The nutritional need of people change at different stages of life. Its is especially important to plan meals for children, teenagers and elderly people as they require special diets.
>Planning Meals for Children.
When planning meals for children, it is important to determine if the meals are for infants, toddlers, young children or children of school-going age. This is because the nutritional needs are not the same for children in different age groups.
-Infants
Infancy is the stage between birth and the baby's first year. The main food that an infant requires is milk.
'Milk'
Milk comes in two forms:
-breastmilk
-formula milk
If possible, feed infants under the age of 12 months with breastmilk. Health experts believe that breastmilk is the best food for babies. It contains the right amounts of the nutrients necessary for growth and development. Although breastmilk is low in Vitamin D and iron, it is not a problem. The body makes Vitamin D when exposed to sunlight, and babies are born with enough iron to last them for four to six months. Breastmilk is also full of antibodies that help to build the immune system of babies.
-Semi-solid food
Infants start teething from time they reach their seventh month. They are now ready to be introduced to semi-solid and soft food.
Here are some points to take note of when feeding infants semi solid food:
- Infants should be fed pureed food before being given more soild food.
- Gradually, food can be mashed, ground, grated, blended, boiled or minced.
- The food should be served warm, not hot, and given in small portions.
-The food should be natural and without any seasoning.
-Introduce only one food at a time. This is in case the infant has any allergic reaction to the food.
- It is also important to ensure that infants get all the nutrients they need.
In general, milk remains the infants' staple food during the first year of life. At this stage, their appetites are undeveloped and they can be choosy about their food. To encourage them to eat, children should be fed small meals several times a day. These meals should be colourful and appetising.
-Toddlers
By the age of two, toddlers should have a full set of teeth. They can now start eating solid food. Their meals should consist a variety of food that toddlers need to chew to develop their jaw muscles. As toddlers are not used to chewing, food should be cut into small pieces. Serve food that they can handle easily.
Food cooked for toddlers can be:
-boiled
-stewed
-Young Children
Young childern, or children below the age of five, are extemely active. They like to walk, run, jump and climb, and need lots of energy. At the same time, they are also growing rapidly. Meals should contain protein, carbohydrates and nutrients that are necessary for health and growth.
Calcuim is important for strong bones and teeth. Young children should drink at least 500ml of milk daily and eat milk products such as cheese and yogurt. At this stage of their lives, it is important to help children develop healthy eating habits.
-School Children
Children attending school lead an active lifestyle and busy life. At this stage, they need enough carbohydrates for their energy needs, and protein to build their body. It is very important to ensure that they take regular meals. Breakfast is especially important as it is the first meal of the day.
It might be a good idea to prepare a lunchbox for school children to bring to school. This helps to ensure that they have a balanced meal.
> Planning Meals for Teenagers
Teenagers eat out more often than they were younger, and prefer to make their own food choices. This makes it easy for them to develop poor eating habits. Hence, it is essential to ensure that teenagers develop healthy eating habits.
Some considerations when planning meals for teenagers include the need to:
-build strong bones
-consume protein for growth
-meet energy needs
-eat sufficient fruits and vegetables
-have a balanced diet
>Planning Meals for Elderly People
Elderly people are people aged 65 and above. As people age, they undergo physical changes that often result in multrition due to poor appetitw. They are also at an increased risk of heart diseases and stroke. Good nutrition reduces the risk of such diseases.
When planing meals for elderly people, it is important to consider whether the meals contain necessary nutrients to help them remain healthy.
Physical changes experinced by Elderly People:
-slower body functions
-lower energy needs
-increased risk of diet-related diseases
Elderly people also tend to have weaker digestive systems as well as poor teeth and gums. It is also common for elderly people to suffer from constipation and undergo a physical change that weakens their sense of taste and smell.
