Young children need a varied diet low in sugar

By Jane Kirby, PA Health Writer

Nutritionists have released new guidelines on what toddlers should eat to stay healthy, including limiting sugary cereals, salt chips and fruit juices.

In its updated guide, the British Nutrition Foundation (BNF) kept the same advice on portion sizes, but added new details on sugar as well as vegan and vegetarian diets.

It recommends that children ages one to four eat five servings a day of starchy foods, such as bread, cereals, potatoes, pasta and bread sticks.

They must also eat at least five servings of fruits and vegetables, three servings of dairy products and two servings of protein such as eggs, chickpeas or dahl (or three if a child is a vegetarian).

The new 5532 guide, developed by nutrition scientists and an advisory panel of nutrition experts in the early years, includes images detailing what constitutes a serving.

One serving of pasta is equivalent to two to five tablespoons, one slice of bread and one serving of dairy product to one scoop of cheese or two to four tablespoons of grated cheddar cheese.

On sugar, parents are encouraged to limit sugar-rich cereals, soft drinks and sugary beverages, and to opt for unsweetened dairy products, such as plain yoghurt, whenever possible.

Cakes, cookies, sweets and chocolate should not be part of the children's diet, says the guide.

On fruit juices, it is said that drinks can provide some important vitamins, but are rich in sugar and acids for the teeth. They should only be consumed at meal times and should be diluted.

The guide continues: "Limit the amount of salty foods your child eats.

"Foods such as crisps, ready meals, some breakfast cereals, ham, baked beans, sauces, olives and smoked fish may contain added salt." Check food labels or buy less salty versions.

"Your child should not consume more than 2 g of salt a day, for example, a packet (25 g) of chips contains about 0.3 g of salt, a slice of ham contains about 0.3 g of salt, 2 tablespoons standard baked beans g salt. "

For advice on vegan and vegetarian diets, the BNF recommends that children eat three servings of protein foods in order to get enough iron and zinc.

"A well-planned vegetarian and vegan diet may be healthy for young children, but for those considering a vegan diet, the BNF suggests consulting a general practitioner for advice on supplements, as it can be difficult for young people children vitamins A and B12, riboflavin, iron, zinc, calcium and iodine. "

Sara Stanner, BNF's Scientific Director, said, "Even when parents know which foods are part of a healthy diet, it's sometimes hard to know what size portion is right for the young child, and how often they should eat the different food groups each day.

"We know that many parents are very concerned about sugar and our guide emphasizes that sweet drinks and sweet treats like cookies, chocolate and sweets should not be part of the normal diet of children.

"It's a good idea to check food labels and look for less sugary options when choosing foods such as breakfast cereals or yogurts.

"Similarly, families who decide to adopt a vegetarian or vegan diet need to know how to balance their diet and use supplements as needed to ensure children have all the nutrients they need to be healthy."

For snacks, the BNF recommends taking two to three healthy snacks a day, such as vegetable sticks, fruit, cheese and crackers or toast fingers with cream cheese.

He adds that most young children can regulate their own appetite, "so encourage them to eat but do not force them and do not wait for them to eat unless they are hungry".

"Some children eat slowly, but they usually eat everything they're likely to eat within 20 to 30 minutes, so meals do not need to be longer."

Milk is considered a "good choice for drinks" because it provides calcium and other important nutrients.

Children under two should have whole milk, but they can switch to semi-skimmed milk after that age if they eat well, says the guide.

Skimmed milk or 1% milk is not suitable as a main drink for children under five and should not give children tea or coffee because of its caffeine content.

The guide also states that children must be physically active for at least three hours during a day. This can include riding and playing, playing in the park or dancing.