Studying children’s nutrition is essential for several reasons, as it plays a crucial role in promoting their health, development, and overall well-being. Here are some key reasons why studying children’s nutrition is important:

• Critical Developmental Period:

• 1. Childhood is a critical period of growth and development. Proper nutrition during this time is vital for supporting physical growth, cognitive development, and the establishment of healthy habits that can last a lifetime.

• Establishing Healthy Eating Habits:

• 1. Early exposure to nutritious foods and positive eating behaviors can shape children’s preferences and habits. Studying children’s nutrition provides insights into promoting healthy eating patterns and preventing the development of unhealthy habits.

• Preventing Nutritional Deficiencies:

• 1. Adequate nutrition is essential to prevent nutritional deficiencies that can adversely impact children’s health. Studying children’s nutrition helps identify the specific nutrient needs for different age groups and how to ensure these needs are met.

• Optimizing Cognitive Function:

• 1. Proper nutrition is linked to cognitive function and academic performance. Nutrient-rich diets support brain development and function, influencing a child’s ability to learn, concentrate, and perform well in school.

• Preventing Childhood Obesity:

• 1. Understanding the factors contributing to childhood obesity is crucial. Studying children’s nutrition allows professionals to develop strategies to prevent excessive weight gain and promote a healthy weight through balanced diets and regular physical activity.

• Building Strong Bones and Muscles:

• 1. Children’s nutrition is essential for the development of strong bones and muscles. Adequate intake of nutrients like calcium and vitamin D is crucial for bone health, helping prevent conditions like rickets and ensuring proper growth.

• Supporting Immune Function:

• 1. Proper nutrition is vital for a robust immune system. Studying children’s nutrition involves learning about the role of various nutrients in supporting immune function, helping reduce the risk of infections and illnesses.

• Addressing Food Allergies and Sensitivities:

• 1. Children may develop allergies or sensitivities to certain foods. Studying children’s nutrition provides knowledge about common food allergies and strategies for managing these conditions to ensure a child’s well-being.

• Nutritional Counselling for Specific Health Conditions:

• 1. Some children may have specific health conditions or medical needs that require specialized nutrition interventions. Studying children’s nutrition equips healthcare professionals with the knowledge to provide tailored nutritional counselling for such cases.

• Promoting Overall Well-being:

• 1. Proper nutrition contributes to overall physical and mental well-being. Studying children’s nutrition helps professionals understand how dietary choices impact not only physical health but also emotional and mental well-being in children.

• Family and Community Education:

• 1. Professionals trained in children’s nutrition can play a role in educating families and communities about the importance of providing healthy food options for children. This can have a positive impact on the health of entire communities.

By studying children’s nutrition, professionals can contribute to the development of healthier and happier generations, fostering a foundation for lifelong well-being and reducing the risk of nutrition-related health issues in adulthood.

Course Structure & Content:

There are 10 lessons in this module as follows:

Introduction to Child Nutrition

• Scope, Nature, and History of Nutrition
• Effect of Culture and Family Background on Nutrition
• Importance of Nutrition in Early Childhood
• Basic Nutrients needed in a Child’s Diet
• Key things to Remember about a Child’s Diet
• Nutrition Tips for Children

Nutrition for Pre-Pregnancy

• Pre Conception-Diet: Maternal Weight, Maternal Nutrient Status
• Paternal Health and Nutrition
• Effect of Nutrition of Parents at Conception
• Making Diet Changes Pre Conception

Nutrition in Pregnancy

• Early Pregnancy and Morning Sickness
• Tips to Help with Pregnancy Nausea
• Nutrition through Pregnancy, RDIs
• Caloric and Fluid Intake through Pregnancy
• Calorie Demands for a Pregnant Woman
• Foods to Avoid While Pregnant
• Hyper vitaminises
• Pregnancy Complications that Relate to Nutrition (Neural Tube
• Defect, Morning Sickness, Constipation, Gastrointestinal diabetes, Hypertension, Foetal Alcohol Syndrome

Nutrition in Infants

• Breastfeeding
• Formula Feeding
• Feeding for the first six months
• Starting on Solid Foods
• Adequate Vitamin C and Iron Intake in first year
• Progressing with Solid Foods: protein, dairy, finger foods, etc
• Nutrition for Toddlers
• Snack Packs, Small Meals, Meal Alternatives, Being creative, etc
  Allergens
• Weaning

Nutrition in Childhood

• Caloric Intake
• Mineral Intake
• Vitamin Intake
• Encouraging Good Eating Habits
• Breakfast
• Morning and Afternoon Snacks
• Packed Lunches
• Eating Habits
• Puberty

Nutritional Concerns

• Scope and Nature of Nutritional Health for Children
• Healthy Snacks and Rehydration
• Underweight
• Malnutrition
• Anaemia or Iron Deficiency
• Dental Care
• Eating Disorders: Anorexia, Bulimia, Binge Eating
• Fast Food and Junk Food

Healthy Eating Behaviour

• Influencing Children’s Eating
• Teaching Healthy Eating to Children
• Health Snack Ideas
• Childhood Food Sensitivities
• Food Intolerance
• Food Allergies
• Relevant Research
• Food and Autism
• Food and Child Behavioural Problems
• Diagnosing Sensitivities: skin test, blood test, diet

Issues in Child Nutrition

• PBL Project: Develop a presentation to be given to a group of families, where a child has been recently diagnosed with an illness/disease of your choice.
• The purpose of the presentation is to inform families and sufferers about the disease, and to provide clear, simple guidelines for dietary intervention to improve health, correct the condition or prevent deterioration in health.

Childhood Obesity

• Cause of Childhood Obesity
• What is Unhealthy about Childhood Obesity?
• Guidelines for Child Weight Loss

Diet Plans

• Special Nutritional Needs
• Childhood Diabetes
• Vegetarian and Vegan Diets
• Normal Eating Habits for Children

WHAT YOU WILL DO IN THIS COURSE

• Interview three parents regarding the diets (what the children eat for breakfast , lunch and dinner as well as snacks) of their children , they can be family or friends. Make a day’s menu for each one of them according to the information they give you
• Interview two pregnant women (family or friends) and question about their daily diet. Note what they have said and write how you would improve their diets.
• Research for information to make a tasty and healthy weaning mix for a six month old baby. Make your own weaning mix with the information you have gathered.
• Prepare a diet plan for an 11 year old for three days.
• Compare the nutrition panel for 3 different staple foods bought from the supermarkets (for example breakfast cereals, stir fry sauces or pasta sauces, fruit bars). Compare the added sugars to natural sugars
• Conduct a survey and find out what children and adolescents are actually eating. Write a 200 word report on your survey. (You can conduct your survey by talking to children, adolescents and their parents, by reading articles in magazines and newspapers or by searching the internet)

Learn more about a healthy and balanced diet for children, babies and during pregnancy with this informative course.  

This course will enable you understand all aspects of childhood nutrition and deal with them. It is an ideal course for people working with children in the child care industry. It is also a good course for mothers wanting to understand their children’s nutritional needs.

Food Affects a Child’s Health and Development

Child nutrition is more than mere feeding. It’s a holistic approach to the eating patterns and nutritional requirements of people:

• Planning to conceive
• Pregnant and post-partum women
• Infants
• Growing toddlers and children
• Adolescents.

Today there are a variety of ways to ensure adequate nutrition for all members of the family.  In this course, you’ll learn key questions to ask, how to maximize the nutrients in child diets, and:

• Basic ingredients for a healthy diet
• Diet before pregnancy and during pregnancy
• Good infant nutrition
• Good childhood nutrition
• Concerns regarding children’s nutrition
• Healthy Eating behaviour and much more.