Question

1. Describe young children's nutrient needs and discuss some of the nutritional related issues they face.

Answer 1

1. Young children's nutrient needs:

Young children refers to the children, who are in early stages of growth from birth to Eight years. In most of the literature young children refers to the particular age group of 4 to 8 years. Nutritional needs of young children have to meet adequately for ensuring their proper growth and development.  

Nutrient needs:

Young children need Macronutrients such as Carbohydrate, protein and fats , and Micronutrients such as Vitamins and  minerals for their physical growth and intellectual maturation.  

* Carbohydrate: It is the major food source for energy. It is essential for the child's physical growth and maturity, and it is needed by body to use protein and fat. It can be obtained in the major food groups like Rice, cereals, grains, pasta, potatoes, bread etc. Simple sugars should supply by fruits , sugar and milk.

Daily requirements: The child should get 50- 60 % of energy from carbohydrates. Daily need of fiber is 25 gm

* Protein : It is a major class of food and source of energy and it is essential for tissue growth. Amino acids are essential for the growth and metabolism. The main food groups that contain protien are fish , egg , meat, poultry, nuts , diary products and beans .

Protein Requirements: 1gm of protein per kg body weight, is needed for the children.

* Fats: It is a class of food and in children it is a great source of energy. It is an integral part of every cell. The major food items that contain fats are: Diary products, meat , fish, cooking oils, nuts.  

Daily requirements of fat : Maintain 25 to 35 % fat intake in child's daily menu. Add poly and mono unsaturated fats in the child's diet, that can obtain from fish , vegetable oils and nuts.

Micronutrients:

* Vitamins :

Vitamins are essential Macronutrients for the child, that helps to carry out different physiological and anatomical functions in the body. Vitamin A, D, E and K are fat soluble vitamins and B complex and C are water soluble vitamins .

Vitamin A is essential for vision , bone growth and immunity.

Vitamin B complex, essential for skin , nervous system   and metabolism.

Vitamin C essential for strengthening immune system and blood clotting

Vitamin D , essential for bone growth and calcium absorption

Vitamin K : essential for blood coagulation.

Minerals such as Calcium , magnesium, Sodium potassium, zinc, phosphorus , Iron are essential for bone growth, electrolyte balance and muscle functioning.  

Nutrition related issues:  

Major nutrition related issues in young children are:

* Failure to thrive

It refers to poor physical growth or level of weight , relative to one's age peers. Failure to thrive or Growth retardation is mainly due to Protein energy malnutrition in children. It manifest as the diseases Kwashiorkar and Marasmus in children, especially seen in underdeveloped countries.  

* Rickets : It occurs due to inadequate intake of Vitamin D and is characterised by softened skull bones, delayed dentition, bone abnormalities etc.

* Iron deficiency anaemia : Anaemia or decreased Red blood cells or Haemoglobin content in the blood, mainly occurs due to Iron deficiency. Pallor , tiredness , poor appetite, brittled hair etc are the signs and symptoms of Iron deficiency anaemia.  

* Food allergy : Food allergies are common in developed countries. Most of the allergies arw life long, but some may end by the year of five. Main allergy causing food items are milk, egg, wheat, shell fish etc.

* Constipation :

It refers to a condition of hard stools and child having Difficulty in passing stools. It may be due to less intake fiber and fluids.  

Otherthan these issues feeding problems such as refusal of food , milk and fruits by children are another issue that affect young children' s nutritional status.