Primary Schoolers Bodies

Primary Schoolers Bodies

• We are continually bombarded with 'problems' of being fat or thin. Most Australians eat too much and worry about cholesterol, obesity and other diseases.
• Young people worry about their looks. TV commercials often show idealised people such as very thin models and these can become role models - someone they want to look like.
• Young people don't get balanced information about weight and diet but there are some facts which can help young people decide what they should eat.
• We all need protein each day as it forms the body's building blocks. Children up to about seven years old need half a serve of meat, or equivalent protein, a day. One meat serve equals one medium chop or one egg, or half a cup of mince or cooked beans. Eight to 11 year olds need one serve.
• Children also need milk, or its equivalent, for calcium and protein - for four to seven year olds one and a half glasses daily; for eight to 11 year olds, two glasses daily. One glass of milk equals a small tub of yoghurt or two cheese slices.
• The body needs a very small amount of fat. Remove as much fat as possible from meat and poultry. Try not to have too many takeaways as they are nearly always high in fat.
• We all need vitamins and minerals. A normal daily diet of vegetables, fruit, cereals, meat and milk products should provide enough vitamins and minerals. Eating too much of some vitamins can be dangerous. Check with your doctor or chemist.
• Water is very important as it dissolves chemicals in the body, keeps our bodies the right temperature, helps get rid of wastes and keeps our blood moving.
• Overweight children have more fat cells than other children and can continually have trouble keeping their weight down. Encourage them to understand the importance of eating healthy, non fattening food and enjoying regular exercise.
• The amount young people eat should equal the amount of energy their body uses to grow, function and move.

Parenting tips & parenting articles copyright & courtesy
Department for Community Devlp, Australia.

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