Natasha recently had the priviledge of writing an article for The Crest and The Ridge for the February/March issue.  The topic was called Starting Off Strong; Nutrition for Children.  Read below:

As parents, we want the best for our children and that includes making sure that they are healthy and grow and develop to their full potential.  One of the best ways to achieve this is to provide them with good nutrition from birth and to continue this through infancy and the toddler years. Providing a healthy balanced diet will promote normal growth and development, as well as help to prevent common health problems such as obesity, constipation, anaemia and tooth decay. Healthy eating, rich in nutrients, will promote and strengthen a child’s immune system and protect them against illnesses.

As the foundation for future good health and eating patterns are developed in the first few years of life, it’s important to encourage good eating habits as soon as possible.  Remember, children are very different to adults and grow very quickly during the early year.  As young children only have small tummies, they are unable to eat large amounts of foods, so meals and snacks need to be calorie and nutrient dense.  Toddlers and small children should be offered 3 meals and 3 snacks per day.  Mealtimes and snack times needs to be regulated and form part of a routine.  Breakfast is essential every day as it provides a good foundation of energy for the day.

What about nutrition during the school years and its affect on learning and/or cognitive development?  The basis that nutrition affects a child’s ability to learn is not a new principle, with the link between nutrition and learning having been well established for some time.  The role of good nutrition in a child’s development and learning is important as nutrition during the early years is linked to performance during the later years. Scientists agree that nutrition has a profound contribution in helping children reach their full cognitive potential.

Research has shown that children who regularly eat a healthy breakfast are better behaved, less hyperactive and have better performance test scores compared to children who skip breakfast.  Research has also shown that children who are given a high sugary breakfast tend to feel more tired in the morning and more hungry, resulting in the child eating more at lunch time.  Children should be provided with a healthy breakfast every morning. An example includes a high fibre cereal with milk or yoghurt, served with fresh fruit and water to drink.  The fibre will help keep the child satisfied until lunch. Eating a nutritious lunch will help keep your child's mind sharp and ready to learn all afternoon.  Sandwiches with whole grains, fresh salads, fruits, or homemade soups can all be packed in insulated containers to stay hot or cold.  Even with a great breakfast and healthy lunch, a light after-school snack is required to refuel a child’s body before study time. A handful of nuts and an apple is perfect, or maybe a snack tray of vegetables and dips.  Remember to include wholesome, fresh foods and to avoid convenience, processed and high sugary foods.  Encourage children to drink plenty of water throughout the day, especially in hotter weather or if participating in school sports.  Avoid high sugary drinks such as juices or fizzy drinks.

Remember that children who eat healthy are more likely to make better food choices as adults. Unfortunately, studies also show that the opposite is true - overweight children tend to become overweight adults. Teaching your children how to follow a healthy diet will have a bigger impact if the example it set by the parents. Eat healthy, be active, and make a healthy lifestyle a family affair.

I came across this very helpful information sheet provided by Aptamil, which is a nutritional company in the UK.  It gives some great guidelines on how to cope with children who are fussy eaters:

The average toddler's likes and dislikes can be hard to keep up with. It's quite normal to discover that their favourite food from yesterday has fallen out of favour today. But if your toddler is going through a fussy eating phase, mealtimes can become a real ordeal. Around half of all toddlers develop fussy eating habits, and most toddlers have picky days. Although it's quite normal and you're not alone, dealing with a toddler who turns their nose up at anything and everything can make it hard to provide a varied, balanced diet. These tips may help you through the more trying times. Tips to encourage fussy eaters

• Start by organising your toddler's meal times around them; feed them when they're hungry and soon you'll see a natural pattern developing, which you can use as the basis of their ongoing routine

• Don't rush your child. Let them eat at their own pace and don't insist they clear their plate. Meal times should be relaxed and enjoyable – any extra pressure can reduce their appetite and cause fussiness

• If your toddler has refused a food once, simply reintroduce it again in a few days time. Don't give up - some new foods need up to 15 tries before they're accepted

• Your toddler's eating environment should be calm to allow them to focus on their meal – which means no distractions such as the TV

• Begin with small, manageable portions so that you can praise them when they finish and only give more if they're still hungry

• An aversion to vegetables is one of the most common food fads in toddlers. Try not to worry too much – you can still ensure they get their daily dose of goodness by including lots of their favourite fruits until they overcome their fussy habits

• If your toddler's natural hunger pattern coincides with family mealtimes, eat together as a family as often as possible. Watching their loved ones enjoying their meal can show your toddler just how delicious food can be. Remember, this also works in reverse; if it's obvious you don't like a particular food, your toddler may develop the same dislike

• Give your toddler lots of praise when they finish their food. And talk positively about the food you're both eating - saying 'yum yum this apple is delicious!' or 'this spinach is great' will show your toddler just how enjoyable food can be

It might seem like your toddler's tastes are changing by the day but the most important thing is to try to be patient. With perseverance, your toddler will overcome their fussy phase and learn to enjoy a healthy, balanced and nutritious diet. In the meantime, you can make sure your toddler still gets some of the most important nutrients by giving them a follow on milk if it is required. 

If you have a toddler or child that is a fussy eater or starting to display fussy eating tendencies, or if you are concerned regarding their dietary intake and growth, please do not hesitate to contact Natasha.

I hope this information helps.

Dear parents,

I have decided to embark on a mini research project to determine what the average age is that parents are introducing solids into their baby's diet.  I worked at the Baby Expo this year and it was quite concerning to hear from mothers the age that solids are being introduced and what advice they are being given.  I also commonly see in my practice an early introduction of solids, in order to help the baby sleep through the night or to promote weight gain.

If you would like to take part, please could you kindly submit an email under the Contact's Page and provide the following information:
1. What age did you introduce solids?
2. What was the first food that was introduced?
3. Did you experience any problems with introducing solids i.e. gagging, choking, diarrhoea, constipation, fussy eating?
4. Where did you receive the information on when and how to introduce solids?

I look forward on hearing your responses and I will keep you updated on the findings.

Kind

Please take a minute to read below and support Travis MacDonald whose father recently passed away from cancer.

Hi All,
As you all know, my old man was the biggest Mo fan ( I never in my whole life saw him without a Mo, even in pictures) .

Join my team and lets try an raise some money and awareness for cancer. and at the same time have a good laugh.
Check out my Mo page, we are getting a team together to raise funds for Movember. Send it on to whoever you can, lets see how much we can raise. its for a good cause. Follow the links below to register in my team.

Moustache Season is upon us, so I've decided to register for Movember and embrace the hair of the wild. I've pledged to cultivate a genuine 100% face grown moustache for 30 days to raise awareness and funds for men's health, specifically prostate cancer.
Now, I'm on the hunt for fellow trusty and fearless pioneers to join me by signing up to my team. Together we can change the face of men's health.

To join my Movember team go to https://www.movember.com/za/register/details/team_id/331566

The more people we can get to become Citizens of Movember, the more lives we can impact. You can either grow a moustache as a Mo Bro, or join as a Mo Sista to show your support and help recruit other Mo growers to the team.

Once registered, Movember will send you all the information you need to raise funds and start raising awareness for men's health as part of my Movember team.

If you'd like to find out more about the type of work you'd be helping to fund by supporting Movember, take a look at the Programmes We Fund section on the Movember website: http://za.movember.com/about

Please join me at https://www.movember.com/za/register/details/team_id/331566

Travis MacDonald

Tel: 031 705 2678
Cell: 076 432 8062

I am very excited to let everyone know that I will be consulting from Entabeni Hospital from the 1st November 2011 (in association with the practice of Dr Das Pillay - Paediatrician).  If you would like to schedule an appointment, please do not hesitate to contact the receptionist on (031) 822 8573 or my cellphone: 083 322 3849. 

Check out the November issue of Child Mag (Durban).  I assisted Tamlyn Vincent with an article on supplements for babies, toddlers and children.

Page 18: "Is your child getting enough?'
Tamlyn Vincent, with the assistance of Nataha Martins (Paediatric Dietician) and Megan Perry (Nutritional Therapist), looks at which essential vitamins and minerals your children need as they grow.

“Obesity in Childhood Awareness”

Obesity is becoming a global epidemic and it is estimated that there are 1 billion overweight and obese people in the world, with 155 million of them being children.  Children who are above a healthy weight are much more likely to develop chronic diseases, such as diabetes and heart disease.  In my practice, it is becoming increasingly more common to see children with extremely poor diets, consisting of foods that offer little nutritional value. The diets are consisting of foods that are high in fat, sugar and salt as well as low in fibre.  Physical exercise is also restricted and often children are reported to spend afternoons and weekends in front of the television or computer. 

“More than ever, we as parents and a nation must do something about the growth of obesity in our children. We must do more than just talk, we must be concerned enough to act.”

Be proactive and prevent obesity – ensure children receive a healthy and balanced diet.   

If you are concerned about your child’s growth and diet, please contact Natasha to schedule an appointment.

Breastfeeding Tip of the Month:

Research has shown that breastfed infants will eat more of a new vegetable verse formula fed infants. This is due to the mother’s diet slightly affecting the taste of breast milk.  Formula fed infants have a consistent taste experience which may result in them being less adventurous with new flavours.

Sullivan SA (1992)

Natasha's Kloof  rooms will be closed for the festive season from 12th December – 1st January 2012.
Natasha consults at Kloof every Thursday afternoon. Please contact Lynne if you would like to schedule an appointment:
(031) 764 4277 begin_of_the_skype_highlighting            (031) 764 4277      end_of_the_skype_highlighting.

Natasha's rooms at Entabeni Hospital and Daycare Medical Centre will be open.