By Justas Kanskis
In order to understand the importance of the food pyramid for kids, it is important to understand the issue of childhood obesity in America. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention have produced statistics that declare approximately seventeen percent of children obese in the country. This can cause numerous issues (both emotional and physical) that can be prevented with healthy living.
According to government recommendations, the key to a healthy lifestyle is balance. For many years, this type of lifestyle was represented in a pyramid. With this structure, it was recommended that an individual consume six to eleven servings of grains per day at the foundation. Two to three servings of fruit and three to five servings of vegetables complement one another. Finally, two to three servings each of dairy and protein round it out. Sparing servings of fats and oils should be consumed.
In recent years, this recommendation has been deemed too simplified, as an appropriate diet is different for everyone. For example, more active children may require more complex carbohydrates and proteins whereas less active ones should not consume as many calories. In response to this issue, the government has released a new diagram for a balanced meal.
The newest initiative uses a plate to represent appropriate servings. On the plate (representing a day's worth of calories), grains take up slightly more than one fourth of the space. Proteins fill up the remainder of that half. On the other side of the plate, vegetables dominate fruits in an approximate three to two ratio. Alongside the plate is a cup representing dairy. Experts feel that this is more accurate for Americans to follow because it can be based off of one's lifestyle and dietary needs.
If parents hope to instill healthy eating habits into their children in the hopes of a long and happy life, they should be active in their approach. For example, preparing delicious food that is low in calories on a regular basis can demonstrate the this is a lifestyle to be adopted rather than a diet to stick to. Such foods can include chicken breast, seasoned vegetables, and whole wheat pasta. Children should learn the importance of this system early on in their lives.
In addition to eating well, children should also exercise for thirty minutes a day. To keep this from seeming like a chore, they should seek out activities, hobbies, and sports that are exciting. Hopefully, kids will find something they love, even if it is a bit different, such as skating, rock climbing, or swimming. This balance of diet and exercise will produce happy kids.
Find good recipes that are low calorie and encourage daily exercise. Combining these two factors creates a lifetime of healthy living. This is why it is so important to understand the food pyramid for kids.
According to government recommendations, the key to a healthy lifestyle is balance. For many years, this type of lifestyle was represented in a pyramid. With this structure, it was recommended that an individual consume six to eleven servings of grains per day at the foundation. Two to three servings of fruit and three to five servings of vegetables complement one another. Finally, two to three servings each of dairy and protein round it out. Sparing servings of fats and oils should be consumed.
In recent years, this recommendation has been deemed too simplified, as an appropriate diet is different for everyone. For example, more active children may require more complex carbohydrates and proteins whereas less active ones should not consume as many calories. In response to this issue, the government has released a new diagram for a balanced meal.
The newest initiative uses a plate to represent appropriate servings. On the plate (representing a day's worth of calories), grains take up slightly more than one fourth of the space. Proteins fill up the remainder of that half. On the other side of the plate, vegetables dominate fruits in an approximate three to two ratio. Alongside the plate is a cup representing dairy. Experts feel that this is more accurate for Americans to follow because it can be based off of one's lifestyle and dietary needs.
If parents hope to instill healthy eating habits into their children in the hopes of a long and happy life, they should be active in their approach. For example, preparing delicious food that is low in calories on a regular basis can demonstrate the this is a lifestyle to be adopted rather than a diet to stick to. Such foods can include chicken breast, seasoned vegetables, and whole wheat pasta. Children should learn the importance of this system early on in their lives.
In addition to eating well, children should also exercise for thirty minutes a day. To keep this from seeming like a chore, they should seek out activities, hobbies, and sports that are exciting. Hopefully, kids will find something they love, even if it is a bit different, such as skating, rock climbing, or swimming. This balance of diet and exercise will produce happy kids.
Find good recipes that are low calorie and encourage daily exercise. Combining these two factors creates a lifetime of healthy living. This is why it is so important to understand the food pyramid for kids.
