Nutritional requirements of a 4 year old

GCSE: Biology

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A young child has a high-energy requirement for their size as they are becoming more active, so their diet should entail sufficient energy to sustain them. The first nutritional needs of a four year old are protein and energy.

Proteins are made up of long chains of amino acids. There are 20 amino acids, which make up proteins and our bodies can make eleven (dispensable) of these, so we need to obtain the other nine (indispensable) from our foods. Protein is highly required for a four year old, as they are going through a rapid stage of development. Protein assists with the growth and repair of body tissue and cells, and any excess protein is then converted into glucose in the liver and can be used as a “back-up” source of energy. Protein can be found in meat, fish, poultry, eggs, milk and milk products such as cheese and yoghurt. Other sources include peas, beans and lentils but these foods tend to lack one or more of the indispensable amino acids.

Children need energy for growth because they use up large amounts of energy in their busy, active day. Their calorie requirement is high and should be supplied with the following:

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