School age is a period when growth and development are rapid and lifelong nutritional habits are largely formed. Some of the undesirable health problems listed below may occur as a result of inadequate, unbalanced or excessive nutrition in school-age children.
- Their growth and development are retarded. If this retardation is not compensated until the end of the growth period, it will be reflected in adulthood and these children will become short, weak and powerless adults.
- Infectious diseases are frequent and severe.
- Menstruation, especially in girls, is affected. Iron deficiency anemia is common due to menstruation.
- During adolescence, bone density reaches its highest level. Insufficient consumption of calcium during this period constitutes a risk factor for osteoporosis seen in later ages.
- Obesity as a result of unbalanced nutrition emerges as an important problem. Obesity in childhood is reflected in later ages and paves the way for chronic diseases such as high blood pressure, increase in blood fats, cardiovascular diseases and diabetes.
Breakfast:
After fasting all night, the most important meal of the day is breakfast. A child who does not eat breakfast feels weak because he is hungry for a long time, his attention, ability to work and learn decreases, and his school success decreases. For this reason, breakfast must be eaten every morning.
Some examples for breakfast:
- A glass of milk, an egg, five olives, bread. , fruit or tomato.
- A glass of fruit juice, cheese omelet, bread.
- A glass of milk, cereal, fruit.
- A glass of milk, tahini. Molasses or tahini halva, bread, fruit.
- A glass of milk, bread, 3-4 walnuts or hazelnut paste, fruit.
- Lentil or tarhana soup, bread, fruit.
Read: 0
