Feeding your child a balanced diet is an essential part of her development, both emotionally and physically. The American Academy of Pediatrics recommends feeding your child a balanced, nutritious diet that meets the standards of the food pyramid. Whole-grain, vitamin-enriched foods along with dairy, fruits and vegetables and minimal fatty foods will ensure a healthy lifestyle for your child.
Obesity
Childhood obesity can result from an unbalanced diet. Obesity can cause problems with children such as heart disease, back problems and joint problems and poor circulation. All of these issues is treatable but can be avoided with a balanced diet. Besides maintaining an unhealthy diet, obese children are more likely to be obese adults. Your paediatrician will be able to recommend a diet for your child to help her maintain a healthy weight.
- Childhood obesity can result from an unbalanced diet.
- All of these issues is treatable but can be avoided with a balanced diet.
Illness
A non-nutritious diet can lead to various illnesses that will create problems for the child or possibly death. Cancer, heart disease and type 2 diabetes have been linked to obesity in children as a result from an unhealthy diet. Children might incur respiratory problems, some developing asthma and sleep apnoea. Cardiovascular problems can include high blood pressure and damage to the heart and arteries. If the child does not experience obesity because of an unhealthy diet, the child could still experience these issues along with a slower metabolism.
- A non-nutritious diet can lead to various illnesses that will create problems for the child or possibly death.
Mood
A child's diet will affect his mood in a positive or negative way. Mood changes can affect the child's ability to concentrate at home or at school, leading to poor grades and misbehavior. An unbalanced diet will cause a crabby child. Psychological issues might arise from an unbalanced diet by creating emotional eating, anxiety and depression, which might carry into adulthood. Children should avoid caffeine and drink plenty of water and milk.
- A child's diet will affect his mood in a positive or negative way.
- Psychological issues might arise from an unbalanced diet by creating emotional eating, anxiety and depression, which might carry into adulthood.
Causes
There are several causes of an unbalanced diet in children. Watching too much TV can lead to excessive snacking or drinking sugary sodas. Lack of exercise and motivation along with poor food choices at home or school can lead to poor eating habits. Encourage children to eat right by giving them healthy options to snack on, keeping the refrigerator full of foods that are good for them instead of sugary and salty snacks.
- There are several causes of an unbalanced diet in children.
- Lack of exercise and motivation along with poor food choices at home or school can lead to poor eating habits.