Adolescents and pre-school

The role of nutrition is very important for growing children, especially those who are in pre-schools or adolescent children. Some scientists divide the age of adolescence into some stages. These stages are early adolescence (ages 10 to 14 years), late adolescence (15 to 19 years), youth (ages between 15 to 24 years), and young adults (ages between 20 to 24 years). According to one survey, 89 percent of young people live in low- and middle-income countries.

Adolescents

Nutrition and development are both interrelated. Adolescent development is very complex as different components such as puberty, neurocognitive maturity, social role transition, etc. play important roles. Good habits such as healthy habits and regular exercise are very beneficial for adolescent growth. Adolescent people need to consume high-energy-dense foods and drinks to avoid iron deficiency. For example, the 2010 US Dietary Guidelines suggest that adolescent girls (9–18 years old) require 1400–2400 calories per day and adolescent boys require 1600–3200 calories per day. But any adolescent involved in an athletic activity does require up to 5000 calories per day. Many surveys suggest that adolescents, commonly known as teenagers, are pretty picky and are less likely to choose healthy foods. Other factors, such as knowledge of nutritional foods, economic conditions, amount of time available to prepare food, and ability to purchase nutritional ingredients, also influence the dietary condition of teenagers. Different socio-cultural norms, such as gender norms, social and economic status, age, location, and even degree of urbanization, also influence patterns of adolescent nutrition. These factors influence the types of food and beverages taken, portion size, dieting pattern, mill skipping (especially breakfast and lunch), etc. Also, environmental factors, maternal and paternal education levels (especially maternal education as women are still considered the primary caregivers), employment of the parents, etc., influence the nutritional patterns. 

The dietary and nutritional guidelines for adolescents 

Adolescents should follow a diet that includes a variety of fruits and vegetables, whole grains, low-fat dairy products, a variety of protein foods, and oils. They should limit their consumption of solid fats (solid fat is the main source of saturated and trans-fatty acids), processed sugar, and excessive sodium content. A healthy diet helps to reduce high blood pressure, control heart diseases, type 2 diabetes, cancer, osteoporosis, iron deficiency, and dental caries, commonly known as dental cavities. Adolescents should reduce their consumption of sugar-sweetened beverages, which can cause obesity and diabetes. They should consume more whole fruits and vegetables. Most of the added sugar and solid fats come from soft drinks, fruit drinks, desserts, grain-based desserts, junk food like pizza, and finally whole milk. They should also drink more water, as water helps to keep the human body hydrated. The dietary guidelines mostly include plant-based foods, fruits, and vegetables. Some surveys indicate that consumption of high-energy snacks and beverages is pretty high in urban areas. This factor of consumption of high-energy snacks and beverages can cause obesity. The lack of consumption of animal proteins, fruits, and vegetables can cause micronutrient deficiency among adolescents. Also, skipping breakfast meals can be very harmful to teenagers, so schools should provide meals for them. The whole adolescent period is demarcated by physical, emotional, and chemical changes, so the nutrition factor is very important. 

Pre-schooler nutrition 

The pre-schooler children are between 3 and 5 years old. These children are still developing their eating habits. They should be encouraged to eat healthy snacks and meals. The children are very inquisitive by nature, and they are eager to learn. They often mimic what they observe, and their primary caregivers should encourage them to eat healthy food. They should make nutritious meals for the children, give them regularly scheduled snacks, and also limit unplanned eating. Children should be discouraged from exhibiting poor behaviour at mealtime, such as playing with food, playing at the dinner table, etc. Children should also be discouraged from running or playing while eating, as it can cause choking. The child should be seated while eating. 

Conclusion 

Nutrition and diet habits are very important for both adolescents and pre-school children. Pre-school children should be given a variety of options regarding food. In this way, the children will learn to consume a large variety of foods. The child should be handled with care and should not be forced to eat or clean its plate. Caregivers should pay attention to overeating as it can cause the child to gain more weight. Caregivers should set examples for healthy eating habits. The children then will also be encouraged to follow a healthy diet. These concepts are very important for different government exam aspirants.