Pediatric Nutrition in Practice

2 Nutrition of Healthy Infants, Children and Adolescents

Key Words

Dietary guidelines, food-based · Dietary habits ·

Food preference · Food choice · Feeding skills ·

Meals

Key Messages

• Toddlers and children should participate in family
  meals


• Toddlers do not need specially prepared commer-
  cial foods for particular nutritional uses. The use of
  such meals is determined by convenience


• Food-based dietary guidelines for children should
  name basic food groups, give approximate amounts
  to be consumed and provide exemplary recipes ac-
  cording to local habits


• Nutrient supplements and fortified foods should be
  used only when indicated


• Beverages of no or low energy content should ac-
  company meals © 2015 S. Karger AG, Basel

Introduction

The age range of 1 to approximately 12 years in-
cludes very different phases of development.
With increasing motor skills, toddlers – some of
which are still partly breastfed – will feed them-
selves with an increasing variety of foods as part

of the family diet. Food preferences developed in

the first year of life tend to persist but are modi-

fied under the influence of parents, siblings and

playmates. Preschool and school children in-

crease both the frequency and variety of social

contacts outside the home, and thereby food and

meal choices [1].

A healthy diet for children should be devised

on the basis of both scientific and practical con-

siderations. Scientific criteria are adequacy of in-

take in comparison with recommendations on

energy and nutrient intake to support normal

growth and development, taking into account the

preventive effects of an adequate diet on chronic

diseases in adulthood [2]. Practical criteria are re-

gional or national dietary habits, availability and

cost of foods, and taste preferences of children.

Food-based dietary guidelines for children

have been devised. As an example, the so-called

‘optimized mixed diet’ [3, 4] developed in Ger-

many is described. Such guidelines can be easily

adapted to different typical eating habits, meal

schedules and differences in locally available ba-

sic foods. They are based on commonly available

foods to be prepared at home, but leave room for

the integration of ready-to-eat products and

foods preferred by many children, such as ‘fast

foods’ and sweets.

Koletzko B, et al. (eds): Pediatric Nutrition in Practice. World Rev Nutr Diet. Basel, Karger, 2015, vol 113, pp 118–121
DOI: 10.1159/000360329

2.6 Toddlers, Preschool and School Children

Hildegard Przyrembel