KEEPING UP NUTRITION in ACTIVE KIDS

 

 

If your child exhibits these behaviours, you may be worrying if he / she consumes enough nutrients for their age and level of activity. There are ways of making mealtimes less stressful for you and more beneficial for the young one.

• Be consistent with mealtimes and eat together as a family. Your child will soon recognise this daily routine and settle into it.
• Set a limit to 30 minutes. Let your child know there will be no food until the next meal if he / she does not finish within the given time.¹
• Let your child help in simple tasks like setting the table. Given responsibility, they will be more willing to sit through mealtimes.²

 

SCENARIO 2

"John loves to play sports and uses a lot of energy. Is he getting enough nutrients?"

 

If your child is like John, he is another example of an active child. Unlikely to share similar eating behaviours with Audrey, the concern would be the adequacy of nutrients in his meals. Sporty children require more calories to fuel them for sports. You don’t have to worry much if your child eats more than the child next door who doesn’t play sports as he will burn them off during games. Thus, ensure him enough nutrients to be at the top of his game with these tips:

• Colour for vitamins and minerals from veggies (spinach, carrots) and fruits (banana, orange) Active kids also need calcium and iron (milk, cheese, white meat, occasional red meat and grains).
• Meat, poultry, eggs, seafood, nuts and soy are great providers of protein for muscle building. Too much protein can lead to calcium depletion; it’s important to keep portions in check.3³
• Carbohydrates are vital for your sport-inclined kid. Be wise in choosing carbohydrate sources- cereals, pastas, whole grains and brown rice will do well. ³
• If your child is participating in a competition, feed him / her a light and low-fat meal consisting of balanced amounts of carbohydrates and protein at least 2 hours before the game. This gives the system time to digest and convert the food into energy. ³
• Hydrate to prevent dehydration and improve blood circulation. Water also helps in the process of converting food into energy.¹

 

WHICH IS YOUR CHILD?

Whether your child is like Audrey or John, he / she will need the best of nutrients for each day. To ensure that your child does not miss out at mealtimes or face inadequate energy to last him / her during sports, a formula has been developed to fulfil those needs.

 

ABBOTT PEDIASURE COMPLETE

Ideal for 1-10 year olds, it contains 50% more calories than normal milk which gives more energy to your child. PediaSure Complete has essential vitamins, minerals and protein that meet 100% or more of US dietary recommendations. It also has medium chain triglycerides (MCT), a type of easily absorbed fatty acid and beneficial bacteria for improvement of good intestinal environment. Click here to find out more about PediaSure Complete – Complete Nutrition. Complete piece of mind. The best of nutrition for your active child!

 

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Reference

 

1. Positive Parenting
2. http://life.familyeducation.com/feeding-baby/baby/61907.html
3. http://www.kidsexercise.co.uk/SportSpecificNutrition.html