Active Kids and the Importance of Nutrients for Growth

Whether your kids are training for sports or spending the day lounging at home, providing them with the right foods will fuel their day and promote growth. Certain nutrients are essential to achieve optimal growth; this helps their performance in sports and can help to promote their overall physical health and mental wellness. These are the macro and micronutrients that are vital for growing bodies and where these can be sourced in the diet.

Protein

All tissues in the body contain protein. From the bones and muscles to the organs, all require an adequate supply of dietary protein for growth. If we break a bone, tear a muscle or accidentally cut ourselves, protein is also required for wound healing. The amount of protein your child needs each day depends on their age. Teenage boys require more protein in their diet than girls; this is demonstrated in the table below, which is based on figures provided by the USDA.

Although meat, fish, eggs, and dairy produce might be the most obvious foods that supply protein, if your child follows a strict vegetarian diet, they can still meet their protein needs. Beans, peas, lentils, nuts, seeds, and whole grains all supply useful amounts of protein. With the exception of soy, plant sources of protein don’t provide the full complement of essential amino acids. Amino acids are the building blocks that link together to form proteins. The essential amino acids are those that need to be sourced from the diet since the body is unable to produce them itself.

When only plant-based foods are eaten, a range of different sources of protein needs to be included over the course of the day to provide sufficient essential amino acids. Here are some examples:

• Porridge made a with a soy milk substitute for breakfast
• Baked beans on wholegrain toast and a salad containing tofu for lunch
• Seeds and whole wheat pasta for dinner

Carbohydrates

Besides fueling your child’s activities, carbohydrates are also needed to promote growth, as it is an energy-intensive process. Carbohydrates need to be present at each meal and those that release their energy more slowly such as oats, grainy bread, pasta, brown rice, and sweet potatoes are more beneficial. These have the added advantage that they are higher in fiber to support a healthy digestive system. They are also richer in nutrients such as B vitamins to aid energy release and function of the immune and nervous systems, as well as antioxidants, to protect your child’s body from damaging free radicals, which are actually produced in higher quantities during exercise. Include regular carbohydrate-rich snacks to meet the additional energy requirements brought by exercise to make sure your kids have sufficient energy for growth.

Essential fatty acids

Essential fatty acids–as their name suggests–are a vital dietary component since the body can’t synthesize its own. Every cell in the body relies on these fats for their development and to help form the protective membrane around them; they are particularly important for the brain and nervous system. While most kids get more than enough omega-6 fatty acids which are sourced from the likes of corn, soy, and sunflower oils, many don’t receive sufficient omega-3 fatty acids. These not only benefit the circulation but are important for developing the eyes and brain in young children. Research has also shown omega-3 oils to benefit learning and memory, aiding school performance. However, more recent studies in animals have additionally shown promise for omega-3 to reduce ADHD symptoms, helping to improve behavior and concentration, which may help children with this condition to rely less heavily on medication for the management of ADHD. The best source of these oils in the diet are oily fish such as sardines, mackerel, and fresh tuna. Consider providing our children with fish at least twice weekly, one of which should ideally be an oily fish. If your child doesn’t eat fish, then canola and flaxseed oil, as well as walnuts offer an alternative source, which if eaten should be included throughout the week to offer sufficient omega-3s.

Calcium and vitamin D

These two nutrients are vital for bone health to ensure that your children will grow up to have strong bones more resistant to fractures. This is because calcium, along with the mineral phosphorus, helps to give bones their rigid structure. Vitamin D is needed by the body for the absorption of calcium. Guidelines recommend that elementary school-aged children need 1000mg of calcium daily, rising to 1300mg by the time they reach high school. Dairy foods are one of the richest sources of calcium in the diet, with a cup of milk providing 300mg, 1oz of cheese giving 150mg, and 6oz of yogurt offering 225mg. Tinned fish such as sardines are another good option for calcium if your kids eat the bones. Children who have a limited intake of dairy foods or avoid them would be best using a milk substitute fortified with calcium, which is available based on soy, oats, rice, or nuts. Smaller amounts of calcium are also provided by leafy greens such as Kale, pulses, dried fruit, and nuts. Meanwhile, few foods provide vitamin D–oily fish, egg yolks along with fortified milk, cereals, and margarine are the exception–but the best source is synthesis in the skin when it is exposed to sunlight. Just 10 to 15 minutes of sun exposure daily will meet vitamin D requirements, but avoid the sun at its hottest when sunblock isn’t used.

Iron

Although iron deficiency anemia is more commonly associated with tiredness and reduced cognitive function, it can also hinder growth in children. This form of anemia is actually on the increase in the US and although treatable with iron supplements, these frequently lead to digestive upsets; it’s preferable to ensure your child receives an iron-rich diet to prevent anemia from occurring. Red meat and liver remain the richest sources of dietary iron, but if your kids don’t eat meat that isn’t a problem. Breakfast cereals with added iron offer a good option and the mineral can also be found in eggs, pulses (especially soybeans and tofu), green leafy vegetables such as spinach and kale, dried fruit, and bread. The iron from non-meat sources is less efficiently absorbed by the body, but this can be enhanced by including vitamin C rich fruit or vegetables at mealtimes and by discouraging tea or coffee near meals.

By encouraging a diet rich in the components mentioned above you can give your kids the best chance of growing well, which will in turn help to boost their sports performance.

Claire Gaunt is a freelance writer who specializes in articles on diet, fitness and nutrition.