University of Cebu – Banilad

College of Nursing
Gov. M. Cuenco Ave., Banilad, Cebu City

Childhood
NCM 105 Nutrition and Diet Therapy

Group 2 | BSN 2-G

Gabrielle Raphmika Acebes

Lourenz Basiga
Clengy Raven Bihag
Lexel Broce
Frances Anne Mangolare
Franz Gerald Nelmida
Abigail Pasana
Camille Sagarino
Ann Villaflor Velez
CHILDHOOD
Childhood is a period of life from 1 to 12 years of age

PRE-SCHOOL CHILDREN
The nutritional needs of the pre-school child differ from those of the adult:
1. There is a larger requirement for growth so there is a greater need for proteins, vitamins,
and minerals.
2. The pre-schoolers’ activities are proportionally higher than those of the adults so the pre-
schoolers’ calorie allowances per unit body weight must be increased.
3. The selection of foods requires some modifications especially for young children.
4. Childhood presents a period of rapidly changing attitudes and emotional development - a
period when food habits can be most favorably channeled.

Functions of Diet for a Child

1. Diet provides fuel for the child’s muscular activity.
2. It supplies the necessary chemical elements and compounds that the child’s body
requires for building materials and repairing worn-out tissues.
3. Eating generally gives pleasure and satisfaction to the child.

Food Needs of Pre-School Children

Topic Details
Age Range Pre-school children (2-6 years)
Physical Growth - Slow growth during this period.
- May experience a decrease in weight.
Emotional, Social, and Intellectual - Fast development in these areas.
Development - Child is highly receptive to learning.
Food Preferences and Prejudices - Food preferences and prejudices greatly
influence eating habits.
Appetite - Appetite becomes erratic and may
decrease.
- Between 2-3 years, weight gain may stall for
weeks or months.
Independence in Eating - As the child grows, they become more
independent and selective.
- This increases vulnerability to nutritional
deficiencies.
"Won't-Eat Era" - Common in normal development.
- Parents should avoid urging, forcing, or
bribing the child to eat.
Appetite Improvement - Appetite tends to improve as the child
approaches school age.
Dietary Requirements - Varies based on factors like size, gender,
and height.

Nutrient Allowances
Calories - Energy needs depend on age, activity, and metabolism. If calorie intake is too low, it
can lead to protein-calorie malnutrition (PCN) or marasmus.
Protein - 1.5-2 g/kg of body weight. Higher during rapid growth, lower during slow growth.
Vitamins & Minerals - Essential for normal growth and development.
Fluids - 4-6 glasses (1,000-1,500 mL) of fluids daily.

Meal Planning for Pre-School Children (1-6 years old)

The type and amount of food a child eats affect their physical and mental well-being. Good
nutrition during preschool is crucial for growth, energy, and fighting infections. It keeps the child
healthy, happy, and mentally alert.

Food habits are formed during these years, influenced by what is served at home. Early
exposure to good nutrition shapes future eating habits. Children need three regular meals a day,
with snacks like kamote, corn, or fruits being more nutritious than candies or soft drinks.

Pre-school children are very active. They should eat energy foods like rice, corn, bread, yellow
kamote, or gabi to keep them on the go.
 Mash yellow kamote or potatoes with mixed vegetables; roll in beaten egg and fried.
 Serve noodle soups with carrots and leafy greens.
Fats and oils supply heat and energy. In addition, fats help skin smooth and help the body make
use of vitamin A.
 Use fats in meals or snacks. Butter or margarine or other fats make food tastier.
  Boil coconut milk, sweeten with sugar, and add cubed yellow kamote. Cook until it
softens.
Give at least 1 cup whole milk daily. You may use:
 Fresh whole milk (Carabao, cow, or goat) - Simmer for 30 minutes to make it last longer.
 Powdered whole milk - Four level tbsp powdered whole milk and water are enough to
make 1 cup of whole milk.
 Evaporated milk (including recombined and reconstituted milk) - Combine ½ cup milk
and ½ cup water.

Recommended milk is skim milk with butter oil added to restore the normal fat content of whole
milk. Reconstituted milk is milk remade from powdered whole milk to restore the original
moisture content.

Other Kinds of Milk

There are other kinds of milk that may be given to children one year old and above.
These kinds of milk, however, are inferior compared to whole milk.
 Evaporated filled milk is powdered skim milk with vegetable oil and water added.
 Skim silk is milk from which fat has been removed.
 Sweetened condensed milk is thickly evaporated milk with large amounts of sugar
added.

Avoid using condensed milk. However, when there is no other available milk, a mixture of 3 tbsp
of condensed milk to a cup of water may be given to children over one year as long as they get
enough of other foods.

However, this mixture is never enough for an infant. In fact, condensed milk should not
be used for infant feeding. It does not have enough protein that will promote growth in infants
and young children.

Add powdered milk or evaporated milk to lugaw for the child.

 Dried beans and legumes such as munggo and soybeans have almost the same body-
building substances found in fish, meat, poultry, or eggs. For good nutrition, cook beans
and legumes with a small amount of fish and meat serve it with rice.
 Mash boiled munggo or other dried beans and add milk and sugar.
 Add raw egg to lugaw as soon as it is cooked. Stir well. The heat will cook the egg.
 Form chopped meat or flaked fish and mashed beans into patterns or balls and serve as
omelette or soup.
 Green leafy vegetables and yellow vegetables such as malunggay, kamote tops,
kangkong, pechay, carrot, and squash have more vitamins and minerals the child needs
for good eyesight, clean skin, and healthy hair.
 Other vegetables like sitaw, abitsuelas, sigarilyas, and patani also promote growth and
make the child fit.
 Fruits give a variety of nutrients for good health. Citrus fruits like suha and dalanghita are
good sources of vitamin C that:
1. Keep the child’s gums healthy
2. Prevent his/her skin from bruising easily; and
3. Help the body fight infections and foreign substances.
 Fresh fruits are good for snacks or desserts. Serve fruits that are ripe, fresh, free from
bruises and other defects, and in season. Serve them in different forms, as juice or
shaped into cubes, balls, and rings.

RDA of Food for the Pre-school Child

Refer to pg 246-247 for the sample menu of children aged 1 to 3 years and 4-6 years old

Feeding Problems
1. The Child is eating too little
Causes:
-child is a picky eater
-appetite is lost because of too much parental urging
-tired of same foods eaten everyday
Remedies:
-Go slow in adding new foods
-Prepare simple dishes

2. The Child is eating too much

Causes:
-Heredity
-Temperament
-Appetite
-Mother’s insistence on a “clean plate”
Remedy:
-Refrain from serving rich foods like cakes, pastries, ice cream

3. The Child is dawdling during mealtime

Causes:
-child may be trying to get someone’s attention
-child may not be feeling well
-child may have been given portions which are too big
Remedies:
-Have the child regularly checked
-Avoid fussing over him

4. The child is gagging especially when fed coarse foods

Cause:
-The child lacks proper training in eating chopped foods
Remedies:
-Encourage self-feeding
-Put child in a well-ventilated bright clean place

5. The child has aversion towards some foods.

Remedies:
-Give fruits as substitutes of vegetables
-Mix vegetables with familiar foods like noodles and eggs
-Give milk through halo-halo, leche flan, gulaman

6. The child has allergies

Causes:
-Chemicals in the air
-Food preservatives
-Food coloring
Remedies:
-Monitor nutrient intake
 -Make food substitutions
(pp.251-260)

Indication of Good Nutrition

1. Weight
 First-degree malnutrition: 10% less than the standard for age and sex
 Second-degree malnutrition: 25% less than the standard for age and sex
 Third-degree malnutrition: 40% less than the standard for age and sex

2. Clinical posture : Erect

Arms and Legs : Straight
Abdomen : In
Chest : Out
Head : Normal Size
Skeletons : With no malformations
Teeth : Straight wijout crowding in a well shaped jaw (6 years of age = 24 teeth)
Skin : Smooth, slightly moist with a healthy glow
Eyes : Clear, bright, with no signs of fatigue
Hair : Shiny
Muscles : Firm
Gums : Light pink in color
Lips : Moist
Tongue : Without lesions

SCHOOL-AGE CHILDREN
 The period between 7 and 12 years old.
o Slow steady growth
o Increase body proportion
o Enhanced mental capabilities
o More mind and body coordination
 10-12 years old ( girl) - 3 kg more than the boys
 Average weight gain is 1.8kg- 3.1kg annually

Nutrients Allowances
1. Calories:
7-9 years old = 80-90 kcal/kg
10-12 ears old = 70-80 kcal/kg
2. Protein:
7-9 years old = 37 g of protein
10-12 years old = 43-48 g of protein
3. Vitamins and Minerals:
 Ascorbic Acid
7-9 years old = 35 mg
10-12 years old= 45 mg
 Calcium:
7-9 years old= 500-1000 mg daily
10-12 years old= 500- 1000 mg daily
 Iron
Girls (11-12 years old) = 1.4mg/day (start to menstruate)
 Iodine
7-10 years old = 120 mcg

Meal Planning for Children ( 7 to 9 years old)

1. Make green leafy and yellow vegetables and fruits a “ MUST” in daily family meals.
2. Pack nutritious lunch
3. Avoid serving too spicy and highly-seasoned foods.
4. Make snacks count

**Refer to page 253 table 56 for the recommended daily serving, and page 254–255 table 57 for the
Daily Food Guide for Children.**

For growing children, try these nutritious merienda recipes:

1. Iraid
2. Tahada
3. Kalingking
4. Surprise pan de sal
How to Prepare Packed Lunch

1. Plan meals that are cheap and easy to prepare.

a. Choose seasonal foods.
b. Prepare easy-to-pack dishes like fried fish or pork adobo with slices of
tomatoes, fish/meat omelette, beef tapa, or boiled kangkong tops with
alamang.
c. Use fruits in season for dessert.
2. If the child prefers a variety of sandwiches, prepare sandwich fillings the day or night
before the class to save time in the usual busy mornings. Wrap sandwiches separately.
3. If possible, include foods like milk and fruit juice for beverage.

Suggested Nutritious Lunches

MONDAY
Fried longganisa
Salted egg and tomato
Rice

TUESDAY
Fish/Meat omelette
Sautéed Baguio beans
Rice
Banana

WEDNESDAY
Pork adobo
Kamote tops salad
Rice
Fruit in season

THURSDAY
Tuna sandwich
Apple
Pineapple juice

FRIDAY
Rellenong talong
Rice
Fruit in season

Feeding the School Child

1. Psychological Factors
a. More confident; expresses own food choices
b. Strong urge to eat what his/her friends eat

2. School Environment
Goals of school feeding programs in the Philippines:
a. Improve the nutrition of school children by providing them with
wholesome food at the lowest reasonable cost
b. Aid in strengthening the nutrition and health education program of the
public schools
c. Foster proper eating habits

3. Food Preferences
a. Eats a wider variety of foods and has more food likes and dislikes
b. Wants simple and plain dishes
c. Eats what most adults eat
d. Develops fondness for food products seen in TV commercials and
appetite for the favorite food of his/her celebrity idol

Feeding Problems
1. The child receives inadequate meals.
Breakfast which provides ½ to ½ of the daily nutrient allowances is often missed or hurriedly
eaten by school children.
 Causes
o Nothing to eat
 o Late bed riser
o Arrival of school bus
o Fear of being late for school
o Rush in preparing oneself for school

A good breakfast should consist of the following:

 Vitamin C-rich fruits like papaya
 Cereals like oatmeal or fried rice or pan de sal
 Protein-rich foods like egg, tuyo, cheese, or milk

Lunch is also a dietary problem because so many children eat their lunch in school or fast-food
joints. Sandwiches and hearty meals such as fried chicken, hotdogs, burgers and fries,
spaghetti, adobo, longganisa, and tinapa with rice, salted eggs, and tomatoes are favorites
among Filipino school children.Providing a child with milk, fruit juice, or soup prevents him/her
from buying soft drinks.

2. The child has poor appetite.

 Causes
o Demanding school work
o Tiring extracurricular activities
o Confections and soft drinks in school

 Remedies
o School cafeterias should offer nutritious and inexpensive snacks.
o Carbohydrate-rich snack products which provide little or no vitamins and minerals
must be replaced with milk and fruit beverages, no turon, munggo, peanuts, fresh
fruits, and bread.

3. The child has sweet tooth.

 Causes
o Hungry growing bodies recognize the need for extra calories.
o Parents give sweets as rewards or pasalubong to kids.

Weight and Height Standards for Filipino Boys and Girls

During the early years, a steady rate of growth is normally maintained. At about 10 to 12 years
of age, the pre-adolescent growth spurt begins.