May 6, 2020

It is very essential that children are fed healthily. However, nowadays, most parents do not care about that and tend to feed their children more of junks and fast foods. Asides that, fast foods are even more appealing to most children because of the taste. Some children cannot eat good food. All they love to feed on are biscuits, sweets, drinks, chocolates, fries, etc But these children do not know that regular junk food intake can cause health problems such as obesity and even chronic diseases later in life. Most junks lack vitamins such as vitamins A and C, and minerals such as magnesium and calcium that are needed for development. That is why it is essential that parents see the need to inculcate healthy eating into their children even right from toddlers. When I was small, I barely eat junks. This is because my parents are very strict when it comes to healthy eating. My siblings and I will eat before leaving for school in the morning with no biscuit nor money to buy one. As time went by, we started collecting #5 as feeding money. Trust me, we were always giving accounts of what we spent the money on, thereby making it impossible for us to just eat anything. We take soft drinks occasionally (like festive periods), unlike now that we are all grown up and can decide to take soft drinks with our money without our parents consent. Till date, one of the major reason I don’t to eat foods like pizza, sharwama, noodles, etc is because I wasn’t used to eating them. Few days ago, my dad still called my siblings and I and gave us a thorough health talk. To him, the oil we used in frying the bean cake that day was much and the vegetables we prepared for him was salty. Trust me, to some, the food won’t be delicious in their mouths 😂. From experience, I’ve come to realise that feeding children with nutritious foods and avoiding junk as much as possible is the best. Eating healthily aids the development of the child. There are lots of healthy foods but in this article, I want to list 7 top healthiest foods that are essential for a child’s growth. 1) EGGS Eggs are highly rich in proteins, vitamins and minerals. The protein in eggs helps maintain and repair body tissues while the vitamins and minerals are essential for effectiveness of the brain and the nervous system. 2) LEGUMES Legumes is a term generally used to describe the seeds of plants from the legume family which includes beans, peas, lentils, and peanuts. Legumes are high in dietary fibre which helps to keep the bowel healthy. They are also a good source of soluble fibre which can help lower blood cholesterol levels. Legumes are very low in fat. Read more: Why You Need To Eat Beans 3) MILK Milk is an excellent source of vitamins and minerals. Milk contains potassium, B12, calcium and vitamin D, vitamin A, magnesium, zinc and thiamine (B1). Also, eggs are excellent sources of protein. 4) AVOCADO Avocados are sodium, sugar and cholesterol free. They are highly rich in essential nutrients (fiber, vitamin C, magnesium, folate and vitamin K) needed for children’s healthy growth and also boosting the immune system. 5) YOGHURTS Yogurts often contain calcium, potassium, and vitamin D, which are important nutrients in the growth and development of a child. In fact, yogurt is a richer source of nutrients than most types of milk. 6) OATMEAL Oatmeal is a food very rich in fiber. It acts as a natural laxative to help prevent constipation. The fiber in oatmeal adds bulk to their stools to make the bowel movement process easier and gentler. This is actually helpful in helping children pass stools with ease. 7) APPLES Apples contain Vitamins like A, B1, B2, and C as well as minerals such as iodine, phosphorous, iron, and calcium. All these are crucial in promoting healthy growth of muscle tissues, bones, skin and organs of children. An apple can be a perfect for a kid instead of a wrap sweet.