Making healthy food choices (Nutritional Counseling) is not as complicated as it sounds. While some would argue you need a “registered dietitian” to make those decisions, you can really do well on your own or with some general guidance from healthcare professionals at healthcare clinics in Nashville, like Clinica Hispana La Paz.
Nutritional requirements for different age groups of children
As your child grows he/she will have different dietary needs to help them grow well and properly. What you feed your children now will have a great effect on how they live as an adult.
Infants
While not a requirement, breastfeeding is still the best healthy food option for infants. It helps develop their immune system, provides proper nutrition (assuming the mother is also eating well/healthy) and helps with the bonding of parent and child.
There are some situations where mothers cannot breastfeed their children as it might compromise the mother’s health or she might need to take medications which could be passed onto the child which could cause them harm. Doctors advise mothers not to feel guilty due to this necessity. Formula feeding has come a long way in providing the essential nutrients to growing babies.
Babies (4-6 months)
After about 4 months, solid foods should start to be introduced into their diet. Your nutritional counselor and/or healthcare professional at your family healthcare clinic in Nashville can help you choose what to give to your baby.
It is normally recommended to keep the consistency light and gradually make it thicker as your child grows. Solid food such as rice cereal, pureed fruits, vegetables, and lentils should be added to their diet.
With the appearance of your child’s first tooth, you can slowly introduce other solid foods from the five main food groups – fruits, vegetables, dairy, grains, and protein, such as eggs, beans, etc. It is also highly suggested to cut solid food into as small a piece as possible to avoid choking. Babies and young children should never be left unattended during meal time.
Children, adolescents, preteens and teenagers
As they grow, developing proper eating habits is very important. By teaching them why they should eat what they should eat, instead of just telling them eat this, will help them develop their own healthy eating habits when you are not there.
For more information check out this nutrition link for people of all ages and feel free to give us a call or come to Clinica Hispana La Paz for more information. 615-627-1282