Wednesday March 11, 2009

A strong foundation

By ASSOC PROF DR ZAITUN YASSIN and MAHENDERAN APPUKUTTY

Good nutrition and proper eating habits lay the foundation for healthy growth.

YOUR child is the apple of your eye and you shower him with love, care and attention so that he will turn out to be a well-rounded adult. It is crucial to give him the best during the formative years from ages one to six, as your child begins to develop physically, mentally, socially and emotionally.

You would have noticed your child growing a little taller and heavier every year. His weight may increase at an average of 2-3kg and his height by 6-8cm annually. But are you aware that his body and mind are also developing in many other subtle ways?

Anatomical growth

Muscles

Muscle development gives your child more strength as he becomes increasingly active. By the age of five, almost 35% of his body weight comes from muscles.

Teeth

Your child should have his entire set of baby teeth by the time he’s two and a half years old. The presence of teeth helps the jaw to grow and allows him to eat a wider variety of foods. Expect your son to have a permanent set of teeth after the age of six.

Brain and nervous system

The first six years of life are the most sensitive period for the development of the brain and nervous system. The nerves will form and mature.

Nerve connections in the brain are made with every new sensory experience that your child encounters. His brain grows in size until it reaches adult weight by the age of 10.

Immune system

The immune system matures and functions optimally. It is made up of a network of cells, tissues and organs that work together to protect the body, which is constantly being attacked by viruses, bacteria and parasites. An efficient immune system recognises attacks and destroys these unwanted intruders.

It’s not all about bodily development, however. Your child also begins to master gross and fine motor skills and becomes more poised and balanced. These influence writing, drawing and painting skills, which are essential for intellectual development.

Your child also begins to move in a more coordinated manner, runs around more and performs complex tasks like playing ball. He develops social interaction skills that add to his self-confidence and self-worth.

Apart from providing love and care, feeding your child proper food and inculcating healthy eating habits during this period are among the most important things you can do for him.

We’ll start off with the fundamentals of good nutrition. Keeping to these basics will ensure you provide your child the right foods in the right amounts and at the right times so that he can grow healthy and strong.

Basics of good nutritrion

These four basics of good nutrition will give you a better understanding of what, when and how much to feed your child.

·No single food can meet your child’s entire nutritional needs.

Your child’s body has multiple needs and requires a host of nutrients, which vary in type and amount from food to food. That’s why your child needs to consume a variety of food.

·Your child’s nutritional needs change as he grows.

Your child will need to consume the recommended amount of nutrients for his age. It’s important to ensure that his food intake meets his nutritional needs at all times.

·Your child needs balance.

His diet should comprise a balanced mix of carbohydrates (eg, rice, cereals), fruits and vegetables, protein-rich foods (eg, meat and fish), milk and dairy products. Fats, oils, salts and sugar should be kept to a minimum.

·Feed your child in moderation.

Too little or too much nutrition can lead to a number of health problems. A simple, healthy approach is to educate him to eat in moderation from a young age so that he can learn to avoid excessive nutrition intake and overeating.

Right start

Learning these simple basics of nutrition is just the start. When it comes to good nutrition and proper eating habits, there are many other important aspects you need to know. We’ll cover them over the next three articles.

Providing good nutrition and instilling healthy eating habits in your child may not be something that comes naturally to you.

Your child’s formative years are thus the right period to discover good nutrition and, more importantly, put it into practice. It not only ensures you are raising a happy, healthy child today, but will also set him on the road to wellness and good health for the rest of his life.

Learn more about bringing up healthy children through the informative materials and activities of Nutrition Month Malaysia 2009 at www.nutriweb.org.my.

And do join in the fun and educational Nutrition Month Malaysia ’09 Carnival at the Mid Valley Exhibition Centre on April 4 and 5, from 10am onwards.

Article courtesy of Nutrition Month Malaysia (NMM), the annual nutrition promotion campaign jointly organised by the Nutrition Society of Malaysia, the Malaysian Dietitians’ Association and the Malaysian Association for the Study of Obesity.

NMM ’09 is supported by the main sponsor, Nestle Products Sdn Bhd, and co-sponsors Cotra Enterprise Sdn Bhd (Vitagen), Gardenia Bakeries, Kraft Malaysia (Tiger), PepsiCo Malaysia, Wyeth Malaysia and Yakult Malaysia.

For more information, contact the secretariat (03-5637 3526).