There is increased importance on proper diets for kids nowadays, as more health problems have been plaguing modern society.1 A child’s diet plays a very important role in his health and future. Since many new diseases have been affecting children in this generation, especially in the Western world, nutrition has become a very important aspect of a child’s life. As many parents are getting aware of the importance of healthy diets for kids, they are making conscious decisions regarding what their children should eat. The good thing about this is that there are many healthy diets for kids, thus making it easier to feed your child healthy diets.2
Since Covid-19 is still plaguing the planet, there also is heightened importance on healthy living and proper eating. However, many things have been done to counter this issue, especially in Western society. While most people prefer fruits and vegetables, children do not, so you should give them vegetables that are mashed and steamed. With the proper and regular vitamins, a child will grow up with healthy habits, which will hopefully benefit them in the future.
The Importance of Healthy Diets For Kids
There is immense importance of healthy diets for kids. These diets should be introduced to kids as soon as possible so that they form an early and crucial concept in their lives. Studies have revealed that diets rich in fruits, vegetables, whole grains and low in fat and salt are much better for kids than those high in fat and salt.3 This is the reason; parents should start introducing healthy diets for kids at a very early age to prevent them from suffering health problems at a later stage.
The importance of healthy diets for kids cannot be understood in words, as kids follow what they see. Children love eating family meals, so it would be a great idea to make healthy diets for kids a regular part of family meals.4
The importance of healthy diets for kids does not stop here, if you take a look at their growing bodies, you will notice that kids eating healthy diets gain more energy and become healthier and stronger. When you introduce healthy diets for kids to them, make sure you do not just pass on the healthy foods to them. You should also encourage your kids to eat healthy foods outside, like fruits and vegetables, along with healthy snacks. It would help you in teaching your kids to make healthy food choices and thus learn to be responsible towards their dietary needs in future life.5
Benefits of a Healthy Diet For Kids
While everyone has different views on the benefits of a healthy diet for a kid’s body, there are some things that are universally agreed upon. The importance of eating a healthy diet for your kids cannot be stressed enough. The long-term health of your child depends on it. But in the short term, good healthy foods can help kids develop better cognitive skills, be less at risk for illness, and have a better ability to concentrate and focus.6
Just as we adults should eat healthy to keep us healthy, kids need the same thing to stay healthy. Studies show that when kids are given meals that are healthy, they have better concentration and focus, they sleep better, and they have higher energy levels. It doesn’t take much to make sure that kid’s body is getting the nutrients it needs. Just make sure that you’re feeding them the right things.
In order for kids to have a healthy body, we need to make sure that they’re getting enough fruits and vegetables. And it’s not just fruits and vegetables, but whole grains, dairy products, and lean protein. It’s also important to include fats in the kid’s meals. A healthy diet for a kid’s body won’t just help them get fitter, it will also make them feel better. Kids that eat healthy and get plenty of vitamins and minerals will also be more likely to be happy kids.7
One of the best benefits of a healthy diet for a kid’s body is that they will be less likely to become overweight. They’ll also be less likely to develop certain diseases that could cause them harm. Some kids are prone to becoming obese and may develop diabetes later on in life. Other kids will gain weight due to being bored or not getting enough exercise. But having a healthy diet for kids will help them stay fit and healthy.
The last benefit of a healthy diet for kids is that they’ll be less likely to develop allergies. Allergies can be difficult to treat, but a healthy diet for kids can help keep their immune system strong. If you’re feeding your kids a healthy diet, you can rest easy knowing they’re not going to get sick easily.
The Benefits of a Healthy Diet For a Kids Mental Health
Kids have always been getting advice about eating healthy and the benefits of a healthy diet, but do they listen? Do they really care what they eat? If you are asking yourself these questions then it is time to start giving consideration to the benefits of a healthy diet for your kid’s mental health. There are many mental health benefits of eating a healthy diet, here are some of them.8
It is always important to start young, from a young age. The benefits of a healthy diet for kids’ mental health starts as early as infancy, from the time they are born. Babies develop their immune system, body composition, and digestive system all through the mother’s breast milk.9 This same natural source of nutrition also nourishes the child throughout his or her childhood years, making sure that the child grows up to be healthy, strong, and resistant to diseases.
Eating a healthy diet during childhood helps the kids gain the necessary nutrients needed to grow and become strong and healthy. During the critical first year of life, kids usually experience significant physiological changes due to rapid development and adaptation to their environment. During this period, the nutritional needs of kids are at their highest, so feeding them with the right kind of food in the early years will make them grow up to be strong and healthy as they enter school and beyond.10
Kids develop psychological attitudes towards food according to their surroundings. Thus, a healthy diet promotes healthy psychological health in kids. Healthy diets also help in reducing the risk of certain types of cancer, diabetes, asthma, and other chronic diseases.11 There are many benefits of a healthy diet for kids’ mental health, but you must ensure that you are not overfeeding them. Overfeeding can lead to severe health problems, in the long run, so watch how much food your kid takes in.
What is Considered a Healthy Diet for Kids?
This question continues to be answered as the choices for our children continue to change. The problem remains though that what is considered a healthy diet for your neighbor may not be healthy for you. Eating healthy doesn’t always mean following someone else’s plan but following your own.
One of the things you want to consider is what proper nutrient intakes are for kids. When we refer to proper nutrients, we are talking about vitamins, minerals, and other nutritional values. When you are shopping for foods for your kids, you want to make sure you choose those that are easy for them to chew and those with a variety of flavors. You also want to make sure they are easy to digest so you avoid food that is hard for your children to digest like beans and nuts. You don’t want them to suffer from illnesses like food allergies and other conditions if you can help them. These things might seem like no-brainers but sometimes it takes a little effort to make them fun for your kids and they won’t mind doing it if you are patient with them.
Image Credits
Parent Map / Google Stock Images
Health Central / Google Stock Images
YMCA of Greensboro/ Google Stock Images
Grand Forks Herald / Google Stock Images
Health HQ / Google Stock Images
Endnotes
1 “Kids Healthy Eating Plate | The Nutrition Source – Harvard TH Chan ….” https://www.hsph.harvard.edu/nutritionsource/kids-healthy-eating-plate/ Accessed 27 Aug. 2021.
2 “Healthy eating for children | Caring for kids.” https://www.caringforkids.cps.ca/handouts/healthy-living/healthy_eating_for_children Accessed 27 Aug. 2021.
3 “Healthy Food for Kids – HelpGuide.org.” https://www.helpguide.org/articles/healthy-eating/healthy-food-for-kids.htm Accessed 27 Aug. 2021.
4 “The Importance of Child Nutrition – MANA Medical Associates.” https://www.mana.md/the-importance-of-child-nutrition/ Accessed 27 Aug. 2021.
5 “Childhood Nutrition Facts | Healthy Schools | CDC.” https://www.cdc.gov/healthyschools/nutrition/facts.htm Accessed 27 Aug. 2021.
6 “10 Ways to Promote Your Child’s Cognitive Development.” 9 Jun. 2014, https://www.friendshipcircle.org/blog/2014/06/09/10-ways-to-promote-your-childs-cognitive-development/ Accessed 27 Aug. 2021.
7 “The Benefits of Eating Healthy Foods as a Child – Hello Motherhood.” 5 Dec. 2018, https://www.hellomotherhood.com/the-benefits-of-eating-healthy-foods-as-a-child-5762623.html Accessed 27 Aug. 2021.
8 “Relationship Between Diet and Mental Health in Children … – NCBI.” https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4167107/ Accessed 27 Aug. 2021.
9 “Food for Thought: Does What My Kids Eat Affect Their Mental Health?.” 3 Feb. 2020, https://happiful.com/food-kids-mental-health/ Accessed 27 Aug. 2021.
10 “Diet and mental health in children and adolescents | Food and Mood ….” https://foodandmoodcentre.com.au/2016/07/diet-and-mental-health-in-children-and-adolescents/ Accessed 27 Aug. 2021.
11 “Diet Linked to Better Mental Health for Kids | Mind Body Seven.” 10 Dec. 2018, https://www.mindbody7.com/news/2017/12/26/diet-linked-to-better-mental-health-for-kids Accessed 27 Aug. 2021.
