On The Basic Principles Of Child Nutrition From 1 To 10 Years

- What are the specific nutritional needs of children in kindergarten to primary school age? What nutrients does the child need and how can they be provided with food? What are the general rules that every parent should know to grow their child healthy by eating?

The general rules after infancy, or after 10 months of age, depend, first, on the sex of the child , as there is a different intensity of metabolism in both sexes, which is maintained in the later stages; then from the motor activity of the child and from the age group, according to which he has different needs for energy intake and import of building blocks, such as proteins, carbohydrates and fats.

It is good to know which food groups are most useful. First, these are foods that contain a sufficient amount of protein and essential amino acids of both plant and meat origin, because in adolescence, and later in adolescence, the necessary building material that is supplied by protein is the highest.

As children have a lot of physical activity, the import of carbohydrates is extremely important - it provides the necessary calories for the day. However, this is not about sweet desserts. This import of carbohydrates must take place through fruits and vegetables, which must be mostly fresh and exceptionally canned. This group includes freshly squeezed juices, fresh juices, which are also useful. Those that have already undergone some kind of heat treatment, such as UHT juices, are not as useful.

Third in importance is the import of fat , which also gives the cell the ability to build.

When calculating the caloric intake, it should be known that one gram of protein gives 4.1 kcal, one gram of carbohydrates gives the same amount of calories, and one gram of fat gives twice as much - 8.6 kcal.

In different age groups, the needs for caloric intake change. The groups are from 10 months to 3 years of age, from 3 to 7 years, the next group is the students, but there is also quite strict monitoring of the chemical composition of food. The required caloric intake is also given per kilogram of body weight. I will present this information in detail at my presentation at the Children's Health Forum on October 11.

When making the child's menu, whether cooking at home or eating is organized, as in kindergartens, these principles must be followed.

- Which products are of leading importance for children in the age groups from 10 months to 3 years and from 3 to 7 years?

In both groups, dairy products should be widely represented in the menu. However, there is one problem to keep in mind here. Breast milk and other milks - with the exception of goat's and mare's milk - have different chemical compositions. Breast milk is from the so-called. globulin milks, where the proteins are in the form of a very fine emulsion and are very easily absorbed by the child's body.

The other milks are casein . These include cow's, sheep's and buffalo's milk. The lipids there are in a complex phosphorus-lipid and protein complex that is difficult to digest. That is why it is believed that children should receive such products at a later stage, from 10 months of age - it is believed that by 8-10 months of age the child has already developed immunity. Although it is not uncommon for children to be intolerant to the protein of these casein-derived dairy products. That is why the children's kitchens, in particular "Jan Bibian", which I represent, we compile a menu for such children - this is the so-called Diet 4A.

No dairy products are used in the preparation of this menu and diet, as we have expanded the activity a bit and we do not use those that contain gluten , as there are children with intolerance to cereal proteins. We replace cereal products with corn - corn starch, corn semolina, corn flour. Also no buildings are used and legumes are not included. These products are otherwise included in the standard menu.

Dairy products in general provide some very valuable nutrients for the child's body. They should be widely used in children's diet because of the calcium content that enters the building of the skeleton and skeletal system.

Another group of foods that should be widely used in the menu are legumes , as they contain many of the essential amino acids. Some of them, such as peas and green beans, have a delicate pulp, unlike old beans and lentils.

The next group are cereals , which can be included in soups and desserts. These are buckwheat, bulgur , products that have long been forgotten by Bulgarian mothers. Buckwheat is extremely useful because it contains a lot of mineral salts and iron. It can be offered to an infant. Before cooking, it should be slightly acidified to remove the slightly bitter taste that is released.

- What should be the presence of fish in the children's menu?

Fish in baby food, especially for the group from 10 months to 3 years, is a low-risk product due to the presence of bones. Small bones are always difficult to remove and this requires increased parental attention.

In Jan Bibian, there is one day a week that includes fish. We cook a large amount of fish - 80-90 kg, which is cleaned piece by piece. However, on the package we put a sign for parents' attention that there may be small bones. Technologically, they cannot be removed 100%.

The right fish for children is one that has as few bones as possible. These are white fish. They are also suitable for children because they do not contain much fat.

Ian Bibian offers tilapia fillet and pollock fillet. He also uses tuna in his VIP menu. There is no Bulgarian production of these fish, they are entirely imported. The same goes for meat, unfortunately, with the exception of chicken.

- What is the right meat for children?

When choosing meat , it must meet certain characteristics: to be fresh, to have a fresh look, not to be darkened, not to have an unpleasant odor. After cooking, it must be processed with a blender or meat grinder to make it suitable for consumption by the child at an early age.
Very suitable meat for children is beef - it has a high biological and nutritional value. Rabbit is also useful - it is considered dietary, as it is high in protein and low in fat. Another meat that meets these requirements is chicken. Turkey and lamb are also suitable. We also use duck and pork shawl, which can also be used. In the VIP menu of Children's Dairy Kitchen "Jan Bibian" we also use rarer meats such as guinea fowl fillet - it is richer in phosphorus, zinc and other trace elements, as well as parachute.

It is recommended, in order for the child's menu to be varied, to use different types of meat in the preparation of his food, as well as to have an alternation of dishes with meat and without meat. In our menu one day the meat is in the main meal, the next in the soup, where it is in smaller quantities.

- What should parents know about pasta when feeding a child?

Pasta should not be used much. A good example of a breakfast cereal is muesli, as it is rich in a variety of nutrients. Packaged cereals such as snacks, etc. should be avoided. A cake, a muffin for the first breakfast with tea or fresh milk can be offered to the child, but without overdoing it. The next breakfast should be fruit.

The child should not be deprived of the consumption of bread , as it gives him the necessary energy. A child still cannot eat as much bread as a meal, and on the other hand, the energy it will provide will protect him from eating harmful foods, such as confectionery.
The child's bread should be wholemeal, as in this variant the grain has a good effect on the peristalsis of the intestine and helps to avoid constipation.

- What other advice could you give to the parents?

The food for the child must be freshly prepared. Once prepared, it can be offered to him within 48 hours in refrigerated storage. It is important not to use canned food, because at the high temperature of their production the useful substances are destroyed and stabilizers and salt are added.

It is not a problem to use frozen products. The shock freezing of fruits and vegetables preserves all their nutritional properties. You have to be more careful with the meat. It is advisable to monitor the expiration date given by the manufacturer of the frozen products and not to allow thawing and re-freezing of the products, as the food molecules undergo a change.
Cooked food should not be frozen, as some parents practice.

If the food is reheated in a microwave oven, care must be taken with the characteristics of the container in which it is placed.