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Essential
eating for under fives
Every parent
wants to give their child the best start in life and with
this in mind the Health Promotion Agency has produced Getting
a good start - healthy eating from one to five, an
essential guide for parents.
Research shows
that what children eat and drink when they are young can affect
their health for many years to come so developing good eating
habits at an early age is crucial.
Angela McComb,
Regional Health Promotion Manager for Nutrition at the Health
Promotion Agency said: "This is a really valuable information
booklet for parents. It is important for parents to be aware
that healthy eating for young children is not the same as
for adults. The leaflet includes information on how to provide
a healthy, balanced diet for children from one to five years,
suitable snacks and drinks, feeding the vegetarian child,
making the most of mealtimes and coping with fussy eaters.
"The food we
eat can either promote good health and wellbeing or contribute
to ill health. Poor eating patterns can lead to poor dental
health and an increased risk of conditions such as heart disease,
some cancers, obesity and diabetes. These health problems
are common in Northern Ireland, even among children and young
people. For example, one survey found that one in three boys
and one in four girls aged 12 years carried excess weight.
"A recent survey
by the Agency has revealed poor eating habits among children
aged 5-11. For instance, just over one in 10 of the children
in the survey eat the recommended five portions of fruit and
vegetables per day. Almost half the girls and two out of five
boys in the same age group eat confectionery at least once
a day. It is therefore vital that parents are provided with
the necessary information to ensure that children get all
they need for healthy growth and development.
"This leaflet
is part of the Agency's ongoing work focusing on the importance
of nutrition for young children. It follows on from the very
popular leaflet
Weaning made easy, also produced by the Agency
and complements the guidelines for childcare providers in
the document Nutrition
matters for the early years," said Angela.
The information
and advice provided in the resource is based on the latest
scientific evidence and has been written in association with
Community Dietitians and Health Visitors from the Health and
Social Services Trusts, the Northern Ireland Paediatric Group
Dietitians and the Regional Oral Health Promotion Group. Getting
a good start is available from Central Health Promotion
Resource Services in the four local Health and Social Services
Boards.
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