Babies and young toddlers need a good dose of fat and calories to help them grow and develop properly. But by the time they are ready for preschool, it's time to start watching what youngsters eat.
The American Academy of Pediatrics offers these recommendations to limit fat in your preschooler's diet:
- Instead of whole milk, offer your child skim or 2 percent milk.
- Make sure your child's meats are lean cuts, and are grilled or broiled.
- Serve your child modest portions of cheese.
- Cut back on your child's consumption of fruit juice; instead offer whole fruits.
- Offer low-fat snacks, such as fat-free yogurt, fresh fruit, air-popped popcorn and pretzels.
- Prepare food with lower-fat cooking methods, such as roasting, broiling or steaming with non-fat cooking spray, or a bit of olive oil.
Health Tip: Could Your Child Be Constipated?
Children may become constipated from a practice experts call "stool withholding" -- deliberately not going to the bathroom because of embarrassment, fear of an unpleasant experience, or the desire not to interrupt playtime.
The National Digestive Diseases Information Clearinghouse says parents should be aware of these warning signs that a child may be constipated:
- Having infrequent bowel movements.
- Displaying posture indicating the child is holding in a stool, including squeezing the buttocks or rocking back and forth.
- Complaining of pain or cramping in the belly.
- Having difficulty passing stools.
- Passing stools that are large, dry or hard.
- Finding stool in your child's underwear.
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