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Providing Good Nutrition for a Healthy Brain

A child needs adequate amounts of necessary nutrients from food for brain growth and development.  Under-nourished children experience slower growth and have less energy to learn and explore.  Severely under-nourished children may experience slowed brain growth along with lessened physical development.

A child should be offered a variety of healthy foods that are “nutrient dense.” Nutrient dense foods are high in nutrients such as protein, vitamins, minerals, that contribute to growth.  For example, milk and milk products contain protein, minerals and vitamins and are nutrient dense, while soft drinks are not considered nutrient dense, because they contain only calories from simple sugars.  Since a young child cannot consume large quantities of food at one time, if he fills up on foods and beverages that contain calories without other nutrients, he will not be hungry for the healthy foods his body needs.

Foods that are age appropriate in type and texture should be offered so the child can develop chewing, swallowing and other fine motor skills.  A child under about age three should not be given foods such as nuts, popcorn and raisins, as they may cause choking.   A child of three or four years of age should be supervised while eating these kinds of foods.

A child should be able to determine how much food he will eat, and should not be pressured to eat more, as that could lead to becoming overweight.  When a young child becomes overweight or obese, his ability to move about, play and interact — and to learn — is limited.

Recommended daily dietary allowances indicate the amounts of key nutrients that children and adults should eat every day.  By offering a variety of healthy foods at regular times, a parent or caregiver can assure that a child is meeting his needs for important nutrients, and receiving his recommended daily dietary allowances.  More information about good nutrition for young children can be found on the websites of the American Dietetic Association, and the American Academy of Pediatrics.