Food Pyramid for 1-5 Year Old Children
It is never too early to be vigilant about what your child is eating, and trying to make sure their daily diet is varied, nutritious, healthy and does not include foods that are not good for them.
There are a number of food pyramids that have been created, and give recommendations for what should, or should not be include in a child’s daily diet. However, very few give guidelines for a balanced diet for children under five years old.
Park Academy’s Chef Rohan has created this food pyramid as a guideline for healthy eating for 1-5 year old children. His main recommendations are:
- Avoid food or drinks that are high in sugar or salt. Children under 5 years should not eat any food with added sugar or salt.
- Use minimal fat spreads and oils in your child’s food. Choose mono or polyunsaturated spreads like olive, rapeseed or sunflower oil when preparing their food.
- Eat oily fish once to twice a week as part of a good protein diet including eggs, beans, fish, poultry and meat. However, be sure to limited the amount of processed, salty meats they eat.
- Children should always drink full fat milk and dairy products like yoghurt and cheese. Milk, and water are great for your child’s teeth and can be taken on their own, or with meals.
- Give your child three to four servings a day of wholemeal cereals, breads, pasta, rice or potatoes a day.
- Do not forget to include their ‘five a day’ of fruit and vegetables, with more vegetables and salads, than fruit.
- Children need to drink at least six cups of water a day, or more when the weather is warm or they are active. Do not give them fruit juice, and definitely not as a substitute for water.
As well as a well-balanced, nutritious diet, children need to be moderately to vigorously active for about an hour each day. A healthy diet for your one-to-five year old should include a daily variety of nutritious foods, loads of water and physical activity.
It is never too early to get your child into the habit of eating healthy.