Nutritional guidelines for active children

Abstract

Nutrition is a large component of participating in a healthy lifestyle. Understanding the guidelines of proper nutrition set forth by the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) can help a person maintain adequate nutrition. Dietary recommendations have been set for adults as well as children. These recommendations, when met, can be beneficial to one’s health. Stemming away from dietary guidelines can result in nutritionrelated chronic diseases including but not limited to obesity, diabetes, cardiovascular disease, and some forms of cancer. Appropriate nutrition is vital for proper growth and development in children and adolescents. Creating a lifestyle with physical activity can also have many benefits. According to the Dietary Guidelines for Americans, the dietary reference intake offers recommendations of macronutrients, minerals, and vitamins to consume on a daily basis. Recently the USDA has changed the icon to a serving plate that shows through visual cues how much of each food group you should consume. The MyPlate icon shows the five major food groups that are the building blocks of a healthy diet. Fruits, vegetables, grains, protein foods, and dairy are the food groups individuals should choose from, and the choosemyplate.gov website explains each group and shows healthy choices and the recommendations or serving sizes within each group. Teaching children the importance of eating proper nutrition can lead to a healthy lifestyle. It is suggested that our daily meal consists of half of our plate full of fruits and vegetables, along with lean meats, whole grains, and fat-free and/or low-fat dairy products. Limiting our intake of saturated fats, trans-fatty acids, and simple sugars is important as well.