The Importance of Nutrition in Your Child's Health

One of the best ways to maintain your child’s health and wellness is to ensure that he or she is eating the right foods. The USDA provides tips for helping young children at healthy breakfasts, lunches, and dinner. Necessary nutrients include fiber, protein, Vitamin C, and Vitamin D. Children need to get these nutrients all the more because they are still growing and developing. Read below to gain a basic understanding on why good child nutrition is important, and to get personal guidance from a trusted pediatrician, call Surfside Pediatrics in Ventura, CA, today!

Importance of Nutrition
For your children to remain healthy, strong, and resilient, it is essential that they receive the recommended level of nutrients, vitamins, and nourishment. Unfortunately, the average American diet includes a lot of processed foods that don’t always provide a sufficient amount of nutritional value. The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention estimates that 12.5 million American children are obese. This is largely due to the habit of eating too many fats, sugar, and refined carbohydrates, and not enough vegetables, fruits, and whole grains.

Making Better Child Nutrition Choices
The first step to take if you want to help your child get better nutrition is to examine the foods and beverages that they have been regularly consuming. When you learn more about nutrition with the help of your Ventura pediatrician, you can select better, whole foods the next time you shop. Here are some ways you can start to make better nutritional choices:

- Include more fiber and whole grain-based cereals or breads.
- Provide small trays or bags of vegetable and fruit bites that are kid-friendly and easy to grab when on the run.
- Aim to include green leafy vegetables (e.g. spinach, kale, and broccoli) in more meals.
- Ensure that your child is getting ample protein from foods like egg yolks, beans, and meats.
- Check sugar content on foods and minimize sugar consumption.
- Newborns should be breastfed for at least six months to ensure the best nutrition.

Ask Your Pediatrician for Help
It’s not always easy to make child nutrition changes, and when in doubt, seek the advice and guidance of your Ventura pediatrician. It’s important to talk to your child’s doctor about good nutritional choices, from their first appointment as a baby, and throughout their developmental stages. You’ll work together as a team to ensure that your child stays healthy, active, and fit!

Improve Your Child’s Nutrition
Take the first step towards improving your child's health by contacting Dr. Kevin White or Dr. Stacey Lowen at Surfside Pediatrics in Ventura, CA. Call (805) 643-7500 today to schedule your visit at a time that’s convenient for you!