Children's Health

When it comes to health, Australia is truly the 'lucky country'.  With access to an abundance of fresh food daily we have the potential for optimal health and wellness.  Why is it then that many children eat poorly, are often sick and becoming overweight? Recent statistics concerning a new generation of overweight and obese children point to a growing population affected by what nutritionists term "overconsumptive malnutriton."  With a greater understanding of how the nutrients (and other substances) we absorb from food, affect children's learning ability, mood and behaviour as well as proper growth and development, leading authorities in nutrition are pressing for changes to be made. There are many resources and guidelines available to assist and encourage parents and carers to improve children's eating choices and behaviours, but to make things a bit clearer here are a few facts:  We are all individuals with varying metabolisms, food preferences and nutrient needs at different times in our lives. If you provide children with a good selection of healthy food in a non–stressful eating environment they will naturally regulate their food intake and eat a balanced diet.  Recent government advertising recommending 2 fruits and 5 vegies a day is a good standard to aim for. Healthy young children are intuitive eaters and can teach us a lot about listening to our body’s cues. As long as there are no emotional/psychological issues at play, chronic over, under or fussy eaters commonly have some measure of gastrointestinal disturbance (e.g. parasites, gut flora imbalance or digestive enzyme problem) and/or are deficient in one or more essential nutrients.