Healthy Food for your Child

An important point to remember about children and food is that they go through growth spurts so there will be periods where they seem to always be hungry and periods where they seem to not be very interested in food at all.

Forcing a child to eat can have long term serious consequences. Snack between meals (especially junk food like chips and lollies) will of course spoil their appetite.

But here are some simple guidelines to a child's basic food requirements: 1. Protein for building strong and healthy bodies: peas, beans, eggs, fish, meat, yoghurt and low fat cheese.

Vegetables and fruit for nutrients and fibre : Important for a healthy body inside and out. Broccoli, green beans, carrots, sweet potato, tomatoes, spinach, cucumber (with skin). Fruit: Peaches, apricots, pears and apples. (Wash and leave the skin on.) Starchy carbohydrates. The more fibre they contain, the slower they burn. Try fibre-enriched bread, wholegrain rice, couscous, pasta, corn bread, pancakes and low sugar cereal.

Good fats. Food with 'long-chain' fats build brain and nerve cells. These good fats are found in fish (tinned or fresh), avocado and vegetables oils such as olive and canola oil.
Tap water is the cheapest and best source of fluids. (If you do give juice, always mix it half and half with water.)