The awareness environment heart health starts from childhood. Awareness of food types, types of fats and an active lifestyle should be instilled not only in parents but also the children.

The American Academy of Pediatrics recommends that less than 30% of total calories come from fat for children > 2 years of age. Young children should not follow a low-fat diet unless advised by their doctor.

Red flag signs

• If your doctor expresses concerns about growth percentiles that do not correspond to age, that is, if the BMI is increasing or if the child is consistently in the “overweight” or obese category.
• If the child seems out of breath during normal activities
• Complains of chest pain and palpitations
• Dizziness or fainting
• Swollen feet or ankles

In an interview with HT Lifestyle, Dr Lakshmy Menon, Consultant Neonatologist and Pediatrician at Cloudnine Group of Hospitals in Bellandur, Bengaluru, shared, “The choices one makes for our child help determine their heart health as a child. ‘adult. Mothers are advised to breastfeed exclusively for 6 months and then continue to breastfeed if possible for at least 1 year. The introduction of complementary foods or weaning is generally done at 6 months unless otherwise advised by the doctor.

She revealed: “Introducing different food groups, in the right order and controlling portion sizes, helps keep the child healthy. Understanding hunger and fullness signals, helping children understand them and respect when they don’t want to eat is important for developing healthy eating habits. Structured meal times and a focus on nutrition, eating as a family are techniques that help the child with his meals. As they grow, introduce the concept of “my plate.”

My plate is made up of 5 categories of food –

1. Whole Grains – wheat, rice, cornmeal and millet are some of them. Make sure that at least half of the grains the family eats are only whole grains.

2. Vegetables – vary the vegetables of the day. Use a mix of green/red/yellow vegetables and use seasonal varieties to optimize consumption. At least half of the plate must contain vegetables

3. Fruits – 1 serving of fruit to include in the daily diet. Vary depending on the season. The AAP does not recommend fruit juice for children > 1 year of age and limits it to 4 oz between 1 and 3 years of age.

4. Dairy products – items like curd/a portion of milk/paneer are also included in this plate.

5. Protein- can be vegetarian or non-vegetarian. Non-plant sources include lean meat and eggs. And vegetable sources include dals/peas/beans etc. No portion of oil/ghee but can be used for preparation and in moderation. The total calories according to ICMR is around 2000 kcal/day for a child without health problems. This varies depending on the activity practiced and age.

Disclaimer: This article is provided for informational purposes only and is not a substitute for professional medical advice. Always seek the advice of your doctor with any questions you may have regarding a health problem.