What is the eat well plate? What does the eat well plate for children include? Read on to know more about the eat well plate for your child.Keeping an eye on what your kids are eating, whether they are getting their daily nutrition, whether they are eating healthy or eating out too much, whether you are able to provide them with the
right nutrients to help them grow and develop, etc. – all these are tedious. But being a parent, it is one of your major responsibilities to take care if your kids are eating well. That is why THE EAT WELL PLATE for your child is discussed here, which is going to be very helpful for you.
What Is the Eat Well Plate?
Eat well plate explains what different types of food you should serve your kids and in what proportions – this is tailored to fit a healthy and well-balanced diet. Eat well plate makes sure your kids have met their daily nutritional requirements. It consists of a range of nutrients that will help your kids to grow and develop better.
Main Features of Eat Well Plate
The main principles of the eat well plate for your kids are based on providing your kids a
balanced diet. It consists of plenty of wholegrain varieties, such as rice, wheat, pasta, jowar, barley, other starchy foods, etc. It also asks you to add plenty of fruits and
vegetables in your kids’ diet, at least five portions in one day. The eat well plate also suggests to aim for lower fat version of animal protein, though it is always better to get protein from vegetable sources, such as beans, legumes, pulses, etc.
What Does It Asks to Minimize?
The eat well plate focuses on balanced intake of
dairy products as they contain a lot of fat. It also suggests you to reduce the amount of sweetened food and beverages. Kids can suffer from childhood obesity if you do not follow this. It is very important to minimize the intake of saturated fat and sugar.
Is Eat Well Plate Good For Your Kids?
Yes, of course the eat well plate does wonder for your kids. They will get all the fiber they need from the starchy foods and wholegrain cereals. The proteins part would be taken care of by eating pulses, beans, fish, and low-fat meat – so you need not worry much about their growth. Your kids will get sufficient vitamins and minerals from fruits and veggies mentioned in the eat well plate. They will not be prone to childhood obesity and cardiovascular diseases if you can cut down the sugar and fat intake from their food. Overall, the eat well plate is just right for your kid.
Helpful Hints for You
Your kids may not like the same type of food every day, so you should choose varieties of foods from the eat well plate on a daily basis. Avoid overcooking and never cut down the taste of the food, so you are free to add spices of your choice to make the food tastier for your kids. Offer your kids fruits as midday snack and post-lunch snacks to munch on – this reduces the chance of craving for
junk food as the stomachs stay full. Suggest your kids to drink plenty of water – that is the best way to quench thirst, definitely not colas or other sweetened beverages.
The eat well plate is great for your kids, but remember it does not suit well for kids under the age of two as they have different nutritional needs. When your kids start growing from age two to five, you should start including the eat well plate diet gradually – this is the time when they start eating the same as other members of the family, although the proportions vary. You may always check with a registered dietitian if you are unsure of anything related to your children’s diet.
What is the significance of the eat well plate? How introduce the elements of the eat well plate in child’s diet? Can the eat well plate fulfill all the nutritional requirements of children? Discuss here.