Adequate nutrition is fundamental to the growth and development of infants and children. A balanced and healthy diet strengthens your child’s immune system, helps maintain a healthy weight, and aids in brain and bone development.

Malnutrition (poor nutrition) is a leading cause of child mortality. About 45% of deaths worldwide are related to malnutrition. India has recorded the highest number of deaths of children under five, and 50% of them are linked to malnutrition.

Optimal Nutrition: The Benefactor of Growth and Development

While your child is in a growing stage (infancy and young childhood), he or she needs appropriate nutrition that enables good health, maximum development, and steady growth. Infants obtain their nutrition from breast milk, which is a perfect mix of vitamins, proteins, and fats. It also contains antibodies that help your baby fight viruses and bacteria.

In cases where mothers are unable to produce sufficient breast milk, babies receive nutrition from infant formula, which is a balanced mix of vital nutrients, though it lacks the unique immune factors present in breast milk.

As infants progress to early childhood, they require a diet rich in cereals, vegetables, fruits, protein, dairy products, and lean meat. Every child has unique nutritional needs that vary depending on their activity levels. Children grow rapidly till the age of five and require balanced nutrition to reach their full potential. They have high energy demands and need breakfast, lunch, snacks, and dinner to sustain their activity levels throughout the day.

Poor Nutrition: The Cause of Various Childhood Diseases

Children are not always good at choosing balanced meals, and mothers are often worried about their child’s diet. The most common queries pediatricians come across include:

My child does not eat and is very fussy about food.
My child is so thin. Please give him some tonic.
He is constantly eating and craving tasty food.
She only likes chips and chocolates.

These complaints often signal unhealthy dietary habits and may lead to common ailments among children, including:

Vitamin deficiencies
Anemia
Raised cholesterol levels
Diabetes

Conditions like PCOS (Polycystic Ovary Syndrome), osteoporosis, rickets, and dental issues may also begin at this age. Associated obesity can lead to osteoarthritis, hypertension, heart disease, diabetes, and even mental health issues and cancer later in life. Poor nutrition can also result in stunted growth.

Making Intelligent Food Choices

Nutrition means using food intelligently for growth, nourishment, sustenance, and repair of the body. It determines a child’s body size, performance, and wellbeing, helping them achieve a long, disease-free life. If a child does not receive proper nutrition, he or she may suffer from malnutrition.

Proper nutrition helps develop strong bones and muscles and provides an energy boost.
Ensuring enough vitamins and minerals helps prevent nutritional deficiencies.
Eating fruits and vegetables and limiting junk and sugar-rich food helps prevent obesity.
Good nutrition helps children form and maintain lifelong healthy eating habits.
Following good nutritional practices helps children develop better concentration and learning ability in school.

NH Rabindranath Tagore Surgical Centre, Hiland Park offers a specialized Paediatric Nutrition Clinic to help you customize a diet plan for your child. Learn whether your child is receiving proper nutrition and how to safeguard them from malnutrition with guidance from our expert team.

Contact: 9051776400 for an appointment.

Dr. Mahua Dasgupta

Physician In-Charge
Paediatric Nutrition Clinic
NH Rabindranath Tagore Surgical Centre, Hiland Park, Kolkata