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Happy Tummy Expert

1 year ago

Dear Anagha Rani, Thank you for the question 

Growth and development are natural phenomena that occur throughout the human life cycle. The rate at which an individual grows and develops and attains certain milestones differs from person to person.

Physical growth and development of an individual across stages involves various factors like Genetics, Gender, Nutrition & Physical activity.

Ages 1-6 years witness gradual and continuous growth and development. During this period, it is important to take care of all nutritional needs and give children a nutritionally adequate & well-balanced diet, to ensure that growth and development is achieved optimally and prevent risks of malnutrition. 

Reference ideal body weight and height for 6-year-old male can be considered as 18-22.8 kg and 110.4-125.6cm respectively.

According to the mentioned weight your child seems to be underweight as per the reference ideal body weight.

A high calorie and high protein diet is recommended for weight gain. The RDA for protein requirement is 16g/d for children 4-6years. Some of the sources of high protein include pulses, lentils, milk, paneer, soybean, eggs, lean meat, nuts & seeds etc.

It is important to take care of calcium and vitamin D requirements for bone health, maintain Bone mineral density Some of the calcium sources include mik, cheese, paneer, Ragi, curd, yogurt. Sunlight is the one of best sources of vitamin D exposing yourself to the sun or sunbathing for 10-15 minutes can help maintain bone health and vitamin D increases the absorption of calcium in the bones. Other sources of Vitamin D include eggs, fatty fish, fortified cereals etc.

Recommended daily allowance for calcium is 550mg per day and for Vitamin D is 15mcg(600IU) per day for 4-6years old .

Vitamin A is necessary for vision health, Orange-yellow fruits and vegetables, dark green leafy vegetables, citrus fruits like berries, oranges, lemons, kiwi, etc are a good source of Vitamin A

 Recommended daily allowance for Vitamin A is 510 µg/day for 4-6years old

Here are a few dietary guidelines for children to be considered

• The diet should include a variety of foods and ensure inclusion of all food groups, Teaching the child to eat everything on his plate will help him enjoy optimal health.
• Make the plate colorful by including variety of fruits and vegetables
• Food should be slightly seasoned so that they taste better and the child takes it well.
• Child should never be forced to eat more than he can take.
• Food preference of the child should be taken into consideration by emphasizing on the child's likes and dislikes
• Foods like tea and coffee should be avoided as they may overstimulate the childs body system.
• Small foods that have risks of choking should be avoided.
• Ensure sufficient consumption of milk and milk products
• Include energy dense foods, keeping in mind the daily needs. Some of the energy dense   foods include Whole wheat, multigrain millets, dairy products, nuts, colocasia leaves, banana, raisins, pulses/lentils etc.
• Try to increase the serving size and portion size gradually and systematically
• Include healthy fats from nuts and seeds.
• Maintain a positive energy balance where the calorie intake should be more than the energy expenditure.
• Encourage involvement in food preparation for easy acceptance of new foods
• Encourage physical activity for optimal growth

For more information and sustainable growth and for customised and personalised meal plan please contact a Health care professional and your child’s paediatrician

Hope we have answered your query.

Wishing you a great day

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