Dietary/Nutrition Guidance for Children: Essential Nutrients for Each Age Group
- posted: Feb. 27, 2025
Dietary and Nutrition Guidance for Children: Essential Nutrients for Each Age Group
To survive and thrive, children need to get all the nutrients that the body needs. Making sure that your children get what they need to grow and develop correctly is part of a parent's responsibility. If you are in need of dietary and nutrition guidance in Gaithersburg, MD, the team at Pediatric and Adolescent Care has a team of pediatricians who provide personalized and compassionate care and guidance to their patients and their families.
Generally speaking, children need to be introduced to a variety of foods, including:
- Fruits
- Vegetables
- Protein foods
- Grains
- Dairy
In order to grow and develop at the expected rate, it is essential that children get enough calcium in their diets. This can come from milk products, but if they don't tolerate milk, there are other options to supply the necessary nutrients. Your pediatrician can provide the necessary dietary/nutrition guidance in Gaithersburg, MD.
Infants
For the first six months of their lives, most infants require only breast milk or fortified infant formula. After six months of age, they will be slowly introduced to other nutritious food including protein, fruits, and vegetables.
Toddlers
A toddler should have a calorie intake of between 1000–1400 calories per day. This should include foods from all five food groups. Calcium is an important nutrient and toddlers should drink whole milk. Iron is also essential for growth and development, which means exposing your child to iron-rich foods. Make healthy snacks a part of your food plan.
Children
School-aged children need to have good nutrition to thrive. They need a variety of fruits, vegetables, proteins, grains, and good fats. Avoiding processed food and sugary snacks that have little nutritional value is essential. Try to encourage your children to try new things and choose healthy snacks.
Teens
By the time your children are teens, they will have developed many of their own tastes for food. If you have been providing a good variety, they should be getting what they need and be able to maintain a normal rate of growth and weight. Avoid added sugars and empty calories when possible.
Contact Our Pediatricians Near You Today
For dietary/nutrition guidance in Gaithersburg, MD and Serving Rockville, MD, you can count on the team of pediatricians at Pediatric and Adolescent Care. Give the office a call for an appointment at (301) 869-2292.
Dietary/Nutrition Guidance for Children: Essential Nutrients for Each Age Group
- posted: Feb. 27, 2025
Dietary and Nutrition Guidance for Children: Essential Nutrients for Each Age Group
To survive and thrive, children need to get all the nutrients that the body needs. Making sure that your children get what they need to grow and develop correctly is part of a parent's responsibility. If you are in need of dietary and nutrition guidance in Gaithersburg, MD, the team at Pediatric and Adolescent Care has a team of pediatricians who provide personalized and compassionate care and guidance to their patients and their families.
Generally speaking, children need to be introduced to a variety of foods, including:
- Fruits
- Vegetables
- Protein foods
- Grains
- Dairy
In order to grow and develop at the expected rate, it is essential that children get enough calcium in their diets. This can come from milk products, but if they don't tolerate milk, there are other options to supply the necessary nutrients. Your pediatrician can provide the necessary dietary/nutrition guidance in Gaithersburg, MD.
Infants
For the first six months of their lives, most infants require only breast milk or fortified infant formula. After six months of age, they will be slowly introduced to other nutritious food including protein, fruits, and vegetables.
Toddlers
A toddler should have a calorie intake of between 1000–1400 calories per day. This should include foods from all five food groups. Calcium is an important nutrient and toddlers should drink whole milk. Iron is also essential for growth and development, which means exposing your child to iron-rich foods. Make healthy snacks a part of your food plan.
Children
School-aged children need to have good nutrition to thrive. They need a variety of fruits, vegetables, proteins, grains, and good fats. Avoiding processed food and sugary snacks that have little nutritional value is essential. Try to encourage your children to try new things and choose healthy snacks.
Teens
By the time your children are teens, they will have developed many of their own tastes for food. If you have been providing a good variety, they should be getting what they need and be able to maintain a normal rate of growth and weight. Avoid added sugars and empty calories when possible.
Contact Our Pediatricians Near You Today
For dietary/nutrition guidance in Gaithersburg, MD and Serving Rockville, MD, you can count on the team of pediatricians at Pediatric and Adolescent Care. Give the office a call for an appointment at (301) 869-2292.
