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| |    The Food Guide Pyramid for Kids by Mary Silva, M.S., R.D. reviewed by Robert Needlman, M.D., F.A.A.P. Nutrition is a major concern of parents of young children--and rightfully so. The food children eat affects their general health, physical development, and ability to learn. Even the fortunate parent of a child who isn't finicky and has a good appetite looks for guidance to steer his diet in the right direction. The Food Guide Pyramid is just that tool. The Food Guide Pyramid for Kids was developed by the U.S. Department of Agriculture for two- to six-year-old children. It takes into account what children need for good health and what they like to eat. Foods are divided into groups, and the number of servings a child should have each day is indicated. Some of this may come as a surprise to you--nutrition surveys have shown that most children are not eating the recommended number of servings per day, especially in the vegetable group. The pyramid stresses that children should have a variety of foods, even within each food group. Because young children need some fat for growth and development, the pyramid does not severely restrict it. A helpful way to use this guide is to print out a copy and keep it in a convenient place in the kitchen. During the day, place a mark next to a food group every time your child eats from it. Pay particular attention to the serving sizes; the pyramid indicates that two- and three-year-olds should have a smaller serving size (about half the regular amount). At the end of the day, you can evaluate your child's diet. You might want to do this over the course of several days to get an accurate picture of his diet. Older children can be taught to take part in this activity, and probably will enjoy trying to reach their nutritional goal.
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