Nutrition From Infancy to Adolescence Term Paper

Nutrition From Infancy to Adolescence - Term Paper Example For determining child’s nutrient needs at any stage, his rate and stage of growth are considered fundamental factor. Other factors include: body size, physical activity, health state, and basal energy use. A wide range of body requirements are based on individual characteristics (Lucas, Beth, and Sharon 103).The main objective here is to briefly analyze the nutrition needs of children from infancy through childhood and adolescence. Infancy Nutritional needs of infants are not very different from adults, it includes, energy, protein, minerals, vitamins. Yet, there is a difference in three major aspects. Firstly, the energy need per unit of weight is higher than that of adults. Secondly, the food for infants should incorporate a higher portion of tissue-building material, such as, protein, mineral elements, and vitamins as compared to adult food. Thirdly, infant diet should be consisted of food which is appropriate for the digestive capacity of this particular age. Moreover, qua ntity of the foods should be adjusted according to the needs of growing child (Joshi 166). Infancy is a robust growth period of child’s life and spans from birth to one year of age. Within six months after birth, an infant doubles his birth weight and triples it by one year. Meaning thereby, a newborn with 2.7kg at birth will be nearly 5.4kg at six months and 8kg in one year. During infancy, child begins crawling, babbling, sitting, and even walking in some cases. Usually, girls are faster than boys in these respects (Joshi 166). There are different nutrition needs in all the three phases. Initial needs of an infant are fulfilled by breast or formula milk, but later needs are satisfied by appropriate food as he starts eating. Using common sense when it comes to selecting an infant’s food in addition to a nurturing and relaxed environment leads to better health and well-being. At first year, child’s growth directly reflects the level and quality of nutrient intak e (Whitney and Rolfes 547). According to ICMR, daily intake of 120 calories per kg of bodily weight is recommended during first six months that should be reduced to 100 cals/kg of body weight during next six months (qtd. in Joshi 170).Joshi explains that high protein is essential to support the rapid growth and breast milk is ideal and recommended source to provide it (170).ICMR advocates 2.3-1.8g/kg body weight of protein intake during first six months and 1.8-1.5g/kg in the next (qtd. in Joshi 170). In early days, simple carbohydrates should be fed because amylase (a starch digesting enzyme) is not produced by body. The enzyme starts functioning in third or fourth month when starch is introduced. Adequate amount of fluids are essential for urinary excretion. Because of the absence of teeth in infants, only liquid or semi-liquid foods should be given until teeth start to develop. Infant body has limited storage for iron, therefore, iron, in addition to vitamin and minerals, particu larly calcium and phosphorous supplementation is vital. Initially, these supplements can be given as drops of oral preparations and later in a form of mixture with milk or fruit juices, but amounts should be kept moderate(Joshi 170). Breast milk is ideal for infant as early period of 4-6 months are of rapid development, particularly brain growth. In addition to protein, amino acids and fats in breast milk are ideal to meet these needs. It also contains anti-bacterial, anti-infection agents, and immunoglobulin that works for immune