Question

A person's nutrient needs may change for a variety of reasons, but the most influential is stage-of-life. In this discussion, you will examine two stages of life chosen from the following:

• Childhood
• Adolescence

I need to make sure the following are addressed in paragraph:

1. Identify the two life stages of life you will discuss and list their names in the title of your initial post.
2. Research and describe the current nutrient recommendations for the life stages you selected.
3. Suggest foods that would be beneficial for each of the life stages you selected and explain why.

Answer 1

Nutritional needs for a child

Proteins also known as body building foods are the most essential nutrient needed for a growing child. They help the child to grow and also help to repair the damaged parts of the body . Milk, milk products like cheese and curd, eggs , fish, meat and pulses are foods rich in proteins. Additionally , a child ,who engages in a lot of physical activities such as running and playing,needs lots of carbohydrates to get the required energy. Bread, cereals, potatoes , corn are good sources of carbohydrates. Fats are great source of energy which are stored in a child's body. Vitamins and minerals are also essential as they protect the body from diseases and keep it healthy.Calcium is very important for strong bones and teeth. Iron is important to build healthy blood . Likewise sodium, potassium and iodine are also important. The vitamin, Folate is very important for development of cell.Fruits, green leafy vegetables, sprouted beans and milk rich sources of vitamins and minerals.Apart from this, fibre for proper bowel movement is required. Skin of fruits and vegetables , bran of whole grains are good source of roughage. Plenty of water is needed for proper digestion,easy waste removal, body temperature maintenance.

Nutritional needs for an adolescent

Nutritional needs of an adolescent female is approximately 2200 calories/day and for an adolescent male is 2500 to 3000 calories /day. Clinical assessment begins by checking the body mass index ( BMI ). A BMI of between 18.5 and 24.9 is ideal.Nutritional deficiency can result in delayed sexual maturation , osteoporesis, obesity etc.A diet containing all the nutrients in the right amount are needed for an adolescent also especially proteins, vitamins and minerals. Avoid junk foods , too much sugar, fried foods. To prevent dehydration, intake of fluids are recommended. Moderate to vigorous exercise is also recommended for teens.