Is my kid getting the right nutrition?

Every parent knows that kids should be eating a balanced diet. But very often, kids don’t want to eat the foods that are best for them. They tend to (1) prefer processed food and sweetened drinks and (2) avoid fruits and vegetables

Moms, we know it can get a bit scary when, despite your best efforts, your kids end up being picky eaters by just eating a few type of foods repeatedly. A kid whose daily meals revolve around a few chosen foods may not be getting all the nutrition they need for proper growth and learning. Consequently, children become more prone to sickness and stunted growth, which not only affects their health but also has broader economic implications.

The first few years of a kid’s life are crucial – 90% of the kid's brain develops by age five. Your kid’s growing body and brain require the right nutrients to promote growth and development^1-3.

When your kid’s body doesn't get enough of a crucial nutrient, they might develop a nutritional deficiency. Research shows that nutrient deficiencies can impair physical development.

Let’s look at some common nutrient deficiencies seen in kids, and what you can do as parents to prevent them.

Which nutrient deficiencies are most common in kids?

Vitamin D

Vitamin D is a fat-soluble vitamin essential for absorbing nutrients such as calcium, iron, magnesium, zinc, and phosphate.

Your kid needs vitamin D for optimal bone growth.

Here is how much vitamin D your kids need, by age:

• Kids older than 3 years: 600 IU or more of vitamin D per day

Your kid’s body makes vitamin D when it is exposed to sunlight. Very few foods have vitamin D naturally, of which oily fish (such as salmon, mackerel, herring, tuna, and sardines), beef liver, cod liver oil, egg yolk, and foods that are fortified with vitamin D, are the best sources.

Zinc

Zinc is an important mineral needed for optimal growth, and healthy digestion. And a Zinc deficiency in kids has been linked to impaired growth.

Here is how much zinc your kids need, by age according to the Philippine Dietary Reference Intakes: 

• Kids 3-5 years: 5 mg per day
• Kids 6-9 years: 5.1 mg per day
• Kids 10-12 years: 6.6 mg per day

Zinc can be found in a variety of foods such as lean meat (e.g. beef), organ meats (e.g. liver from beef, poultry), shellfish (especially oysters), nuts, seeds, legumes and whole grain cereals (especially bran and germ).

Calcium

Your kids need calcium to build strong bones and teeth during childhood. In fact, about 99% of the body's calcium is found in the bones. Calcium also keeps the nerves and muscles working and plays a key role in keeping the heart healthy.

A kid who gets enough calcium can start their adult life with the strongest bones possible.

How do you know if your kid is not getting enough calcium? Symptoms of calcium deficiency can include dry skin, dry hair, brittle nails, and muscle cramps. If left untreated, a calcium deficiency in kids can lead to rickets, impaired growth, weakened tooth enamel, and seizures.

Here is how much calcium your kids need, by age according to the Philippine Dietary Reference Intakes:

• Kids 3-5 years: 550 mg per day
• Kids 6-9 years: 700 mg per day
• Kids 10-12 years: 1,000 mg per day

Milk and milk products like yogurt and cheese, fish with edible bones (such as canned sardines and anchovies), beans and bean products including lentils and tofu, vegetables like spinach, watercress, mustard leaves, and broccoli, and calcium-fortified cereals are good sources of calcium.

Do note that kids need adequate amounts of vitamin D to help the body absorb calcium.

How can we prevent nutritional deficiencies in kids?

What can you do to ensure that your kids are getting the nutrients they need to support growth and learning in those crucial early years? Here are some tips:

• Use the Pinggang Pinoy as a guide for a balanced diet:  
• Divide the plate in half, with one side dedicated to protein and carbohydrates. Fill more than half of this side with wholegrains like rice, noodles, bread, cereals, cereal products, or tubers. The remaining portion should be allocated to protein-rich foods. On the other side of the plate, fill it with fruits and vegetables. Ensure that more than half of this side is comprised of vegetables, while the rest is reserved for fruits.
• Avoid giving your kid processed foods, and foods and drinks with added sugar. These will fill your kid’s tummy and provide energy, but will starve their body of the important nutrients they need.
• Ensure that your kid drinks six to eight glasses of water every day. Water keeps the body hydrated, carries nutrients, and flushes out toxins.
• Some kids, especially picky eaters, cannot get the nutrients they need from diet alone. Picky eaters usually have lower consumption of fruits, vegetables and meat, as well as lower intake of energy, protein, vitamins, and minerals which are important for healthy growth and development.

In such cases, oral nutritional supplementation with a nutritionally balanced formulation4-8 may be necessary to prevent nutrient deficiencies and illnesses in young kids, and support growth and learning while healthy eating habits are being established.

Wyeth Nutrition’s MORE Superior growing-up milk for catch-up growth — the NEW ASCENDA® Kid — brings your kid’s essential micronutrient levels close to 100%, making it perfect for picky eaters who miss out on essential nutrients. It gives them the advantage they need for a healthier, happier life.

Wyeth ASCENDA® Kid is clinically proven to help deliver faster height growth in as early as 3 weeks!9 With a taste that kids love, it is the ONLY premium growth brand that has the Growth Plus Advantage–-100% dairy protein, high-quality carbohydrates like skimmed milk and lactose (no added sucrose or table sugar), and 38 essential growth and development nutrients that are easily absorbed.

Moms, we know you want your kids to grow happy and healthy today so that they have the advantage tomorrow. It all starts with Wyeth ASCENDA® Kid.