5 Essential Nutritions to Children

Children need a variety of essential nutrients that are complementary to support their growth and development. Thus, instead of just one or two nutrients they need it. Here are 5 types of nutrients that children need more of in future growth.

1. Calcium
Calcium will maximize the growth of bones and skeletons, both in childhood and beyond. In sufficient quantities, the calcium in the body necessary for muscle function, heart rate, and blood clots. The body will take calcium from bones to maintain required levels in the blood. This is why children need adequate calcium intake every day.

In his teens, girls need enough calcium because of lack of this mineral could be at risk of bone loss in old age. How much calcium is needed by the child? At the age of 1-3 years, children need to be 500 mg, and the age of 4-8 years when the need rises to about 800 mg. These needs can be met from dairy products and vegetables.

Another advantage of adequate calcium intake in childhood is low body fat levels.

2. Protein
"The protein is part of every tissue in the body therefore it is necessary the child," said Sheah Rarback, director of nutrition of the Mailman Center for Child Development.
Proteins are produced in calories, but actually taken the body is an amino acid which is the raw material to build cells and tissues as well as components in the whole process of the body, including enzymes and hormones.

Protein can be obtained from animal and vegetable products. Animal protein, especially eggs accounted for the essential amino acid that can not be made the body and are not found in vegetable products.

3. Fiber
Kids need fiber as well as adults need it. Research shows those who consume enough fiber has a risk of diabetes is lower, as well as high cholesterol. In children, the fiber will prevent constipation and meet their needs for vitamins and minerals.

4. Antioxidants
Antioxidants, including vitamin C, vitamin E, beta-carotene, and the mineral selenium, in the last decade received much attention from scientists in particular will benefit in preventing disease. In children, antioxidants also serve to boost the immune system.
In children, antioxidants can be met through food. Especially fruits and brightly colored vegetables, like broccoli, cherries, spinach, tomatoes, and much more.

5. Iron
In children, growth is strongly influenced by the adequacy of iron in their bodies. Their blood cells need iron to carry oxygen to every cell in the body. Iron also plays an important role in brain development and function.
According Rarback, the adverse effects of iron deficiency in a child's brain may not be fixable.
Children at high risk of iron deficiency because their rapid growth while their intake of less. Meanwhile, the young women who begin menstruating also lose red blood cells each month. Iron deficiency can lead to anemia.

Food, either from animals or plants contain iron. However, iron from meat and seafood is more readily absorbed.

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Quality Sleep = Optimal Growth

Sleep is a basic human needs, ranging from infants to seniors. Many positive benefits gleaned from baby to sleep, one of which is to grow a baby's brain.

Everyone has a different time to sleep, depending on the age and habits. A baby needs more than half a day to sleep. With increasing age, sleep time was decreased.

When we sleep, almost all organs of the body is stopped or slowed, except the brain remains active. At this stage of REM sleep (Rapid Eye Movement), the brain is maximal in data processing and memory, which sometimes appears as a dream. Characteristic of REM sleep is the presence of eye muscle movement, hands, or feet.

At this REM stage of growth of brain cells take place quickly. In addition to dreams, sometimes delirious children. It's a normal thing. Meanwhile, non-REM sleep or quiet sleep stage is very important for the physical growth of children. At this stage occurs repair body cells and growth.

This happens because during sleep the body will release growth hormone which will stimulate the liver to produce substances of bone and muscle growth.

In adulthood, growth hormone is switching function. He will serve for the maintenance and repair of body tissues, in addition to accelerating the growth process. Another benefit of sleep is taking part in improving the child's body resistance against infection. This means that children who sleep less are more susceptible to disease.

Stage non-REM sleep and REM is held alternately throughout the child's bedtime. Therefore, a sound sleep is very important for children to sleep phase and non-REM REM is not disturbed. When the phase of sleep was disturbed, when you wake up the child so cranky or fussy.

So, how much time needed by the child's sleep? It's very individual. benchmark is when you wake up a happy child,.

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Getting Children to Eat Their Vegetables

Make it a New Years resolution for healthier family meals! Here are some tips and recipes to help get kids to eat their veggies.

Eating plenty of veggies is important to a healthy diet. However, getting kids to eat vegetables is often difficult. Kids that are growing especially need to get the nutrition that are in vegetables and fruits, and even little toddlers need to get plenty of veggies in their diet. It can definitely be hard to get kids to eat their vegetables. The best time to introduce newer foods is while children are younger. Once they get beyond the age of four, it can be more difficult to introduce new foods. So, if you are trying to make sure that your kids eat a healthy diet and that they get plenty of vegetables, here are some top tips to help and some ideas for adding veggies into other recipes.

Tip #1 – Eat Veggies Yourself – First of all, if you really want your kids to eat their veggies, you are going to have to make sure that you eat some veggies yourself. After all, you'll that your kids aren't going to want to eat something that you are not going to eat. So, when you sit down to dinner, make sure that you don't push away the veggies or your kids are going to do the very same thing. If they see you eating the veggies, they will be more likely to eat the veggies too.
 

Tip #2 – Continually Expose Them to Veggies – It's important that you keep exposing kids to vegetables if you want them to eat them. Most experts believe that in many cases kids need to have exposure to foods that are new to them several times before they want to try it. Keep eating veggies in front of them and keep putting them on their plates as well. Even if it doesn't work the first couple times, keep on trying until it does.

Tip #3 – Get Creative in Serving the Veggies  – When you are serving up the veggies to your kids, get creative with it. Make them actually look good. In many cases it's the presentation of the food that is so important to kids. Figure out fun ways to serve vegetables, such as cutting them up in interesting shapes that kids will find exciting. They'll be more likely to eat them if you make them fun.

Tip #4 – Remember Their Palate is Sensitive – You'll also need to remember that the palate of children is sensitive. The taste buds in children are a lot more sensitive than the taste buds of adults. This means that vegetables that are on the bitter side may not get a great reaction from them. In most cases you'll actually find that kids would rather eat vegetables that are nice and crunchy, rather than vegetables that are mushy and soft.

Tip #5 – Let Them Get Involved – Get kids involved when it comes to vegetables. Allow them to grow vegetables that they enjoy at home. When you go shopping, let kids pick out vegetables that they'd like to try. Even let them get involved in helping to cook some of the vegetables as well. This way they feel involved in the entire process and they'll be more likely to at least give the vegetables a try when you serve them up.

Tip #6 – Serve the Same Meal to Everyone – When you are serving meals, make sure that you serve the same meal to everyone. Don't decide to make something special for the child that is very picky. This only encourages them to continually be that way. If you fix healthy food for everyone, they are going to have to eat this food. Giving into them is going to cause problems in the future.

Tip #7 – Be Stealthy if You Have To -  If you have to, you may need to resort to being stealthy with the vegetables. You can add vegetables to a variety of foods and usually they'll never even know. This allows you to get some vegetables into their system, although being stealthy is not always the best option out there.

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A Family Solution to Childhood Obesity

If your child is overweight or obese, it’s not just your child’s problem but your whole family’s. There are many reasons a child develops a weight problem, but genetics and family environment definitely plays a factor. In fact, if a child has one parent who is obese, that child has a 50 percent chance of also being obese; the risk increases to 80 percent if both parents are obese.

How can you help decrease your child’s risk of developing a weight problem? First, you should always consult a doctor to rule out medical issues that might be related to your child’s weight gain. Your doctor can also advise you on improving your family’s eating habits and increasing your physical activity. 

The key to helping your child beat obesity is to develop healthier habits for your whole family. Your child will not succeed at losing weight if he is munching carrot sticks while everyone else slurps chocolate milk shakes! In addition, change your habits slowly so that everyone has time to adjust to the new routines. Specific areas to focus on include better eating habits and more physical activity, as the only way to lose weight is to reduce the number of calories eaten and to increase physical activity.

Better eating habits 

To help your family develop better eating habits, follow these tips: 

• Plan your meals in advance and make better food selections with an emphasis on fruits, vegetables, whole grains, and natural foods.
• Avoid junk food and processed foods.
• Eat at home instead of stopping at fast food restaurants.
• Make meals a family activity. Eat together at the table, rather than around the television. Work on eating more slowly.
• Serve smaller portions. At home, eat off a small plate rather than a large dinner plate. At restaurants, plan to bring home half of your meal for another time.
• Know what your child eats at school and friends’ houses. Talk about making healthy choices.
• Do not use food as a reward for good behavior.
• Limit snacking, especially snacking in front of the TV.
• Teach your children to eat only when they’re hungry, not because they’re bored, lonely, etc.
• Don’t require your children to clean their plates. If they are full, let them stop eating.
• Don’t completely eliminate all sweets and snacks from your children’s diets. Let them have the occasional treat so they don’t binge on forbidden foods.
• Take your children with you when you go grocery shopping so they can learn how to make good food choices
• Encourage children to eat breakfast every day.
• Limit sugary beverages. 

Increased physical activity

Children and teens can spend hours sitting in front of a TV, computer, and video game. The statistics are scary: Kids younger than 8 spend an average of 2.5 hours watching TV or playing video games every day, while kids 8 and up spend 4.5 hours in front of a screen. And you can’t rely on physical education (PE) classes at school to give your children the exercise they need, as many schools are cutting down the length of PE classes and even on recess.

To help increase your family’s level of physical activity, 

• Set a good example by being physically active yourself. Take a bike ride, go to the tennis courts, or enjoy an evening walk together as a family.
• Limit your child’s overall screen time.
• Don’t let your children have televisions in their bedrooms.
• Choose active video games that get your children moving. Newer games let players dance, bowl, play tennis, and even hula hoop.
• Encourage children to be physically active every day, whether through an organized sports team, a trip to the park, a walk around the block, or playing in the yard. 

Weight problems can be hard to fix, but by partnering with your child, your whole family will enjoy a healthier life.

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MRS – What Parents Should Know

MRSA stands for methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus, which is a newly resistant strain of the staph infection. Specifically, this strain is resistant to methicillin, the conventional antibiotic used to treat the most common Staphylococcus disease: the staph infection. Therefore, MRSA is now one of the newest “superbugs” that are resistant against traditional medications. For that reason, they should be taken with utmost caution.


As a parent, you are probably concerned that your child may come into contact with MRSA. The first thing to know about MRSA is that it is usually contracted in medical centers, especially hospitals, dialysis centers, and nursing homes. That is because people whose immune systems have been compromised—such as through chemotherapy and surgeries—are particularly vulnerable to MRSA. Fortunately, it is rare for children to become infected with MRSA because their immune systems are more robust. However, if a child has a weak immune system due to another illness or condition, he may be more prone to MRSA
.
However, a MRSA infection is often easy to detect because it usually takes the form of skin boils. Specifically, the victim may develop skin bumps that rapidly turn into abscesses. These abscesses are uncomfortable and even painful, because they contain the bacteria of MRSA. Therefore, it is crucial to see a doctor immediately if your child develops these abscesses, so the doctor can examine them for MRSA. In addition, if your child is feverish, it is a good idea to see consult with your doctor.

If skin boils contain MRSA, the doctor drains these boils of the bacteria. When treating MRSA, doctors try to drain as much bacteria from the skin as possible; otherwise the bacteria will infiltrate the internal organs and infect them.

You may be wondering why the MRSA strain of staph came to be resistant to bacteria. The fact is that many people have been overusing antibiotics and antibacterial soaps that “kill” bacteria. The fault lies greatly with doctors who overprescribe these antibiotics, and various commercial ads that have drummed it into people that antibacterial soap wards against serious viruses. In fact, these products have spawned MRSA and other “superbugs” because bacteria—as intelligent organisms—have mutated to overcome the antibiotics. That is, antibiotics and bacteria are constantly at war with each other, and a “superbug” is a strain that resist its corresponding antibiotic.

To protect your child from MRSA, desist from using antibiotics if your child has non-serious illnesses. For instance, the common cold is not an illness that requires antibiotics, because it usually clears up on its own. Furthermore, when you use antibiotics, they are “teaching” the immune system to depend on them instead of fighting bacteria with its white blood cells. This overuse of antibiotics, therefore, creates a destructive feedback loop because the immune system will have no defense against strains like MRSA. Therefore, you should shy away from antibiotics in order to give your child his best protection against MRSA: his own immune system.

Even though MRSA is rare in children, if it strikes a child it can be fatal. In children, MRSA typically enters the body through a cut or lesion, and may soon spread to vital organs. However, spotting the telltale skin boils in time will usually prevent this situation altogether.

Other risk factors for MRSA include engaging in contact sports that cause cuts and may spread infections among players. In the same vein, sharing towels, razors, and other personal paraphernalia may spread MRSA. People who are on internal medical devices, such as catheters, are also at heightened risk. In addition, MRSA is more common at long-term care facilities where people are in constant contact with each other—and are of senior age, which means they have weaker immune systems.

While MRSA is resistant against many drugs, there are still a select few drugs that may treat it. Vancomycin is one antibiotic that may relieve symptoms, though unfortunately it is reducing in its effectiveness. The key to conquering MRSA, therefore, rests with prevention. Disinfecting is crucial—disinfectants are not the same as antibacterial soaps, but chemicals that prevent bacteria from even generating. Disinfectants are also applied to surfaces, especially germ-ridden surfaces such as at gyms. Hospitals, as the greatest source of MRSA contraction, are taking more precautions to disinfect medical equipment and surfaces. Furthermore, they are placing MRSA patients in quarantine so other patients are not infected. Lastly, the importance of seeing a doctor for suspicious or pus-filled skin boils can’t be understated.

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Making Healthy Foods Fun for Our Children

How do our kids know that food is good for them? It seems that they can uncannily pick out the most nutritious item on their plates to turn up their noses at. That is especially true at our house! Whatever it is that gives them the inside scoop, as parents we need to find ways to counteract it.

While their may be kids who love their veggies, they seem to be few and far between… at least, none of them live at my house. Instead, we try to make things interesting enough so the kids will eat more of what is good for them and less of what isn't.

After many years of fighting with our kids about eating, sneaking vegetables into something where they wouldn't be noticed, and just about pulling my hair out, I have come to a couple of conclusions. Are you ready? Presentation is important. Yes, it's true. Kids like to see something nice on their plates. I don't mean to arrange food like you'd get at a high end restaurant… I mean it should be colorful and preferably bite size. This is why the original concept of fruit cocktail got the reputation of being great for kids… it was bite size and full of color and different shapes.


Japan seems to have it . Do a search for "bento boxes" and you will be amazed at the artistry and color in these little lunch boxes. Does it look fun to eat? You bet! Who wouldn't want to eat a boiled egg molded to look like a teddy bear and rice shaped into one of the Mario Brothers? While you certainly don't have to go this far, you can learn a lot from looking at bento box presentations.

The basic concept is colorful food cut into small pieces and arranged to look appealing. Add a small pick or chopsticks and the food is a challenging game as well. Include some sauce or dip in a small container that they can dip the pieces in. Dipping rates highly with my five year old. He freely admits he'll eat almost anything if he can dip it.

Here are some simple recipes. Make sure your child does not have any food allergies before trying.

Ants on a Log
This one is so simple that my kids love. All you need is a little celery, peanut butter and raisins. The picture in this article makes it self explanatory. My youngest son is allergic to peanut butter so we have to keep him away, but my oldest son loves it. He likes the taste and the crunchyness.

Finger Omelets
Omelets are different in bento boxes. The eggs are made very flat, and then rolled into something that can easily be handled by chopsticks or fingers. They don't add fillings like we do here, but you could put a thin layer of cheese and maybe a little spinach in there before rolling. Call them Finger Omelets and you'll have a new taste sensation your kids will love.

The other major concept that I realized is that kids like to be involved with their food. This can be taken care of by letting them help prepare their food, making the food creative so they can interact with it while they eat, or by making it a fun surprise.

Kids are fascinated with learning new skills. If it is time for them to learn how to spread something on bread or peel a carrot, all the better. Even if what you are preparing is beyond their skill levels, encourage them to watch and ask questions. You may be amazed at some of the questions they will come up with. Let them taste a bite or two as things are being prepared.

Sandwich Paintings
One way to let them play with their food while eating it is to let them create pictures with it. Start with a pancake or a piece of bread. This can be spread with peanut butter or fruit spread to keep the smaller pieces in place. Let them use raisins, sunflower seeds, dried cranberries and other small foods to make pictures.
Serving food that packs a surprise is always fun. This is another trick we discovered while studying Japan. We modified it to suit our family's preferences. In Japan they make a rice ball called onigiri (oh-nih-gee-ree). They use sticky sushi rice for this dish. Sometimes they flavor it with dried fish flakes or other Japanese seasonings or add a filling.

Onigiri
At our house, we use the leftover sticky rice (which we love anyway) to make onigiri. You can blend it with the seasonings of your choice. We usually add a little garlic, salt and pepper. Sometimes we may add soy sauce to it. Mix up the rice well. Cover your hand with a plastic bag so the rice doesn't stick to you. Form the rice into a ball using the palm of your hand or get special molds from Asian markets. Fill the center with something especially tasty. This can be leftover barbecued chicken, salmon or steamed vegetables. Close up the rice ball. Refrigerate for at least an hour or more. This is a convenient on the go snack that kids can eat while out playing or that can be easily taken in the car. You could do something similar with leftover mashed potatoes, but you'd probably want to serve it on a plate.

Another trick you can use is to make a fun name for a food. Instead of hamburgers on the kids' menu, a local restaurant used to call them "hangerbers" and "cheeburgers." Sounds a lot more fun, doesn't it? When I was a kid, my family made lefse on holidays. This is a type of flat potato bread from Scandinavia. It is cooked on a flat pan similar to tortillas. Like tortillas, they are white with browned spots on them. Once my grandparents started calling lefse "dirty napkins" all of us kids couldn't wait to eat it.

So, to make food fun for kids, be creative. Surprise them. Share with them a funny name or some new skills. You'll be surprised how much more interested your kids will become with healthy foods.

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Teaching Our Children Healthy Eating Habits

The best way to do that is by setting a good example. There is the old adage, "Do as I say, not as I do…" but our children like to emulate us. Whether we want to admit it or not, they are more likely to do what they see us doing then they are to do what we tell them to do. With school starting and the current debate going on about health care… now is the time for all of us to step back and re-educate ourselves and our children on healthy eating.

Nutritionists have stated that in order for a child to try a new food they need to see it four or five times, possibly even 10 times. This means that just because the avoided the broccoli at dinner tonight, doesn't mean that in a week or two they won't try it if you keep showing it to them at meals. This also means that you shouldn't take the first, "bluck!" as an "I will never eat this again." You can also try making a rule, similar to what we have in our home, and that is called the "No Thank You Bite."

Everyone at the table has to have one bite of everything on their plate. If they don't try it how will then ever know if they like it? Knowing that kids prefer the sweeter things in life, try introducing them to the sweeter healthy foods such as corn, tomatoes, sweet peas, mandarin oranges, cherries and strawberries. You can also mix these sweeter foods with other healthy foods that may be less appealing such as brussel sprouts and broccoli. Make an apple and brussel sprout side salad… or tomatoes, whole wheat pasta and corn. Get creative and make it fun, give the dishes you create names that kids will think are funny.

You can also let your children help in the process of preparing meals, buying groceries and picking foods, let them come up with their own recipes. I can tell you that my son's biggest joy in life is telling everyone about the recipes he has created and the great names he has given them… such as "Turds" and "Turds on Toilet Paper." While the names are, well, disgusting… the recipe is actually pretty impressive and good.

If your kids are apprehensive about trying the healthier foods consider playing food tricks, hide them in the food. This is my favorite thing to do more on my husband then our kids. Chopping veggies and fruits finely and mixing them in their favorite dishes will help. Carrots can be chopped finely and mixed in with your favorite spaghetti sauce and so can spinach and broccoli. If burgers are a favorite in your house, finely chop or puree veggies and mix them into the burger meat when you patty the burgers. Use turkey or ground sirloin as healthier alternatives to hamburger.

Casseroles can also be a fun new dish. Casseroles are fun because you can throw whatever you want in there for a really healthy and tasty meal. Other healthy eating options for kids can include making fruit breads, such as banana and apple. Use real fruit, even if you buy a premixed box, you can still add real fruits to enhance flavor and nutritional value.

The sooner you can start practicing healthy eating habits for the family the better, but know that it is never too late to start. Making healthy eating choices can help the entire family get in shape, trim down and decrease the risk of many diseases.

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Food allergies in children

What is food allergy?

It is a reaction by your immune system to a normal amount of a particular food. This reaction happens every time that food is eaten.
Although food allergies are rare, they are most common in children under the age of four.
The most frequent food allergies are to:

• milk
• eggs
• fish
• nuts
• citrus fruit
• tomatoes.

What are the symptoms?

Children with food allergies often have several different symptoms. These include:

• severe  skin rash
• vomitting and diarrhoea for no apparent reason
• asthmatic bronchitis or asthma
• allergic cold (itchy, streaming eyes and nose).

How do food allergies begin?

A hypersensitive reaction towards food is usually a type 1 allergic reaction to something in the diet.
This means your child's immune system produces a class of antibodies called IgE in response to a particular food. These antibodies cause the allergic symptoms.
Almost one third of the population omit certain foods from their diet or their children's diet because they believe they cause an allergic reaction.
In fact, only about 3 per cent of children suffer allergic reactions towards food, and most will outgrow them before they reach the age of three.

Who's at risk?

Type 1 allergic diseases are to some extent inherited. For this reason you may want to talk to your GP or allergy specialist before you get pregnant if there is a family history of allergy, hay fever, eczema or asthma.

What should I do if I suspect my child has a food allergy?

• Contact your doctor first.
• Do not put your child on a strange restricted diet that could result in malnutrition.
• A change in your child's bowel movements is not a sign of food allergy.
• It is completely normal for a child's bowel movements to change if their diet is changed.
• Most importantly: relax. Don't assume that your child is suffering from a food allergy until this has been confirmed by an allergy specialist.

How are food allergies treated?

A diet that eliminates the food is the main treatment for this type of allergy.
In rare cases, eating even a small amount of the food can cause anaphylactic shock (severe difficulty breathing and heart malfunction), leading to collapse.
Anaphylactic shock needs immediate treatment with adrenaline, so seek medical help straight away if your child suddenly begins to have difficulty breathing.

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Preventing and Reducing Allergies in Children

Why are allergies on the rise in children?

Ironically enough, it may be the cleanliness of our lifestyles that are causing the rise of some allergies. If children are underexposed to minor environmental threats early in life, their immune systems do not develop properly and can overreact to perceived threats. This doesn’t mean you need to deliberately expose your children to dangerous viruses and bacteria. Simple childhood activities like playing in the dirt, building roads in a sandbox, rolling in the grass, and living with a pet can strengthen your children’s immune systems and help protect them from allergies.

Dealing with respiratory allergies in children

Of course, not all allergies can be prevented. Some children are just born with a greater tendency to develop allergies, especially if their parents have allergies. If your child already has allergies, there are a number of ways you can reduce the severity of their attacks:

• Wash bedding and stuffed animals regularly in hot water to remove dust mites.
• Use impermeable mattress pads on all beds.
• Use a vacuum cleaner with a HEPA filter to trap small particles other vacuum cleaners miss.
• Clean heating ducts regularly
• Clean or replace furnace and air conditioning filters every month.
• Keep pets groomed and shampooed. Do not allow pets on the furniture.
• Use a dehumidifier in the winter and an air conditioner in the summer to keep air dry and prevent mold from forming.
• Give your child more oily fish, bananas and apple juice, which studies have linked to reduced allergies and asthma symptoms.
• Keep them indoors in the late morning and early afternoon, when pollen production is highest.
• Choose hard flooring, such as wood or tile, instead of carpet. Also choose wooden shutters instead of curtains.

Of course, many over-the-counter medicines and natural remedies are available to help treat allergies. Before trying any over-the-counter meds always check with your physician, especially in small children. You should definitely see a doctor or seek immediate medical attention if your child 

• Has difficulty breathing
• Suddenly develops hives or swelling around the face and lips
• Has a cough or cold that lasts more than a week
• Has allergy symptoms that get worse for no apparent reason

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