Foods for Growing Children

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1 Foods for Growing Children 10 Key Messages from Birth to two years Adapted from Infant young child feeding counselling: an intergrated course by World Health Organization and UNICEF. Foods for growing children in Fiji: 10 Key Messages from Birth to 2 years National Food and Nutrition Centre, Suva, Fiji.

2 Introduction The period from pregnancy through to the first two years of life is a very important period of rapid growth and development for children. Feeding the mother well during pregnancy ensures that the baby grows and develops well even before birth, and is born with a healthy weight. Breastmilk and other healthy foods that we feed our children are the building blocks they need to grow and develop into strong, healthy and productive children, and later, adults. The 10 key messages that follow is our recipe for ensuring our children have a good start in life with a solid foundation to grow and develop well.

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4 Key Message 1: Breastfeeding for two years of age or longer helps a child to develop and grow strong and healthy. Exclusive breastfeeding allows the baby to have only breastmilk for the first six months. No other foods or drinks including water are needed. From 6-12 months, breastfeeding continues to provide half or more of the child s nutritional needs: and from months, at least one third of their nutritional needs. Breastfeeding also Protects the child against many illnesses Contains fats needed for brain development Provides closeness and bonding between mother and baby Protects mother s health

5 Key Message 1: Breastfeeding for two years of age or longer helps a child to develop and grow strong and healthy.

6 Key Message 2: Starting other foods in addition to breast milk at six completed months helps a child to grow well These foods are called complementary foods.complementary feeding means giving other foods in addition to breast milk Introduce new foods one at a time for 4 to 5 days before starting another new food. So if your child has a reaction or allergy you will know which food caused it and avoid giving it again. Start with foods such as, boiled mashed pumpkin, mashed pawpaw or soft cooked strained dhal, porridge and rice and staple crop. These foods must be nutritious and given in enough amounts to the child It is best not to add salt and sugar to their foods

7 Key Message 2: Starting other foods in addition to breast milk at six completed months helps a child to grow well

8 Key Message 3: Foods that are thick enough to stay in the spoon give more energy to the child. Left / just right Right / too thin At 6 completed months (180 days), babies need to learn to eat thick porridge, pureed and mashed foods because these provide the child with extra energy compared to thin or liquid foods. At this stage the baby s digestive system (stomach) is mature enough to begin to digest a range of foods. Start small with a teaspoon of food and gradually increase amounts as the child accepts new tastes. The stomach of a young child is small. At eight months of age it can hold about 200ml (3/4 of a cup) at one time. To emphasize consistency / }thickness of food

9 Key Message 3: Foods that are thick enough to stay in the spoon give more energy to the child. Just right not watery Too thin watery

10 Key Message 4: Animal-source foods are especially good for children, to help them grow strong and lively Animal source foods such as chicken, lamb, fish and beef including liver, yoghurt, cheese, eggs and milk are rich in many nutrients, including protein and iron, that help baby grow. Foods from animal sources should be eaten daily in as many meals as possible. Milk, fish and eggs are excellent for children because they are high in protein and easy to eat The young child needs protein and iron to: Make new blood Help in growth and development Help the body fight infections/sickness

11 Key Message 4: Animal-source foods are especially good for children, to help them grow strong and lively Meat Liver Fish Cheese Eggs Chicken MILK YO GURT Milk Yogurt

12 Key Message 5: Peas, beans, lentils, nuts and seeds are also good for children Beans, peas (including dhal) are good sources of protein and iron. Dhals can be used in meals instead of meat and fish when these foods are not available Mash cooked seeds and peas well, before adding to baby s food Nuts and seeds are good sources of protein and fat

13 Key Message 5: Peas, beans, lentils, nuts and seeds are also good for children Dahl Lentils Peas Nuts and Peanuts

14 Key Message 6: Dark-green leaves and yellowcoloured fruits and vegetables help a child to have healthy eyes and fewer infections A variety of vegetables and fruits in the child s diet help to meet many nutrient needs Add well cooked strained or mashed vegetables such as, green beans, peas, tubua, pumpkin or carrots to the soft mashed porridge, that are first foods for baby between 6-7 months Local fruits such as pawpaw, banana, mango, mandarin, oranges, pandanus contribute Vitamin A and Vitamin C to a child s diet. Dark green vegetables such as tubua, bele, saijan and taro leaves are rich in iron Aim to include some vegetables in the baby s meals daily Fruits make good snack food for babies.

15 Key Message 6: Dark-green leaves and yellowcoloured fruits and vegetables help a child to have healthy eyes and fewer infections Pawpaw Carrot Mango 1 Pumpkin Bele/island cabbage/slippery cabbage Pandanus Tubua/Chauriya 2. Watercress Bananas 1. Ota/Fern 2. Sweet Potato leaves 3. Pumpkin leaves 1

16 Key Message 7: A growing child needs 2-4 meals a day plus 1-2 snacks if hungry: give a variety of foods It is important for a child to eat a mixture of foods at mealtimes. Aim to include foods from the three food groups in the meals. Each day give a dark green vegetable or yellow coloured fruit or vegetable and an animal-source food in addition to staple foods (taro, sweet potato, yam, breadfruit, cassava, rice, bread) Since the family pots usually contain a mixture of foods/ingredients e.g. boiled fish with cabbage and tomatoes, set aside a little for baby before salting family food to taste.

17 Key Message 7: A growing child needs 2-4 meals a day plus 1-2 snacks if hungry: give a variety of foods

18 Key Message 8: A growing child needs increasing amounts of food Introduce foods one at a time, so the child gets accustomed to the new textures and tastes. Mixed ingredient meals should only be given when the child is used to a variety of foods. Begin with soft mashed porridge then add well cooked mashed or strained vegetables and finally add meat and fish as the child grows older Find out what the equivalent of a 250 ml Cup is, to guide you on the quantities to give, to suit the child s age. Increase the amount gradually as the child grows older. Offer snacks between meals so they do not replace main meals.

19 Key Message 8: A growing child needs increasing amounts of food At Age 6 months At Age 7-8 months At Age 9-11 months At Age months

20 Key Message 9: A young child needs to learn to eat: encourage and give help with lots of patience Feeding times are periods of learning and love. Children may eat better if feeding times are happy Have regular meal times where the child can focus without distractions Respond positively to the child with smiles, eye contact and encouraging words Try different food combinations, tastes and textures to encourage eating. Wait till the child swallows then offer another spoon. Give finger foods so the child can feed him/ herself. Mealtimes should be supervised.

21 Key Message 9: A young child needs to learn to eat:encourage and give help with lots of patience

22 Key Message 10: Encourage children to drink and eat during illness and provide extra food after illness to help them recover quickly Well fed children recover quickly from illness During sickness, the child needs more energy and nutrients to fight the infection, assist recovery and support catch-up growth A sick child often needs extra drinks and food during illness for example if they have fever or diarrhoea If the child does not get extra food, his or her fat and muscle tissue is used as fuel this is why s/he loses weight, looks thin and stops growing Encourage the sick child to continue eating even when s/he does not feel like eating. Add a teaspoon of margarine, coconut cream, cooking oil in the childs plate of food, to increase energy content

23 Key Message 10: Encourage children to drink and eat during illness and provide extra food after illness to help them recover quickly

24 Improving the quality of baby s meals Add energy or nutrient rich food to the porridge, soup or stew to enrich it. This is particularly important if the soup is mostly liquid with a few beans vegetables and other foods in it Add any of the following to the child s plate of food Mix in a spoonful of milk powder or add liquid milk to the soup Mix in finely ground roasted pea nuts finely, especially if the meal is made up of only vegetables Mix in a spoonful of margarine, ghee, oil or coconut cream Add micro nutrient powder (MNP*) directly to the child s serving of food just before eating Fluid needs If a baby under six months of age is ex clusively breastfeeding, or only only receiving replacement milks, s/he does not require extra water. Water and a variety of pure fruit juices from local fruits in season are healthy drinks for children over 6 months of age. Fizzy drinks (sodas), sugared juices and teas and coffee are not suitable for young children. Drinks should not replace foods or breastfeeding. Give only small amounts during mealtimes, and the rest at the end of the meal. *MNP come in 1g sachets (30 sachets in packet for one month s supply), and provides a young child with his/her daily dose of micronutrients, especially to address anemia which is very common among our Pacific children Starting foods too soon may take the place of breast milk result in a not so healthy diet increase the risk of illness for the child increase mother s risk of pregnancy Adding foods too late may result in child not receiving required nutrients slow child s growth and development risk causing deficiencies and malnutrition especially iron defiency anemia

25 Babies under 1 year should complete the required immunization according to national schedules Immunize your baby for maximum protection

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