Brain development in children starts from the womb and continues until puberty. The period when brain development is the fastest
is in the first 2-3 years. Nutrition
has a very valuable place to support rapid growth.
In the first 6 months, only breast milk is very valuable. All nutritional elements for the baby’s brain development are available in breast milk
. Both physical and cognitive development should be supported by continuing with real complementary foods from 6 months, and by feeding
at the age of 1, sufficient and stable.
It has been observed that children who consume less than four meals a day get insufficient power, calcium, protein, vitamin C and iron
. For this reason, what children eat in the morning, noon and evening main meals
should be monitored.
On the other hand, foods such as milk, ayran, fruit, cheese and bread should be given instead of junk food in middle meals.
Consumption of foods such as sweets in middle meals may cause dental caries
in children at an early age.
Regardless of age, children need one-to-one nutrition like adults. As in adults
, they obtain power from food and their power needs are proportional to their body weights.
The child can be offered choices from each food set. For example, if he does not drink milk, he can consume yogurt,
, if he does not eat bread, he can consume rice and pasta.
The daily recommended food sets for children are as follows;
Milk cluster: 2 portions (1 glass of milk: 1 portion 4 tablespoons of yogurt: 1 portion)
Meat set: 2 portions (as much as 1 meatball: 1 portion, 1 slice of cheese) : 1 portion )
Vegetables and fruit set: 5 portions (1oo g fruit: 1 portion, 4 tablespoons of vegetable dish: 1
portion )
Bread and cereal set : 3-6 portions (1 slice of bread ( 25 g) : 1 portion , 3 tablespoons of rice-
pasta: 1 portion)
