Nutrition of schoolchildren is one of the main issues that disturb parents throughout the school year. By the way, not only them. The government of St. Petersburg and Moscow since September 2010 markedly increased the subsidies allocated for school meals. But even this is not capable of completely solving all the problems. To compilation of a correct full-fledged diet, a complete approach is needed taking into account the characteristics of the child's organism. Studying the school program requires children to have the highest mental activity, so you need to listen to advice on proper nutrition for schoolchildren.
A little man who is attached to knowledge, at the same time not only performs difficult work, but also grows and develops, and for the whole the child must receive a correct, balanced diet. High mental activity is unusual for first-graders, it is associated with high energy costs. And everything connected with intellectual work, mainly depends on the carbohydrates stored in the body, mainly from glucose. Reduction of oxygen and glucose in the blood below the required level leads to a deterioration of brain functions. In turn, this may be one of the reasons why mental performance will decrease and the perception of the teaching material will deteriorate for students.
Parents have high hopes for a full breakfast - after all, they themselves control this process and, accordingly, are absolutely sure that at least once a day their beloved chudushko ate properly. But not everyone knows which breakfast is the most valuable for the student. Someone tries to include in breakfast the greatest amount of carbohydrates, which are "responsible" for mental activity. And in fact, after a dense carbohydrate breakfast, the amount of glucose in the blood increases significantly, but if there are too many carbohydrates, then, after 1.5-2 hours, the glucose content can drop just as drastically.
In this regard, doctors offer to include in breakfast the so-called complex forms of carbohydrates. For example, in addition to confectionery, jam and sweet tea, in the morning breakfast, students must include pasta, cereals, bakery products, fresh vegetables, fruits, especially apples. Other carbohydrates are better distributed on several occasions throughout the school day: coffee, tea, coffee, sweets, biscuits, biscuits, fruit drinks will provide the child with a constant supply of fresh portions of glucose into the bloodstream, which will stimulate the mental activity of schoolchildren.
The next most important component of food, necessary to meet the energy needs of schoolchildren - is fats. This share accounts for about 25% of the total daily energy expenditure.
Fats, in addition to energy use, are an essential element necessary for the construction of cell membranes, hormones and pheromones, and vitamins also dissolve in them. Fats are the main building material of the human body. The main sources of protein in the diet of the child are some vegetables, eggs, fish, grains, nuts, beans and meat. The right fats are especially rich in dairy products. Therefore, in school meals should include sour cream, kefir, milk. Proteins of animal origin are especially useful for a young schoolchildren's organism, but still one should not get carried away by smoked food, sausages, sausages.
In the diet of the schoolboy should also be present fiber - that is, a mixture of complex substances, which are found in fruits, leaves and stems of plants. This is necessary for good digestion. Fiber in the child's food should be about 15-20 grams. In order that there would be so much fiber in the diet, it is necessary to prepare food from cereals, as well as fruits and vegetables.
In addition to the basic components of food in the diet of a schoolboy, it is necessary to provide for the complete and timely filling of the young organism's need for biological fibers, microelements, vitamins. At the schoolboy because of body height and high mental activity the requirement for microelements and vitamins is considerably increased. The lack or absence of vitamins in the child's nutrition can lead to beriberi, in which the growth process is disrupted, the working capacity and memory deterioration are reduced. A small amount of vitamins in the baby's nutrition can be easily eliminated by taking special medications, widely represented on drugstores.
Water, although not a food, but is about sixty percent of the total body weight. A schoolboy needs to consume about one and a half or two liters of water a day. Schools should be provided with conditions so that the children can satisfy the need for water in the required quantity and at any time.
A separate issue in the diet of schoolchildren is the use of food additives, such as dyes, stabilizers, mixers, antioxidants and preservatives. These substances are added to food, to give it the necessary odor, taste and consistency. Many food additives used recently in connection with the progress of industrial technologies, constantly cause objections because of the possibility of an allergic reaction. But do not worry: the use of dietary supplements is clearly defined, and before they are authorized to use any of them, they are thoroughly tested among government agencies and competent medical institutions. Studies conducted in the present time show that the allergic reaction to the use of the food reaction is extremely rare, and, as a rule, does not exceed the number of cases of a painful reaction to standard foods.
If you listen to advice on proper nutrition for schoolchildren, then your child will learn well and will always be in perfect spirits. Everyone working in the field of nutrition of schoolchildren should remember that the full nutrition of our children in the most crucial period of their formation and growth of personality is the main way of health of the nation.