Growing Up

Nutrition recommendations for children over the age of two differ little from those for adults (see Backgrounder on Adult Nutrition). However, the recommendations for children are designed to promote optimal growth and development and therefore may not be as restrictive as those for adults. A wide variety of foods rich in essential nutrients are necessary for growing bodies and form the basis of these recommendations.
As indicated in the Food Guide Pyramid, such foods include carbohydrate-rich grains and fruits and vegetables necessary to supply vitamins, minerals, fiber and energy vital to good health. Adequate amounts of dairy products, lean meats, fish, poultry, eggs, dry beans and nuts also provide nutrients that contribute to proper growth and development.
Most children will grow about two inches and gain about four to seven pounds per year. Between the ages of six to 12, youngsters will grow an average of one to two feet and almost double in weight. Diminished weight-for-height may be indicative of acute undernutrition; decreased height-for-age may suggest chronic undernutrition. Such growth underachievement may be due to malnutrition, psychosocial deprivation, eating disorders, underlying chronic disease, infection or other factors.
While children often have definite food likes and dislikes, dietitians and nutritionists recommend parents make available a wide variety of foods and encourage tasting new foods in small quantities without forcing the issue. In this manner, children will often come to accept and like new foods. In addition, nutrition experts often urge parents to not insist that children "clean their plates." Children may benefit from choosing their own portion size, provided that the food is wholesome and nutritious. Finally, parents are advised to avoid using food to reward or to punish behavior