Nutrient 101

Written by Tricia Au

From our previous post we know that children with special needs face nutritional challenges like obesity, underweight, behaviour issues, etc. In order for you to provide the appropriate nutritional intervention for your child, it is important to know the mechanism of food and how they can fuel your child’s body. by ensuring your child is having proper intake of nutrients through good eating habits, you are building a healthy foundation for your child’s growth development.

A balanced diet refers to an equal amount of macronutrient and micronutrient. Macronutrient encompasses carbohydrates, proteins and fats whereas micronutrient includes vitamins, minerals and fibre. Last but by no means least, we need water in our day to day consumption as well. Here is a brief breakdown on Macronutrient and Micronutrient:

Reference:

• Capaldi, C. (n.d.). Nutritional Issues And Special Needs Children. Retrieved from https://www.abilities.com/community/buzz/buzz58-nutritional.html

• Donahue, E. (n.d.). Common Nutritional Problems in Kids With Special Needs. Retrieved from https://healthyeating.sfgate.com/common-nutrition-problems-kids-special-needs-6499.html

• Washington State Department of Health. (2010). Nutritional Intervention For Children With Special Health Needs Care (3rd ed.). Retrieved from https://www.doh.wa.gov/Portals/1/Documents/8100/961-158-CSHCN-NI-en-L.pdf

• The Star. (2019). Nutritious Meals For Children With Special Needs. Retrieved from https://www.thestar.com.my/lifestyle/family/2019/01/18/nutritious-meals-for-children-with-special-needs/

• Adhikari, S. (2019). 15 Differences between Macro-nutrients and Micro-nutrients. [Image]. Retrieved from: https://www.publichealthnotes.com/15-differences-between-macro-nutrients-and-micro-nutrients/

We understand that at times it can be quite the challenge to ensure your child is practicing good eating habits. Especially for children with special needs, it can be tough for parents or caregivers to even introduce new food to their child.

We have posted several topics that may be of help to you:

• Types of Nutritional Challenges Special Needs Children Face

• Relationship Between Children With Autism And Food

• How To Improve Healthy Eating Habits For Special Needs Children

• Healthy Recipes For Children