Child Nutrition

Additional fiber, less calories, and half the fat are phrases we see on almost every food label. When we see this on food labels we automatically think it is healthier and buy it over other products, which may be in fact healthier. Many adults have gone full vegetarian or use low carbohydrate guidelines which make them follow a diet that cuts out several food groups. Many adults try to eat healthy by restricting themselves from many food types or cut them out completely. Most of these food groups are the ones that are beneficial to a child's growth and development. So is subjecting your child to these so called "healthy" foods and diets really dangerous to their health?

Your child's body needs specific nutrients in their diet so they can develop properly. Each nutrient serves a purpose in a child's physical and mental development. The fat in food is used for nerve development. Muscle and bone growth requires protein. Children need carbohydrates to fuel their brain and give their body energy.

There are many reasons why restricting your child's diet is dangerous. The more obvious reason is hindering their physical development. If not carefully thought out and planned, a vegetarian diet or low carbohydrate diet may not provide several nutrients such as protein, calcium, iron and B-vitamins.

Another reason why this dangerous is because it can cause your child to have mental and emotional problems towards food. By teaching your child that certain foods are so-called "bad", they may look at people around them as "bad" for eating these foods. There are several food disorders, for example, orthorexia nervosa. A person with orthorexia takes eating healthy to an extreme and usually tries to push it onto others, such as their kids. A parent will pass this disorder onto their child when constantly obsessing over their diet and making their children do the same.

Also, a child may become rebellious. They may start to sneak food that they see other people around them eat and enjoy because it is not allowed at home. This later can lead a child to have weight issues or even resentment towards their parents.