A Healthy Diet Is More Than Just Fruits & Vegetables
We’re optimistic that more and more teachers and parents understand that food preferences develop early in life. As Beth and I travel around the country, we’re consistently seeing preschoolers being encouraged to choose healthy foods for their meals and snacks.
A lot of the emphasis in this effort is directed towards the fruits-and-vegetables food group. While fruits and vegetables are certainly important to a healthy diet, we need to remember that young children have a lot of other nutritional needs as well. The calcium in milk products, such as cheese and yogurt, are vital for growing children. Good protein sources, like meat, beans, and tofu, should also be included. And let’s not forget about the breads and cereals.
Too many fruits and vegetables can give children too much fiber and too few calories. An unbalanced diet can deprive children of much-needed fats, necessary for proper growth and development. The USDA’s Dietary Guidelines for Americans recommends that fats comprise between 25% and 35% of a four-year-old’s total caloric intake.
There are now news reports that some schools are starting to underfeed children. In our zeal to do the best for our kids, we need to guard against overcorrection.
