NUTRITION DURING SCHOOL AGE

 
Introduction

School age children are still growing, although not as fast as their younger brothers and sisters. Growth rate vary widely between sexes. Girls usually out distance boys. Children from both sexes are usually very active and use up plenty of energy everyday. 

Psychologically, they begin moving from a dependence on parental standard to those of peers. This is the step in preparing for community maturity and self growth.

There is a close relation of sound nutrition and child learning. Breakfast is particularly important for a school child. It break the sleep hours and prepare the child for attention in the learning hours at school.

Points to remember while planning meal for school children

1. School children need mixtures/combination of foods from the three food groups. 

2. Every day at least meals containing enough foods from all the food groups, will help children to develop properly, stay healthy and learn well.

3. Their diet should also contain foods rich in iron, since children tend to become anemic.

4. In order to help the children enjoy their meal, parents should make foods appetizing. 

5. Foods that are crisp, in small portions, easy to handle and with good blends of color will encourage children to eat.

Breakfast for children

A good breakfast is very important for school children. If a school child does not have breakfast before leaving home, he will not be able to pay attention to the lessons in the classroom. He /she may get exhausted.

Simple foods are given for breakfast:

1) Chapati + Chana preparation + Seasonal fruit + Milk

2) Pongal + Coconut chutney + Seasonal fruits + Milk

3) Idli + Groundnut chutney + Seasonal fruits + Milk

Lunch for children

School children generally carry a packed lunch to school or eat the school lunch. There should be enough food provided to make the child satisfied. There should not be too many items because the child has to carry his/her lunch. It should also be appetizing. At the same time, food requirements have to be met.

1) Mixed rice( rice + dal + vegetable )

2) Crispy items( chips with potato/yam/banana )

3) Curd rice ( rice + curd + greens/carrot )

4) Fruits/sweet dish

Generally children enjoy lunch because they eat along with their friends. They start sharing with each other. This may help children to get introduced to new foods. 

Dinner for children

Dinner may be the one meal, which the child can eat without rushing. Mother should encourage the child to eat. They should pay full attention to eating so there should be no distraction around. Like other meals, dinner should be based on good nourishing mixtures of food from the three food groups.

An example of a good dinner is:

chapati/lime rice

dal/fish, egg or meat preparation

vegetable preparation especially green leafy vegetables

seasonal fruit

curd( if possible )

Common nutritional problem of school children

Iron deficiency anemia

This is often present, but symptoms may not appear. Parent must become alert and feed the children with iron rich food.

Riboflavin deficiency

This is also observed in children belonging to low and middle income groups. The common symptoms are glossitis, fissures and ulcer in tongue and mouth. It is generally due to lacking of milk and animal foods.

Riboflavin deficiency can be overcome by adding milk, whole grains and whole pulses in children diet

Vitamin C deficiency

This is common among school children. Symptoms are bleeding gums. It can be managed by adding citrus fruits and vegetables in their diet.

Conclusion

If the children do not eat properly, they will not be healthy and will not grow and develop as they should. School children who do not get enough food, or enough of the right kind of food, cannot pay attention in school. So take care of your child diet as food is the basic for all kind of needs.