The Importance of Feeding Young Children the Right Foods

We have all heard doctors and nutritionist talk about the importance of getting a well balanced diet. How many of us believe that we are eating correctly? What about our children? Why is it so important for a child to eat healthy food?

Whatever we eat affects every cell in our body. Eating healthy helps us to grow and develop correctly. When you look at the children in underdeveloped countries who have a very poor diet, most of them are extremely thin with very large bellies. Many of these children do not make it to adolescence.

A typical diet should supply all the nutrients, minerals, and vitamins needed for proper growth and development. Proper nutrition carries its greatest influence during infancy to childhood, when the body is actively growing. There are many wonderful books available on nutrition. Your pediatrician should have literature on what to feed your baby as they develop from birth to childhood. If you are vegetarian, be cautious about placing your infant and young children on a strict vegetarian diet. Do your research.

Food contains carbohydrates (bread, cereal, rice, pasta, potatoes), protein (meat, poultry, fish, dry beans, eggs, nuts, milk, cheese), lipids (fats, oils), vitamins, minerals and water. All six of these nutrient groups are found in foods in varying amounts. A healthy diet may supply all the essential nutrients and calories for typical growth and development during childhood.

At least half of all calories consumed should come from carbohydrates. High carbohydrate food produces fuel and provide energy for the brain. Carbohydrates can be stored in the muscles and released as needed for energy.

Protein should be 10 to 15% of the total calories consumed. Protein provides amino acids which help with new tissue, hormones, enzymes, and antibodies. It also proceeds nitrogen, which helps to keep tissue healthy. Generally speaking, animal protein is higher in essential amino acids then plant protein. A lack of protein in the diet, especially during infancy, can lead to a reduction in growth rate and muscle depletion.

Lipids (or fats) are another important source of energy. They are also involved in the maintenance and well being of membranes, hormones and cellular signals. Fats produce energy, give food its taste, and make us feel full. Fats are also what generally cause us to gain weight, have cholesterol problems, and can cause blockage in the arteries. Infants require a higher percentage of fat calories then older children.

Vitamins stimulate metabolic reactions without being used up. Fresh food contains vitamins naturally, while they are added to processed foods. If a child is eating a well-balanced diet, they should not require vitamin supplements. Consult with your pediatrician before giving your child vitamin supplements.

We all need various minerals to ensure appropriate body functioning. Minerals such as calcium, magnesium and phosphorus, help with the formation of bones, teeth and for normal muscle contraction. Potassium, chloride, and sodium maintain the body's fluid balance. Having a mineral deficiency, even in the minerals which you only need a minute amount of, can cause some major health problems. Talk with your pediatrician if you think your child may suffer from a mineral deficiency.

Water is essential for life. It is important in the prevention of constipation and dehydration. Water transports nutrients to and waste products from cells, helps to regulate the bodies temperature and is involved in metabolic reactions.

Fiber, although not listed as one of the essential nutrients, is important in your daily diet. Fiber, in the proper amounts, helps to keep your gastrointestinal track healthy.

You can find more detailed information on the Food Pyramid by visiting

www.mypyramid.gov There are also some very interesting website for kids that will help them make the right choices in eating.

Wendy Greif is a mother and graduate of USF in Special Education. She has taught children with various disabilities in both South Carolina and Florida. Mrs. Greif operates an informational website for parents and caregivers of children and/or adults with special needs ([http://www.specialneedschildrenandadults.com]).

This post was made using the Auto Blogging Software from WebMagnates.org This line will not appear when posts are made after activating the software to full version.

The Importance of Portion Control for Diabetics Trying to Lose Weight and What Helps

The relationship between obesity and diabetes is an established one. Studies have shown that obese persons are prone to diabetes because fat cells are less sensitive to insulin. Glucose isn't taken up by cells for use as energy but is roaming free in the blood stream causing damage to blood vessels and organs. That being the case, it would take a larger amount of insulin to regulate the levels of blood glucose. So, if you're over your normal weight you have a higher risk of developing type 2 diabetes.

Obviously, if you're overweight and a diabetic controlling your blood sugar is difficult and you're more at risk for developing complications of the disease. Moreover, it had been shown that obese persons aren't only prone to develop type 2 diabetes but are at higher risk for degenerative diseases such as hypertension, and yes, even cancer.

If you're obese it's understandable that you've tried again and again to lose weight. We all know that it's difficult to melt those pounds. Especially so, if you've been used to eating a rich full diet of anything you've always loved most of your life.

Losing weight entails a lot of determination and motivation. It involves diet planning and calorie counting. A dietitian can counsel and recommend a diet plan for you. He or she will calculate how much of this food group you should consume in a day depending on your weight loss goals. Additionally, your dietitian will tell you the best types of food you should eat to lose weight. If it happens that your favorite chocolate chip cookies and salty chips aren't on the list, you would need a lot of motivation and a steely determination to stick to that recommended dietary plan. Oh boy!

Portion control is eating the right amount to make you lose weight. If you're 20 percent overweight or your goal is to lose 15 pounds your dietitian will plan a menu for you. How many calories are you supposed to consume a day? How many servings from each food group are you supposed to eat in a day? The critical question is can you stick to this?

Here are quick tips on how to stick to your diet:

1. Commit to memory how much serving of each food group you should consume in a day. For example, your dietitian recommends that you consume 1,200 calories a day for you to lose weight and reach your ideal weight in a certain span of time. You'll have to eat 4 or more servings of veggies and fruits daily, 4 servings of carbohydrates, 3 servings of protein or dairy and 3 servings of fats.

2. Familiarize yourself with the food pyramid. Your daily food intake will be governed by this pyramid. The bottom of this pyramid is usually made up of veggies and fruits. The carbohydrates are on the next level while protein and dairy occupies the next level and the top consists of fats.

3. Learn what and how much a serving is. You don't need to carry measuring cups and spoons. Mayo clinic recommends using visual clues using common objects to compare with the food. For example an orange the size of a tennis ball equals a serving of fruit or half a cup of cooked carrots is a serving comparable to half the size of a baseball.

4. Now, if you're too confused with this, a wiser option is to use portion control dinnerware. Portion control plates are especially marked. These dishes guide you on how much you'll fill your plate with what kind of food group. How much veggies should you'll scoop into that section of your plate or how many servings of brown rice are you supposed to eat. Drinking glasses are labeled so it would be easy for you to measure. There are control portion bowls, dessert plates and snack bowls too.

Here are other tricks and tips that can help you practice portion control if you're eating out or eating at your workplace:

1. For dinner order a lunch entree instead of dinner. Lunches come in smaller amounts.

2. Share your lunch with a friend.

3. When eating out you can half what you eat. Ask the waiter to pack the other half and you can eat that for dinner at home.

4. When you're eating at a fast food restaurant, order a kid's meal. The meal serving at fast foods are already more than what you should eat. It's best to downsize instead of upsize. The same would be true with drinks.

5. Eat slowly and enjoy the conversation instead of digging into your food at a fast pace. It takes at least 20 minutes for your brain to tell your stomach you're full. That way, you won't eat extra.

6. Avoid second servings. Fill your plate with the right portion you're supposed to consume. Be aware of what you put into your plate and how much.

7. If you buy food in bulk divide it into small portions or into your allowed servings. That way, you won't be tempted to gobble up the whole bag.

8. As much as possible avoid buffets!

Portion control simply means eating the right amount and kind of food. You'll need motivation and a lot of reminders to reach your goal. You'll need to familiarize yourself with servings and some calorie counting. If this is too confusing for you portion control dinnerware that accurately marked should make it easy for you to measure how much servings you're allowed. Moreover, a dinner ware such as this can help you make it a habit and you'll reach your and maintain your goal easily.

A B Stephens is a chemical engineer by profession. Her passion to help diabetics stems from the fact that members of her family and her husband's are diabetics. They launched http://www.typefreediabetes.com in 2007. An elegant portion control dinnerware is one of their top selling products. Portion control dinnerware greatly help diabetics manage their diet and their lives. To know more of this elegant dinnerware, what it looks and feel like and most of all how truly it can help visit http://www.typefreediabetes.com/Portion-Control-Plates-s/97.htm

This post was made using the Auto Blogging Software from WebMagnates.org This line will not appear when posts are made after activating the software to full version.