Benefits of Healthy Nutrition for Children
Consequences of a Poor Diet
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and are affected by various genetic , behavioral , and environmental factors .
• Kids eat on average more sugar than adults , almost double , even though they weigh , on average , a third of what adults do .
Benefits of Healthy Nutrition for Children
• Healthy eating in childhood and adolescence is essential for proper growth and development and can prevent health problems such as obesity , dental caries , iron deficiency , and osteoporosis along with reducing the risk of developing chronic diseases such as heart disease , cancer , stroke , obesity , and diabetes .
• Eating a healthy breakfast is associated with an improved cognitive function ( especially memory ), reduced absenteeism , and improved mood .
Consequences of a Poor Diet
• A poor diet can lead to energy imbalance and can increase one ’ s risk for becoming overweight and obesity .
• A poor diet can increase the risk certain cancers , such as lung , esophageal , stomach , colorectal , and prostate cancers .
• Individuals who eat fast food one or more times per week are at increased risk for weight gain and obesity .
• Drinking sugar-sweetened beverages can result in weight gain , overweight , and obesity .
• Hunger and food insecurity ( i . e ., reduced food intake and disrupted eating patterns because a household lacks money and other resources for food ) might increase the risk for lower dietary quality and undernutrition . In turn , malnutrition can negatively affect overall health , cognitive development , and school performance .
These alarming trends have been a catalyst for Kathryn Kemp Guylay to create a fun and engaging book for young children called Give It A Go , Eat a Rainbow .
“ Over the last decade , I have been teaching kids and parents how to live more energized lives by eating healthy meals and snacks ,” explains the bestselling author and certified nutritional counselor . “ One of the easiest ways to boost the nutritional value of meals and snacks is to incorporate more fruits and veggies ,” explains Kemp Guylay .
A “ rainbow ” of colorful fruits and veggies ensures that all of the health-enhancing micronutrients support the entire body . “ Kids and adults are motivated by the word ‘ energy ,’ and the messaging in the book is all about energy and how to get more of it . Kids don ’ t really care about cardiovascular disease and morbidity factors . But if they can run faster and do well in school ? That ’ s the kind of messaging that will reach kids with the greatest impact ,” she says .
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