BASIC TRAINING FOR BARANGAY HEALTH WORKERS

Calasiao, Pangasinan

NUTRITION FOR CHILDREN

Proper nutrition is necessary for health attainment and maintenance, optimal growth and development of individuals particularly among the vulnerable groups: children (infants, pre-schoolers) and women.

Nutrition for pregnant and lactating women should always be emphasized to ensure good nutrition during these periods.

A. IMPORTANCE OF NUTRITION FOR CHILDREN

A child grows and develops more rapidly during the first year of life than at any other time. On the average, a baby should double his weight by the fifth to sixth month and triple it by the end of his first year. This rapid growth of bones, muscles and tissues can take place only if

the baby is getting enough of the right kinds of food.

To be more specific, nutrition is important because:

• It helps in the development of the brain, especially during the first year of the

child’s life;• It speeds up the growth and development of the body including the formation of teeth and bones;• It helps fights infections and diseases;• It speeds up the recovery of a sick child; and• It provides the child more energy.

B. BASIC FOOD GROUPS

1. Classification2. Functions3. Nutrients4. Food Sources

B. BASIC FOOD GROUPS

Classification:Classification:The 3 basic food groups are:The 3 basic food groups are:

1. Energy foods (energy-giving) : 1. Energy foods (energy-giving) : Carbohydrates : wheat, rice, corn, etc. Carbohydrates : wheat, rice, corn, etc. Fats or lipids Fats or lipids

2. Body-building foods: 2. Body-building foods: Proteins : soy, meat, poultry, seafood.Proteins : soy, meat, poultry, seafood.

3. Protective (regulating) foods :- 3. Protective (regulating) foods :- Vitamins & Minerals : All fruits and Vitamins & Minerals : All fruits and

vegetables as well as dairy productsvegetables as well as dairy products

Classification Functions Nutrients Food Sources•Body-building or GROW foods

•Help build & repair body tissues•Develop body resistance to infections•Supply additional energy

•Protein Fish, pork, chicken, beef, milk, cheese, butter, kidney, beans, mongo, peanuts, bean, curd, shrimp, clams

•Body- Regulating or GLOW foods

•Normal development of the eyes, skin, hair, bones and teeth•Increase protection against diseases

•Vitamins A & C •Minerals:•Iodine•Iron

Tiesa, ripe papaya, mongo, guava, yellow corn, banana, orange, squash, carrot

•Energy- giving or •GO foods

•Provides enough energy to make the body strong

•Carbohydrates •fats

Rice, corn, bread, cassava, sweet potato, banana, sugar cane, honey, lard, cooking oil, coconut milk, margarine, butter

The Basic Food Group is a food pattern The Basic Food Group is a food pattern to help you select the right kind of to help you select the right kind of food everyday. It is also a guide in food everyday. It is also a guide in planning, selecting and preparing planning, selecting and preparing meals for the family. It is also called meals for the family. It is also called the GROW, GLOW and GO foods.the GROW, GLOW and GO foods.

Guide in meal planning

Rice with sinigang na karne is a one-dish-meal. Look at the ingredients and let us see which food groups they belong:

meat meat

SitawSitaw

KangkongKangkong

GabiGabi

RiceRiceOne-dish-meals are nutritious and are One-dish-meals are nutritious and are

cheaper than buying or preparing cheaper than buying or preparing separated meals and vegetable dishes, separated meals and vegetable dishes, especially with a limited food budget.especially with a limited food budget.

body-building foodbody-regulating foodbody-regulating foodenergy-giving foodenergy-giving food

1. What is complementary 1. What is complementary

feedingfeeding?? Complementary feedings means giving Complementary feedings means giving

other foods in addition to breast milk.other foods in addition to breast milk. These other foods are called These other foods are called

complementary foods.complementary foods. Additional foods and liquids are called Additional foods and liquids are called

complementary foods, as they are additional complementary foods, as they are additional or complementary to breastfeeding, rather or complementary to breastfeeding, rather than adequate on their own as the diet.than adequate on their own as the diet.

It must be nutritious foods and in adequate It must be nutritious foods and in adequate amounts so the child can continue to grow.amounts so the child can continue to grow.

C. COMPLEMENTARY FOODS FOR C. COMPLEMENTARY FOODS FOR INFANTSINFANTS

Complementary foods are given:Complementary foods are given:• by age 6 months;by age 6 months;• in addition to breast milk; andin addition to breast milk; and• for the increased nutritional demand of a for the increased nutritional demand of a

growing child.growing child.

Breastfeeding, however, should continue for as Breastfeeding, however, should continue for as long as two years.long as two years.

Starting other foods in addition to breast milk at Starting other foods in addition to breast milk at

SIX COMPLETED MONTHS SIX COMPLETED MONTHS

helps a child to grow well.helps a child to grow well.

At six completed months of age, it becomes easier At six completed months of age, it becomes easier to feed thick porridge, puree and mashed food to feed thick porridge, puree and mashed food because babies:because babies: Show interest in other people eating and reach for foodShow interest in other people eating and reach for food Like to put things in their mouthLike to put things in their mouth Can control their tongue better to move food around Can control their tongue better to move food around

their mouththeir mouth Start to make up and down “munching” movements Start to make up and down “munching” movements

with their jaws.with their jaws.

In addition, at this age, babies’ digestive system In addition, at this age, babies’ digestive system are mature enough to begin to digest a range of are mature enough to begin to digest a range of foods.foods.

Risks to Starting Complementary Foods Risks to Starting Complementary Foods

TOO EARLYTOO EARLY

Adding complementary foods too soon Adding complementary foods too soon (before six months)(before six months) Take the place of breast milk, making it Take the place of breast milk, making it

difficult to meet the child’s nutritional difficult to meet the child’s nutritional needsneeds

Result in a diet that is low in nutrients if Result in a diet that is low in nutrients if thin, watery soups and porridge are used thin, watery soups and porridge are used because these are easy for babies to eat.because these are easy for babies to eat.

Increase the risk of illness because less Increase the risk of illness because less of the protective factors in breast milk of the protective factors in breast milk are consumedare consumed

Risks to Starting Complementary Foods Risks to Starting Complementary Foods

TOO EARLYTOO EARLY Increase the diarrhea because the Increase the diarrhea because the

complementary foods may not be as complementary foods may not be as clean or easy to digest as breast milkclean or easy to digest as breast milk

Increase the wheezing and other Increase the wheezing and other allergic conditions because the baby allergic conditions because the baby cannot yet digest and absorb non-cannot yet digest and absorb non-human protein wellhuman protein well

Increase the mother’s risk of Increase the mother’s risk of another pregnancy if breastfeeding another pregnancy if breastfeeding is less frequentis less frequent

Risks to starting Risks to starting Complementary Food Complementary Food

TOO LATETOO LATE Starting complementary foods TOO LATE is Starting complementary foods TOO LATE is

also risk because:also risk because: The child does not receive the extra food The child does not receive the extra food

nutrient required to meet his/her growing needsnutrient required to meet his/her growing needs The child grows and develop slowerThe child grows and develop slower Might not receive the nutrients to avoid Might not receive the nutrients to avoid

malnutrition and deficiencies such as anemia malnutrition and deficiencies such as anemia from lack of iron.from lack of iron.

Most babies do not need complementary foods Most babies do not need complementary foods before sic completed months of agebefore sic completed months of age

MILK CODE AO 51 IRR MILK CODE AO 51 IRR of 198of 198

No advertising of breastmilk No advertising of breastmilk substitute and other products to the substitute and other products to the publicpublic

No free samples to mothersNo free samples to mothers No promotion in the health serviceNo promotion in the health service No company personnel to advise No company personnel to advise

mothersmothers No gifts or personal samples to health No gifts or personal samples to health

workers.workers.

2. Tips on introducing 2. Tips on introducing Complementary Foods for Complementary Foods for InfantsInfants

Introduce the new food before Introduce the new food before breastfeeding.breastfeeding.

Test readiness of the baby by Test readiness of the baby by placing a teaspoon with food bet. placing a teaspoon with food bet. His/her lips. If he/she closes his/her His/her lips. If he/she closes his/her lips or pushes the teaspoon away, lips or pushes the teaspoon away, he/she is not ready yet. Do not force he/she is not ready yet. Do not force him/her to eat.him/her to eat.

Start any new food in small Start any new food in small amounts and gradually increase the amounts and gradually increase the amounts offered within 2 weeks.amounts offered within 2 weeks.

Always give one new food at a time.Always give one new food at a time.

2. Tips on introducing 2. Tips on introducing Complementary Foods for Complementary Foods for InfantsInfants

Give clean water between feedings.Give clean water between feedings. Use cup and teaspoon to feed the Use cup and teaspoon to feed the

baby.baby. Give mashed, pureed or finely

chopped foods Offer bland foods, not too sweet or

salty. Handle the infants foods properly.

Wash your hands with soap and water. Be sure to clean utensils and boil water for drinking. Cook food thoroughly .feed the baby with freshly cooked food. Always peel off all skins from any of the fruits and vegetables you use or cook.

DO NOT OMIT BREASTMILK FROM DO NOT OMIT BREASTMILK FROM HIS/HER DAILY MEALHIS/HER DAILY MEAL

Divide the recommended amount of Divide the recommended amount of foods into 3-4 times a day.foods into 3-4 times a day.

Always be pleasant when feeding the Always be pleasant when feeding the baby.baby.

2. Tips on introducing 2. Tips on introducing Complementary Foods for Complementary Foods for InfantsInfants

D. COMMON NUTRITIONAL D. COMMON NUTRITIONAL DEFICIENCIES AFFECTED DEFICIENCIES AFFECTED CHILDREN CHILDREN

Babies and children should eat a variety Babies and children should eat a variety of foods everyday to get all the of foods everyday to get all the nutrients they need. This will prevent nutrients they need. This will prevent the occurrence of nutritional the occurrence of nutritional deficiencies particular among infants deficiencies particular among infants children.children.

For Protein-Energy Malnutrition For Protein-Energy Malnutrition (PEM)(PEM)

• Breastfeed your infantBreastfeed your infant• Bring child to health center for Bring child to health center for

- weighing (monthly growth - weighing (monthly growth monitoring)monitoring)-immunization-immunization-vitamin A capsule supplementation-vitamin A capsule supplementation

• Give complementary foods to infantsGive complementary foods to infants• Increase the variety of foods to infantsIncrease the variety of foods to infants• Increase the variety of foods served; add Increase the variety of foods served; add green leafy and yellow vegetables green leafy and yellow vegetables gradually gradually • Practice family planning Practice family planning

For Vitamin A Deficiency (VADFor Vitamin A Deficiency (VAD))• Continue exclusive breastfeedingContinue exclusive breastfeeding• Feed child at least ½ cup of green Feed child at least ½ cup of green

leafy and yellow vegetables cooked leafy and yellow vegetables cooked with a little fat or oil everyday.with a little fat or oil everyday.

• Grow green leafy and yellow Grow green leafy and yellow vegetables and fruits in the backyardvegetables and fruits in the backyard

• Bring child to health center for:Bring child to health center for:-immunization and-immunization and-vitamin A capsule-vitamin A capsule

-immunization-immunization

For Iron Deficiency Anemia (IDA)For Iron Deficiency Anemia (IDA)

• eat iron-rich food such as green leafy eat iron-rich food such as green leafy vegetables, liver and other internal vegetables, liver and other internal organsorgans

• bring child to health center for:bring child to health center for:

-further clinical evaluation and -further clinical evaluation and

-iron supplementation-iron supplementation• observe personal hygiene and observe personal hygiene and

maintain a sanitary environment to maintain a sanitary environment to prevent parasitic infectionprevent parasitic infection

For Iodine Deficiency Disorders For Iodine Deficiency Disorders (IDD)(IDD)

• Eat food rich in iodine everydayEat food rich in iodine everyday• Use iodized salt everydayUse iodized salt everyday

Regular weighing of a child below 5 Regular weighing of a child below 5 years of age is important as it:years of age is important as it: Accurately measures the weight gain of Accurately measures the weight gain of

the child;the child; Alerts parents and health workers if there Alerts parents and health workers if there

is growth faltering;is growth faltering; Allows parents to take immediate action to Allows parents to take immediate action to

prevent illness and malnutrition; andprevent illness and malnutrition; and Facilitates providing Facilitates providing

comprehensive health care comprehensive health care for the child.for the child.

New GP Communication Package:

Remember all children below 5 Remember all children below 5 years of age should have a growth years of age should have a growth chart and should be weighed chart and should be weighed regularly. This way, mothers can regularly. This way, mothers can monitor if their children are monitor if their children are gaining weight properly.gaining weight properly.