School children normally
have a good appetite, their food should
be selected nutritiously. The growth rate in children during 6 to 12 years slows down and body
changes occur gradually.
This period of life in
general is known as the latent period of growth which is more applicable for a
boy child.
In girls pre-pubertal
acceleration of growth take place during later half of this period. A girl
child usually outgrow a boy child. The
body requirements of calories and protein are increased steadily. Girls
require more protein between 10 - 12 than boys do, since at this age they
approach menstruation.
Increased requirements
of nutrients in children are apparent from 7 - 12 years, as they approach adolescent
period. The requirements of protein to meet demands of the growth also
increases. Children do require more calcium than adults, to meet the demand for
skeletal growth during 10 - 12 years. As blood volume increases iron
requirement also increases.
During puberty
nutritional needs are increased due to physical growth, hormonal changes and
emotional strain. Calories, protein, calcium and iron requirements are
particularly increased during this period. Iron is needed for haemoglobin
synthesis necessitated by the considerable expansion of blood volume and for
myoglobin needed for muscle growth.
As children grow, there is an
increased interest and participation in other activities, which compete with
mealtimes. The importance of sound learning and nutritive food has been
established long ago. Breakfast is particularly important for a school child.
It prepares the child for problem solving and memory spans in the learning
period at school.
This age group has a
tendency to skip breakfast, which is bad. This will make them weak, tried,
lethargic and develop lack of concentration. A cereal, milk, and fruit will
make a good and quick breakfast. Packed lunches should be nutritiously
adequate. Dinner is a good time to balance calories at the end of the day. Ideally
breakfast and lunch should provide major portion of calories and the balance
should be from dinner and in between snacks.
There are a number of points which,
need to be remembered while preparing menus for school children. Some of them
are:
- Nutritional requirement should meet their increasing activity and growth and special requirements because of sickness or injury.
- Food should contain high calories, protein, minerals and trace elements.
- Since the calories requirement is more in then daytime more calories must be provided during the day.
- Preferable food items are cereals, milk and milk products, pulses, vegetables including green leafy vegetables and fruits for vegetarians and in addition egg, chicken and fish for non vegetarians.
- Involve children in food shopping and preparing meals.
- Elders should have their food together with the kids so that kids feel they are treated as equals.
- Children accepts ideas much easily by watching their parents and elders doing rather than taking instructions all the time.
- Children are generally restless and do not like to spend too much time in eating. Hence
- the menus should include dishes which are quick to eat and also rich in nutrients.
- Menus should also provide variety in colour, texture, taste and flavor.
- The weather conditions should also be kept in mind while deciding on the menu. For example, in hot weather extra liquids and salts are to be given as children do not prefer plain water.
- Children have varying appetites and often prefer lighter meals at frequent intervals to a few large ones.
- New foods are likely to be accepted if it is given in form, which can be easily handled, and they should be offered at regular intervals until the child learns to accept it.
- Young children should be encouraged to eat with the rest of the family as he is ready to take the family meals and also because the interactions between the family members are a part of normal development.
- If the child does not like salads, it can be incorporated in foods like sandwiches.
While eating with other children at
school, the child observes many food attitudes and tastes new foods that he may
not normally accept. The school going child has increasing exposure to
influences on food habits. Television also influences children in food
selection. There are positive learning opportunities in the classroom,
particularly when parents provide support at home and nutrition is integrated
in academic activities.
Linda Gomes
