Food that's good for the child's brain and body

MANILA, Philippines – Fuelling a preschooler’s brain and body is no easy task given their active lifestyles. Fortunately, parents can make sure that their kids get all their nutritional requirements by feeding them the right mix of foods and dietary supplements to meet their growing needs.

“Preschoolers should already be exposed to a variety of foods. At this stage, he has to eat a balanced diet — foods that contain carbohydrates, fat, protein, vitamins, and minerals essential for a well-rounded development,” advises Wyeth nutritionist Jong Icasiano.

In addition to iron and zinc, nutrients such as DHA, AA, lutein, and carotenoids help optimize the mental and physical growth of children at this stage. These are nutrients contained in many types of food that, according to Icasiano, children enjoy eating.

Kid-friendly food mix

The nutritionist suggests cereals and grains such as rice; animal protein sources like pork, beef, fish, and chicken; a sufficient amount of fruits and vegetables; and a milk supplement to fill in the nutritional gaps that result from preschoolers’ picky eating habits.

“For fruits, children generally like bananas, pineapples, mangoes, apples, and oranges,” shares Icasiano.

When it comes to vegetables, tomatoes or any tomato-based products are nutritious. “That’s why spaghetti is a good choice for them,” she explains. Other recommended vegetables are kalabasa, upo, sayote, green papaya, kangkong, pechay, and malunggay.”

“You can introduce all these nutritious foods in stew-type dishes — you mix your soup with vegetables and meat, and kids will like it. It’s the healthier way, too. No need to fry the ingredients so parents won’t have to worry about the trans-fats,” she adds.  

A diet that is sufficiently packed with such a variety of foods will assure parents that their children get the necessary nutrients needed by their brain and body. Icasiano cautions, however, that this is an ideal scenario and thus stresses the importance of serving a delicious milk supplement to their children such as the new Progress Pre-School Gold.

Progress Pre-School Gold contains brain and body biofactors that combine all the essential nutrients for optimum brain and body development. One serving of PPSG already provides 240 calories — approximately 17 percent of a preschooler’s recommended total calorie intake per day — and as much as one-third of the recommended intake of nutrients such as iron, zinc, vitamin A, vitamin C, and calcium. For parents, Progress Pre-School Gold’s vanilla flavor makes it easy to convince kids to drink the recommended two to three servings per day.

“Though helpful, milk supplements should not become substitutes for nutritious food,” reminds Icasiano. “The milk supplement has to be included in the variety of food sources. It has to be integral to the diet or just be part of the diet, not replace its other components, for a child to grow up truly healthy — both physically and mentally.”