A Healthy Diet For Infants

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In children up to 5 years, growth and activity are greatly increased, and meals should provide plenty of the following nutrients:

- Protein-for body growth
- Calcium-for bones and teeth
- Fluoride- for teeth
- Iron- for red blood cells

And this diet should be well balanced in all respects. Children should be discouraged from eating between meals, especially sweets and snakes such as crisps, as this may lead to poor appetite at mealtimes, tooth decay and obesity. It is unwise to give children food such as a biscuit or sweet every time they are upset or unhappy about something. This could start a habit that becomes hard to break and can even continue into adulthood, possibly leading to obesity.

At this age, a children appetite may vary from day to day, and parents should make allowances for this. Rather try to force a child to eat, give small portions with option of a little more if desired. The child's appetite may be poor for any of these reasons:

- Teething-gums can be sore and uncomfortable.
- Illness- the child may be unable to explain how it feels in words, but show it by refusing food.
- Assertiveness-children like to assert their independence, and so many refuse to eat even if hungry.

Parents should try to stay calm but firm, and indicate clearly the behavior they expect at the meal table. There is then unlikely to refuse food for long.

Suggested meals for toddlers are given below.

Breakfast:

- Wholegrain, unsweetened sear with milk, and perhaps fruit or yogurt or porridge or
- Boiled, poached and scrambled eggs or
- A small piece of fish or
- A small rasher of bacon and a tomato or
- A small vegetable burger and a tomato or
- Toast of wholemeal bread or
- A small croissant or toasted bun or
- Butter or margarine or
- Yeast extract or a little jam or marmalade or
- Milk, fruit juice or water

Midday Meal

- A small piece of baked or poached fish or
- A small piece of meat or bean stew or
- Cheese or vegetable omelet or
- Salad or
- Mild vegetable or meat curry with vegetables, potatoes and pasta or

lentil and vegetable soup with crusty bread or
- Savory rice with mixed vegetables or
- Fresh fruits, fruit in jelly, fruit crumble and mousse with yogurt

Evening Meal

- Fish cakes, lentil burger or
- Small salad with egg, meat or cheese or
- Small piece of fish in sauce or
- Small piece of pizza and salad or
- Bowl of vegetable soup or
- Small round of sandwich or
- Bowl of mixed 'finger foods', e.g. cheese, cubes, beans, pieces of cucumber, apple. Tomato, dried fruits, celery and carrot sticks, cooked sausage and bean sprouts.
- Baked beans with toast or
- Small piece of cake or yogurt