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Pre-School Children

  • Encouraging pre-school children to eat a well-balanced, varied diet will provide all the nutrients they need for healthy growth and development and help to establish good eating habits for life.
  • Young children who are growing and are usually very active have high energy and nutrient requirements in relation to their size.
  • A good supply of protein, calcium, iron and vitamins A and D are important during this time.
  • Young children have small stomachs and may not be able to obtain all the energy and nutrients they need if their diet contains too much fibre.  Such diets can sometimes reduce the amount of minerals they can absorb, such as calcium and iron.

Nutritious Eating Guidelines

Nutritious eating guidelines are not intended to apply in full to pre-school children (1-5 years of age). A diet that is low in fat and high in fibre may not supply enough energy for a young child. However, a family approach to a balanced diet and lifestyle will encourage a child to adopt similar habits later in life, as food preferences are often established during this early stage of life.

Energy & Nutrient Requirements

Children’s energy requirements increase rapidly because they are growing quickly and becoming more active. They have a high energy requirement for their size. To achieve this energy intake, foods that are high in energy (and also rich in nutrients) and eaten as part of small and frequent meals may be necessary for younger children, who do not have large enough stomachs to cope with big meals.
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