Nutrition for Infant , Children and Adolescents

Nutritional Guidelines for Children and Adolescents

Introduction

• Deficiency diseases and infant mortality have declined, but obesity among children and adolescents is a public health concern.

• Goals of nutrition and physical activity for children: promote optimal physical and cognitive development, healthy weight, enjoyment of food, and decreased risk of chronic disease.

Nutrition Requirement of Infancy (Birth to 1 Year)

• Rapid growth in the first year of life.

• Adequate calories and nutrients needed to support growth.

• Breast milk is recommended for at least the first year of life, with exclusive breastfeeding for the first six months.

• Infant formula can be used as a supplement or replacement for breastfeeding.

• Complementary foods (solids) become necessary around six months of age, starting with iron-rich foods.

Nutrition During Early Childhood (1-5 Years)

• Focus on promoting normal growth.

• Use growth charts to monitor size and growth patterns.

• Children ages 3 to 5 should be physically active throughout the day.

• Daily calorie needs range from 800 to 1000 for ages 12 to 23 months and 1000-1600 for ages 2 to 5.

• Avoid sugar-sweetened beverages and caffeinated drinks.

• Offer whole milk, plain yogurt, and cheese based on their need.

• Cooked varieties of seafood with low mercury levels are recommended.

Feeding Guidelines for Infants (12-23 Months)

• Whole milk should not exceed 2 to 3 cups per day to avoid displacing iron-rich foods.

• Offer a variety of nutrient-rich solid foods from all food groups.

• Avoid difficult-to-chew and swallow foods to decrease the risk of choking.

• Meals and snacks should be supervised.

• Prepare foods in forms that are easy to chew and swallow.

• MyPlate graphic illustrates the concept of balance.

Promoting Healthy Habits for Children

• Avoid using toys, books, or screens during mealtime to avoid distracted eating.

• Do not pressure children to eat more.

• Avoid sweet drinks and offer small portion sizes.

• Allow children to improve self-feeding skills, even if it's messy.

• Eating with the family is associated with better diet quality and lower rates of overweight/obesity.

Nutrition for Children (6-10 Years) and Adolescents (11-18 Years)

• Adolescence is a period of physical, emotional, social, and sexual maturation.

• Calorie needs increase to support growth.

• Girls require fewer calories than boys due to more fat tissue and less muscle mass.

• Dietary practices change as children get older and have more outside influences on their food choices.

• Family meals at home promote healthier eating habits.

• Encourage adolescents to make healthy food choices and avoid unhealthy options.

• Calcium intake is a concern during adolescence for optimal bone mineralization.

Nutritional Care Plan

• Nutritional assessment includes health and medical information, anthropometric measurements, and laboratory tests.

• Medical history, developmental level, living status, and family/social support are important factors.

• Height and weight are measured to calculate BMI and monitor growth.

• Laboratory tests, such as hemoglobin and RBC levels, can identify any abnormalities.

Nutritional Guidelines for Children and Adolescents

Page 21

• Dietary assessment methods for children and adolescents

  • Food records

    • Interview with primary caregiver

    • Record 24-hour intake, type, and amount of foods consumed

  • Analysis of dietary assessment to identify malnutrition risk

  • Planning of dietary recommendations based on age and requirements of the child/adolescent

  • Nursing intervention through counseling and health education

  • Evaluation by monitoring growth in height and weight

  • Monitoring food records to assess adequacy of nutrient intake

Page 22

• Nutrition concerns during childhood and adolescence

  • Overweight and obesity

    • Weight gain occurs when calorie intake exceeds expenditure over time

    • Factors contributing to excessive calorie intake

      • Large portion sizes

      • Snacking

      • Away-from-home meals

      • Sugar-sweetened beverage consumption

    • Risks associated with obesity in youth

      • Chronic conditions like diabetes, hypertension, cardiovascular disease

Page 23

• Obesity screening for children and adolescents

  • All children and adolescents are at risk for obesity

  • Specific risk factors identified

    • Parental obesity

    • Poor diet (e.g., consumption of sugar-sweetened beverages)

    • Low level of physical activity

    • Inadequate sleep

    • Sedentary behaviors

    • Low family income

Page 24

• Obesity prevention strategies

  • Early prevention strategies

    • Encouraging healthy BMI in women before pregnancy

    • Recommended weight gain during pregnancy

    • Smoking cessation prior to pregnancy

    • Exclusive breastfeeding for the first six months of life

    • Continuation of breastfeeding until at least the age of 1, along with complementary foods

Page 25

• Prevention strategies for children and adolescents

  • Healthy eating behaviors

  • Reducing sedentary behaviors

  • Increasing physical activity

  • Obtaining adequate sleep

  • Limiting intake of sugar-sweetened beverages

  • Parental role modeling of healthy eating and physical activity behavior

  • Encouraging intake of fruits and vegetables according to MyPlate recommendations

Page 26

• Summary of nutritional guidelines for children and adolescents

  • Optimal diet supports normal growth and development within calorie and nutrient guidelines

  • Exclusive breastfeeding recommended for the first 6 months of life

  • Breastfeeding should continue up to the age of 1 year

  • Iron-fortified infant formula is an acceptable alternative or supplement to breastfeeding

  • Parents play a crucial role in their children's nutritional intake and should provide healthy foods and avoid introducing foods with no nutritional value

Page 27

• Reference

  • Dudek, Susan G, Nutrition Essentials for Nursing Practice, 9th ed, 2022, Wolters Klu