Question

Describe some of the diet and health connections between a child and a senior citizen? Provide examples

Answer 1

Healthy diet is vital for all the age groups especially children and older ages to stay at a good weight or healthy at his/her age. For this, nutrients are required which includes calories, protein, fat, vitamins and minerals.

Some of the diet needed for specific age groups are:

CHILD diet:

The amount of calories and protein depends on child age and weight in kilograms

Calories: 0-3 years= 100 calories per kg

4-6 years= 90 calories per kg

7-11 years= 70 calories per kg

Protein:

0-3years = 1.2grams per kg

4-6 years: 1.1grams per kg

7-11years : 1 grams per kg

Extra vitamins and minerals are needed only if child is not taking a balanced diet.

Food choices:

- High Vit C food- one serving per day. Eg: citrus fruits, tomatoes, potatoes and green peppers

- High Vit A food- one serving per day. Eg: spinach, winter squash, carrots or sweet potatoes.

0 to 6 months : breast milk

6 to 12 months: weaning or smashed foods

Until age 2 : while milk and full fat dairy products

After 2 : low fat dairy foods, lean meats, fish, poultry foods.

Give bread/starches includes pasta, rice, dry cereal, fruits, meat or near substitute like eggs, cooked fried beans or legumes, cheese, milk or yogurt, vegetables..

OLD AGE diet:

Fruits and vegetables- 2 to 2.5 cups

Whole grains

DASH diet:

1. Grains- 8 ounces

2. Meat - 6 ounces

3. Beans- nuts, seeds, dried beans per week

4. Milk- 2 to 3 cups

5. Oil- 2 teaspoon

6. Protein

7. Drink a lot of water.

Health connection between child and old age

1. Both age groups may not want to eat at times

2. They needs regular health check ups. For child, to make sure that they are growing at the proper rate and for the old age, to maintain the health status by checking the variations in investigation or blood test results.

3. They required time to eat, because of their dental caries or absence of teeth

4. Need to take extra vitamins to maintain balanced diet

5. Most of them in both age groups will be feed by others

6. Small and frequent meals are needed in this age categories

7. They should have dietary guidelines. For child: to prevent malnutrition and grow up in a healthy way. For senior citizens: to reduce their risk of disability and chronic disease. Eg: a decrease in body strength can result in an increased risk for fractures.