As a parent, there are several important factors to consider in supporting your child's growth and development, one of which is their nutritional needs.
Children's nutritional needs must be met through the consumption of healthy foods with a balanced nutritional profile, including carbohydrates, proteins, vitamins, and minerals.
However, how much is the right amount of nutrition for kids or children?
Determining children's nutritional needs requires consideration of several factors.
The factors that influence the nutritional needs of early childhood include age group, physical activity, special conditions, and weight and height.
Therefore, parents need to assess their child's nutritional status by consulting a pediatrician before determining their dietary needs.
Let's learn more about children's nutritional needs through the article below.
Children's Nutritional Needs by Age
Nutrition is a component that the body uses to build and optimize the function of each of its organs. Therefore, children require sufficient and balanced nutrition to support their physical and mental growth and development.
Fulfilling children's nutritional needs can be achieved by providing a healthy and balanced menu of nutritious food. However, do you know what and how much dietary needs children need to meet?
Here is a review of children's nutritional needs, organized by age groups, that is important for you to understand.
1. Age 0–1 Years
The nutritional needs of infants aged 0–6 months will mainly be met through exclusive breastfeeding. According to the Indonesian Dietary Recommendation (AKG), children under 6 months old need 550 kcal.
After your little one reaches the age of 6 months, their energy needs will increase by approximately 800 kcal.
You can help meet the nutritional needs of children aged 6 to 12 months through complementary foods (MPASI). Some types of MPASI that can be given to your little one include:
- Soft-textured fruits, such as bananas, avocados, and papaya.
- Green vegetables, such as spinach and broccoli, have been pureed.
- Meat, be it fish, chicken, or beef, that has been mashed. You can serve meat to your little one along with steamed rice.
- Formula milk.
2. Age 1–6 Years
The age range of 1–6 years is considered the golden age for children, a period that every parent should take into account.
During this period, the child's body will experience optimal growth and development, both physically and psychologically.
Therefore, it is crucial to meet the nutritional needs of children between the ages of 1 and 6 years.
One of the nutrients needed by children aged 1–6 years is omega-3 fatty acids. The reason is that omega-3 fatty acids are found to optimize brain development and cognitive function in children.
3. Age 7–9 Years
The nutritional needs of school children will undoubtedly increase with age and increasingly dense activities.
According to the Indonesian Dietary Recommendation, the recommended daily calorie intake for children aged 7–9 years is 1,650 kcal.
Therefore, you can serve more foods high in protein and complex carbohydrates to meet the nutritional needs of your little one in this age range.
It is also essential to serve a variety of vegetables and fruits to meet the vitamin and mineral needs required in the child's growth and development process.
4. Age 10–12 Years
When entering the age of 10 to 12 years, children usually experience puberty.
Puberty is a growth phase during which a child's reproductive system reaches maturity.
In this age group, children's nutritional needs begin to vary according to physical activity and gender.
According to the Indonesian Dietary Recommendation, the energy needs of children aged 10 to 12 years are as follows:
- Boys: 2,000 kcal per day.
- Girls: 1,9000 kcal per day.
To meet these energy needs, always provide healthy and nutritious food on every breakfast, lunch, and dinner menu so that the child's growth process during puberty can run optimally.
Therefore, a review of children's nutritional needs, categorized by age group, is essential for you to understand.
Additionally, water is one of the essential nutrients required by a child's body.
Well, to help meet their body's fluid needs, you can provide your child with an AQUA Cube for every daily activity.
AQUA Cube is a mineral water that features practical and easy-to-grip packaging, making it easy for your little one to carry.
The AQUA Cube spring water source has also been studied for one year by experts from related fields, including geologists, geohydrologists, and leading universities in Indonesia.
No need to worry, AQUA Cube has also met the standards for drinking water suitable for consumption, as set forth in the Minister of Health Decree Number 907 of 2002, stating that drinking water should be clean, colorless, tasteless, and odorless, and so is AQUA.
Healthy family, #AQUADULU. Created by nature, 100% PURE mountain mineral water without any additives, as nature wants you to drink it.
