Childhood nutrition is high on the national agenda as last week’s National Childhood Obesity Week revealed that the number of obese children is on the rise. However, it’s not just weight that affects a child’s development as Parents are being urged to be more aware of the nutritional needs of their children.
Three quarters of Parents believe that a toddler’s nutritional needs are met if they eat the same as the rest of the family. However, ‘pound for pound’ (per kg of body weight, per day) toddlers actually require, nearly three times as much energy from food, more than four times the amount of iron and vitamin C, three times the amount of calcium, zinc and vitamin A, more fat and less salt in their food, than adults.
Three quarters of parents believe that a toddler’s nutritional needs are met if they eat the same as the rest of the family.
Further research by Growing Up Milk reveals nearly eight out of 10 parents are totally unaware of Toddlers’ specific nutritional needs in relation to vitamin D, with the average British toddler receiving only 27 per cent of their daily dietary requirement.
Here, Dr Carrie Ruxton talks about this pressing issue and what parents can do to provide a healthy diet and appropriate nutritional intake for their Toddlers.
What are your thoughts on Toddler nutrition? Tell us in the comment box below or tweet us @FemaleFirst_UK
FemaleFirst
Shabana Adam @Shabana_FAM
by Shabana Adam
find me on 
and follow me on 
