Snack: take care of children's health
Like adults, children must perform six meals a day. Sometimes the little ones reject the snack because it interrupts their moments of play, or because they find it boring to always eat the same. Doctors and nutritionists agree on the importance of distributing food throughout the day.
According to the study conducted by Snack Habits in schoolchildren in our environment "(Estudio HABIMER), 76 percent of children between 6 and 12 years old snack every day, and even, nine out of ten do it five days a week. The lack of this habit in childhood may imply risk of childhood obesity in the little one.
The snack is a good opportunity to consume cereals and help reach the total diet the six servings that are advised to consume at least this group of food a day, "says Dr. Beatriz Navia, professor of the Faculty of Pharmacy at the Complutense University of Madrid and spokesperson for the" Bread Every Day "campaign.
It is important to create some good eating habits in childhood since they will be difficult to change, so it is worthwhile to make the maximum educational effort at these ages in order to inculcate eating habits and healthy living.
Snack contributions in children
The snack should contribute approximately 15 percent of the daily energy what the little one needs Based on fruit, cereals, biscuits and dairy products, they will reach the necessary energy for their recreation.
- Fruit. Being rich in simple sugars, which are easily absorbed, they are an energy recharge instantly. In addition, the fruit provides vitamins that increase the defense and fiber that regulates the proper functioning of the intestine.
- Carbohydrates. Found in cereals, biscuits and bread, they guarantee a good reserve of energy until dinner.
- Dairy products. A glass of milk, yogurt or cheese provide protein and calcium necessary for growth.
Consequences of not making the snack.
- Dejection and fatigue. The energy expenditure of the child and adolescent during the day is very high, so the period between lunch and dinner can be very long and make the child show symptoms of fatigue.
- Great feasts. Another problem is the anxiety with which the child can arrive at dinner time, so the snack is a way of distributing food to avoid long periods fasting.
- Imbalances and disorders in the metabolism of children in the metabolism of children such as obesity or overweight, excess cholesterol and blood sugar.
Noelia de Santiago Monteserín
