Chances are good that you have questions regarding healthy food choices for your child. Our paediatrician can help!

Nothing is more important than keeping our kids healthy, which also means ensuring that they get adequate nutrition every day; however, we understand that not all parents and families understand what constitutes proper nutrition, especially for a growing child. This is where our Nassau, BS, paediatrician Dr. Gwen McDeigan of The Paediatric Centre can help. Here are some of the most commonly asked questions we get regarding childhood nutrition.

How many calories should my child have a day?

Your child’s daily caloric needs will depend on their age, gender, and activity level. For example, girls between the ages of 2 to 4 need around 1,000-1,400 calories a day while boys in the same age range will require anywhere from 1,000-1,600 calories a day. Mayo Clinic provides a helpful breakdown of the number of calories your child will need each day based on their age and gender, along with how much protein, fruits, and vegetables, dairy, and grains they will need a day.

Should my child take supplements?

We hear about fun gummy vitamins just for kids, but do kids actually need supplements? If your child is getting well-rounded, balanced, and healthy meals then they should be getting what they need from food. However, there are scenarios in which our paediatrician may recommend vitamins and supplements:

• If your child is a picky eater and doesn’t eat enough
• Your child isn’t getting balanced, home-cooked, or whole meals
• Your child eats a lot of fast and processed foods
• Your family follows a vegetarian or vegan diet
  
  

What are some healthy snack options?

It’s natural for kids to be hungry every couple of hours. You may choose to offer up some healthy snack options, especially if they aren’t going to be eating another meal for more than four hours. In this case, healthy snack options should include a mix of healthy fats, protein, and carbs such as fruit and yogurt, raw veggies and hummus, or turkey and cheese with whole-grain crackers.

What should I do if I think my child is overweight?

If you are concerned about your child’s weight issues and nutrition needs, our Nassau, BS, paediatrician can provide you with recommendations on everything from physical activity and dietary changes that need to be made to help your child shed unwanted pounds. Doing this now can protect them from childhood diabetes, high blood pressure, and a variety of other serious health problems.

We understand that you may have questions about your child’s nutrition along the way, and this is where regular checkups with our Nassau, BS, paediatrician, Dr. McDeigan, can help you make sure that your child is getting all the vitamins and nutrients they need to grow up healthy and strong. To discuss your child’s current diet and nutrition with us, call The Paediatric Centre at (242) 322-5025.