strong links between sugar intake and the incidence of dental caries, particularly in pre-school children. To minimise the risks, parents should be encouraged to discontinue the use of feeding bottles after the age of one and to encourage the use of feeding cups. Also, frequent consumption of sugary drinks, sweets and snacks should be discouraged as these influence the child's appetite.
Fluid
Fluid intake is a matter of concern in pre-school children. A study carried out in 1995 demonstrated that squash was the most popular drink, with milk coming in second. Plain water was much lower in popularity.6 The authors suggest that children as young as two become conditioned to the sweet taste of squash so that they refuse to drink water. Children with a high intake of squash may have a diminished appetite and as a result miss out on valuable nutrients at meal times. Again, a high intake of squash will affect children's dentition.
Answer:
All pre-school children should have an adequate intake of protein and they can eat meat, dairy produce, eggs, chicken and fish to meet their protein needs. Iron intakes in children have been shown to be low3 and many pre-school children have been found to be anaemic.