Nutrition and your Child

Someone once said “you are what you eat.” Never does this seem truer than in a child. As a parent, you have an important job to lay the foundation for your child’s physical, emotional and spiritual well being. Many things go into a creative fulfilled life, but nutrition is a cornerstone on which all else can be built. Without good nutrition no human being can ever reach his/her fullest potential. With good nutrition our children are beautiful, intelligent, creative, and at peace with their work and play. Here are some guidelines for building a nutritionally sound cornerstone to your child’s life.

Grouchy Foods

Some foods seem to make our children behave like “Oscar the Grouch” on Sesame Street. Watch your child after he/she eats certain foods. Does a chocolate candy bar make your daughter very active and destructive? Does a binge at the ice cream store make your son’s nose run the next day? Many doctors now believe that certain foods cause a food allergy leading to hyperactivity. As a general rule preservatives (like BHA and BHT), artificial colors and flavours cause hyperactivity. Also, lots of sugar and chocolate can have this effect. To avoid these foods you will have to learn to read labels at the grocery store. It is the law now that all ingredients be listed, so learn to read labels – they’re very interesting.

What is a Good Diet Like?

A good diet for a growing child is a balance of foods given to us by nature. Their diet should include some of each of these things each day:

Protein (to build bodies): chicken, fish, tofu, dairy products, beans, grains, nuts, eggs, low fat meats

Whole Grains: breads, crackers, brown rice, barley, whole wheat pasta, oats and other

grains (four or more servings per day)

Vegetables and Fruit: Fresh is best!!! Look for what is in season. Children also love

dried fruit like raisins and apples and, of course, juice. Make sure your juice is 100% juice and not a sugar-filled juice "drink." Be sure your child has a green leafy vegetable every day.

Dairy: There are many good reasons to omit cow's milk products. You may want to substitute soy/rice/almond milk, soy or rice "ice cream," tofu, soy cheeses and nut butters. Your child should have 1 to 2 tablespoons of nut butters/day.

Making the Change:

It is hard to change your family's diet. Make foods that look familiar at first such as whole wheat spaghetti or oat pancakes. Some easy substitutions to begin with:

White bread ⇒ Whole wheat or rye bread

Sugar ⇒ Honey, molasses

Sugar-Cereal ⇒ Shredded wheat, Rice Crispies, Brown Rice, Grapenuts, Oats, Nutrigrain

Kool-Aid ⇒ Fruit, raisins, nuts, home-made snacks

White pasta ⇒ Whole grain pastas, brown rice pasta

Ask Dr. Maria Papasodaro, your naturopathic doctor how to get your child tested for food sensitivities in order to improve their diet.

Dr. Maria Papasodaro, ND•

A Healing Place: 247 Main St. North, Brampton• (905) 459-4385

www.naturestouchnd.ca