t child gets. Children who are very active and run, hop, and climb need more calories than those who are less active do. Some children eat more and grow faster than others. Every child eats more on some days than others do. Since growth requires energy, and energy comes from food, it is no wonder that a child's appetite generally increases during a growth spurt. Fluctuations in appetite and satiety are normal. When growth levels off, calorie needs lessen, so appetite will diminish as well.Calcium is best absorbed when vitamin D is present in the same meal or snack. Fluid milk is fortified with vitamin D, so it is the primary source of these nutrients in children's diets. Additionally, a person's skin can make vitamin D when exposed to sunlight.ProteinProtein is essential for growth. Protein is used to build new blood, bone and muscles. Because children are growing, their protein needs are higher for their body size than adults. Following age appropriate food patterns will assure that the children in your care will be getting adequate amounts of protein.CalciumCalcium provides the structure of bone and teeth. Because children's bones must lengthen for them to grow, calcium is a critical nutrient during childhood. Children need two to four times more calcium for their body weight than adults need. The calcium that is stored during the childhood years is vital to the health and well being of that person throughout life.According to the American Dietetic Association, our bodies have the ability to store calcium in our bones until we are about age 30. After that age, we must depend on the calcium that we eat in our food, or we must "withdraw" calcium from our skeleton's "savings account." The denser the bones are in childhood, the better prepared a person will be to support teen growth and still withstand the inevitable bone losses of later life. Perhaps you can now see the importance of eating adequate amounts of calcium-rich foods during t...
