Nourishment & Obesity Prevention For Children

Our children are our greatest responsibility.  Their health is shaped by our own nutrition long before they are born.  Ideally, parents should start an optimal diet before conception in order to build up good nutritional reserves.  Many pregnant women do not realise the importance of optimal nutrition in the early stages of pregnancy and it is no good subsisting on burgers and fries, popcorn and coke in early pregnancy for it is during these first few months that the baby's organs are being formed.

Breast Feeding:

Breast feeding is most important.  It largely determines the baby's health in his or her first months and also for many years to come. There are considerable differences between human and cow's milk. Human milk contains ten times more vitamin E than cow's milk, more lactose (milk sugar), less protein and smaller quantities of minerals, and also contains double the amount of essential fatty acids.  These differences are not accidental.  They suit perfectly the specific growth requirements of the human baby. The extra lactose in human milk helps to maintain healthy flora in the baby's intestines and also contributes to brain development.

Children cannot be expected to grow into healthy grown-ups if their daily diet lacks the nutrients essential for growth.  So let's give them a chance, their rightful chance to good health by emphasising whole foods, healthy snacks and proper supplementation and skipping sugar foods as much as possible.  It is important to help children develop a taste for fresh fruit and vegetables.  They should become used to wholewheat bread, eggs, cheese, yogurt, organ meats, raw seeds and nuts.  They should also be educated to satisfy their craving for sweets with dried fruits such as raisins, dates, apricots, prunes etc.

Parents have a great ally in the fight against the sweets and soft drinks problem – the kitchen. Most commercially produced sweets can be duplicated at home using natural wholesome ingredients and less, or no sugar. Fresh fruit juices can be substituted for soft drinks; natural snacks can be prepared at home by mixing raw nuts and seeds with raisins, carob chips or date cubes.  Home made ice cream and cakes are usually more delicious than the commercial ones. And involve the children in this activity as well.  The possibilities are endless and so are the benefits. 

With so many schools these days cutting down on games lessons and sports days, it is most important to develop a love of exercise in our children. Okay, so a lot of kids are just not naturally inclined towards physical activity, but every child enjoys playing games so get out there with them and a football, tennis racquet or cricket/baseball bat, take them to the swimming pool or gym, and find out what it is that they do enjoy doing. And if you must, or have to, drive your children to school, don't drop them at the school gate – park a few hundred yards up to the road so that they benefit from the walking.