Food pyramids, flags, banners, wheels or charts provide general guidelines to help parents understand what a complete and balanced diet looks like. In principle, a balanced diet must consist of 3 to 5 food groups (Grains, Fruits & Vegetables, Proteins, Dairy, Fats & Sugars) and possible alternatives (eg. Pediasure 3+) in every meal. Just remember to base nutrition on needs rather than wants to complement your child’s growing bodies.^{1, 7}

Food Pyramid vs. Healthy Plate Model

The pyramid model is a type of food chart that shows what items you should eat most of till what you should limit. It can include estimated measurements of fats, vitamins, and minerals, proteins and carbohydrates for your children.^{1, 2, 3}

The plate model colorfully represents (easily replicable with real food) the proportions of foods from each of the 5 food groups we should be eating across the day. It does not show too much detail, as it already assumes most of the food items (eg. fats, salts, sugars) are in each individual dish as ingredients.^{1, 2, 4}

Food pyramid Helps Children Develop Healthy Eating Habits

It may seem like young children have an endless supply of energy to run around and keep parents on their toes. Children need a lot of energy and growing bodies require a lot of carbohydrates, vitamins, minerals, protein, fiber and fats for optimal potential.^{1, 2, 3} Following a Food Pyramid or using the Healthy Plate model will help your child develop good relations with food.  With the Food Pyramid as the research and the My Healthy plate as the execution, it is a little less hectic for parents to complete and balance their child’s nutrition. Keep in mind that these are guides and each individual child’s needs are different. Sometimes the Pyramid style can vary according to the culture you are raising your child.⁵

How Pediasure 3+’s benefits can play a part

Food Pyramid is a guide so that your child gets required nutrients like Vitamins A, D, E, K, and protein for amino acids for general well being. Since it is a guide only, due to either picky eating, allergies, and other restrictions, sometimes food alone for nutrition is not enough. This is where Pediasure 3+ comes into play.⁶ PediaSure 3+, available in powder form, now comes enhanced with Arginine, and Natural Vitamin K2 in its 37 nutrients to help support your child achieve optimal height potential.⁸ Available in child favorite flavors of strawberry and vanilla, your child will never miss a growing moment even while snacking. For children who prefer a less sweet taste but enjoy the same benefits, try Pediasure 3+ Sucrose Free. To never miss a growing moment even while snacking, Pediasure is available as Pediasure RPB Ready To Drink format.⁷

The nurturing skills you develop as a parent provide an excellent foundation to build upon. But if you are ever worried that your child’s diet is too limiting, the new and improved complete balanced child nutrition supplement Pediasure 3+ can help. Once you understand your child’s nutritional needs with the Food Pyramid or The Plate, you can take the steps to improve healthy eating habits. Visit Pediasure Myanmar today to sign up for samples.

Though growth and development are used interchangeably, they are somewhat different from each other. Nature (genes, environment) and nurture (nutrition) both contribute to the growth and development of a child. Although what a child comes equipped with from their parents genetically, what they eat (food and supporting nutrition like Pediasure 3+) and where they grow up makes a big difference. Here are a few factors to look into if you ever feel if your child is not “growing” like you want them to.^{1, 6}

Nature’s Influence

A child’s body develops in response to the environment and nurture of their loved ones. Your child’s perceived height and body structure depends on your own and of the generations before. But that does not mean you cannot provide the right nutrition and nurturing tools to maximize growth, or even surpass what is expected.^{1, 2} This means that nutrition can be the key to unlocking growth and keep your child’s growth on the right track. Check if your child is getting proper 3 meals a day with snacks in between, their picky eating habits, or does their diet consist of high calories, but little nutrition? These questions matter because they are very important factors that affect growth. To get a better understanding of your child’s maximum growth potential, we would like to introduce the Growth Percentile Calculator on the Pediasure Myanmar website. With an input of your child’s gender, birth date, their height, their weight, mother’s height and father’s height in your choice of measurement system, you will get your child’s growth potential.⁸

Nutrition’s Assurance         

Can my child’s height be increased? Yes, and for this, nutrition plays a critical role because malnutrition or overeating leads to health problems that adversely affect the growth. Important nutrients that support healthy growth are vitamins (K2, D, Leafy vegetables), minerals (Calcium, milk, soy, nuts), amino acids (Arginine, red meat, chicken, Pumpkin seeds), proteins (eggs, beans, fish), carbohydrates (whole grains, quinoa, whole-wheat couscous and brown rice) and fats (nuts, nut oils). Vitamin D will help your child’s body absorb calcium, the main component of bones, for better bone quality and linear growth. Vitamin C and antioxidants from fruits and vegetables will help support immunity so that your child can spend more days growing.^{3, 4, 5}

Nature matters as much as a complete and balanced diet in a child’s overall growth and development. Carbohydrates, protein, fats, vitamins, and fiber in required amounts per meal comprise a healthy and balanced diet. Always choose healthier options, but when food alone is not enough or you are faced with a picky eater, Pediasure 3+ can help. PediaSure 3+ is a source of complete balanced child nutrition formulated with 37 vital nutrients, including Arginine and Natural Vitamin K2 to support catch-up growth in children who need it.^^ Pediasure 3+ can be served on its own, with meals, or as a snack as per Pediatrician’s directions.

If you would like to try before going for the full course, visit Pediasure Myanmar today to sign up for free samples.

The role of nutrients such as Vitamin D, calcium, protein, and fiber are front runners in supporting a child’s growth and development. On the other hand, Arginine and Vitamin K2 are necessary for the efficiency of the other nutrients, as well as being essential for building stronger and longer bones in children.^{1, 2} The good news is that most of these vital nutrients are probably in your child’s current favorite foods and are not really hard to get. But if a little help is needed, be open to providing nutritional supplements (eg. Pediasure).⁷

What is Arginine and Vitamin K2 and how they help growth

Arginine – also known as L-arginine, is an amino acid responsible for promoting cell multiplication for improving muscle and bone strength. As 60%³ of a child’s growth for height happens in the first five years, adequate Arginine in a child’s diet can prevent stunting in the future. Aside from supporting the quality of bones and muscles, Arginine helps in wound healing, dilating and relaxing arteries for improved blood flow.^{1, 3}

Vitamin K2 – is a nutrient that helps activate certain proteins that help bones absorb calcium. Without vitamin K2, calcium will go to waste and bones can become brittle if they are deprived of it for a long time. Unlike Arginine, the body does not naturally produce it and it has to come mostly from food. If a child is lacking in vitamin K2, your child may not be able to take advantage of the crucial growth years.^{1, 3}

Where to get it          

Food: Arginine is an amino acid and is found in many food items that contain other types of amino acids. Items like nuts (e.g. walnuts, peanuts, almonds), grains, legumes, meat (e.g. turkey), seafood, eggs, and dairy products are good sources of Arginine. For a healthy snack option, provide your child with pumpkin seeds as 1 cup of contains nearly 7 grams of amino acids.^{1, 2} As for vitamin K2, you can get it from meat and cured or curdled dairy products like yogurt, and cheese or soy alternative.¹

Supplements: Because vitamin K2 is not stored in the body and foods associated with it (e.g. fermented items and strong cheese), are not children’s favorites, nutritional supplementation is required. To ensure they are well nourished, consider adding Pediasure to their diet.^{4, 7} Formulated with 37 vital nutrients, including all important Arginine and vitamin K2, complete and balance out a picky eater’s diet. Also working together with high quality proteins and filling fibers, Pediasure can help regulate their appetite.⁵

A complete and balanced nutrition is very important for children in their crucial years of growth. We often think of vitamins D, E, C, Calcium and Protein as the most important for growth, but they need both Arginine and K2 to help with efficiency of absorption. Pediasure 3+ comes complete and balanced with essential nutrients for your child for optimal development when a little help additional to food is needed.

Want to try some Pediasure? Visit Pediasure Myanmar today to request free samples Pedisure 3+ Free Trial.

References:

1. https://vietnamnews.vn/what-are-vitamin-k2-and-arginine-and-why-are-they-so-important-to-children-growth/614#:~:text=It%20promotes%20the%20multiplication%20of,D.
2. https://www.webmd.com/diet/top-foods-high-in-arginine
3. https://thefilipinodoctor.com/article/abbott-introduces-the-new-pediasure-plus-with-arginine-and-natural-vitamin-k2
4. https://abbottnutrition.com.my/products/pediasure
5. Alarcon PA, et al. Clin Pediatr (Phila). 2003
6. Huynh DT, et al. J Hum Nutr Diet. 2015

Every child grows differently and it is a joy for most parents to see them meeting all the good milestones. Height problems in children if not treated can cause stunted growth and physical disabilities. Though there is no one measure way to identify delays as development is always on-going. Using weight/height charts or keeping track of milestones are easy ways to see what is going well and when to be concerned. Besides consulting a medical professional, the right combination of physical activity, fresh healthy foods, and age-appropriate nutritional supplements (eg. Pediasure) when necessary, can help put your child’s growth back on track.^{1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8}

Importance of weight/height charts to keep track of growth milestones

Examples of milestones would be their first word, when they lost their first tooth, showing favorite interests, clear expression of feelings, or made a major decision on their own. Weight and height charts help you visually compare right away if your child meets the average set of the two measurements for their age. It also helps keep track of how much they have grown and weight gain or loss and bring to light any height problems in children.^{2, 3, 4}

As much as an underweight child can have delays in developmental, obese children can develop blood glucose and cholesterol related diseases early on. There are many levels of weight and height chart sets available online, but your local Pediatrician or related Medical Professional can provide a more culturally and locally relevant one for easier understanding. Keep a chart of your child’s height, weight, and age it was recorded at for better consultation.^{1, 5}

What should be done if there are signs of slow growth?

Signs of slowed growth are slowed speech, slow and fatigued movements, have height problems, have mood swings, do not play well, and behind others in education. If you are really concerned about your child’s development, act early and consult a doctor. Besides behavioral issues, a child’s healthy gain in height for age and weight signals an efficient nutritional intake for proper bone and muscle health. ^{2, 4, 5}

On average, a 5 years old child should be about 16.47 kg to 20.28 kg in weight and at 104.90 cm to 112.27 cm in height depending on gender.⁶ If a child is short for their age, aside from genetics, they may be lacking in bone growth nutrients like arginine, vitamin K2, D, zinc and muscle health (to support mobility and holding up the body) essential amino acids. Even if your child is eating well, take a hard look at their food because though there may be calories, they are low in nutrients. Along with nutritional adjustments, limit opportunities to be sedentary, sign them up for school activities, and model a healthier lifestyle as a parent. Exercise and frequent physical activity will help build stronger muscles and bones by stimuli for the body to adapt.^{5, 7}

Nutritional supplement option

Feed your child plenty of beans, lean chicken without skin, nuts, spinach, cabbage, yogurt, sweet potatoes, eggs, berries, salmon, and milk for starters. These items are packed full of, to name a few, protein, vitamins B, E, C, D, K, A, calcium, omega fatty acids, and prebiotics, that not only support growth, but takes care of gut health and immunity.⁷ For a more rounded support, parents can get nutritional support from child nutritional supplements when food alone is not enough. For situations like this, nutritional supplements like PediaSure® come in handy. Each of Pediasure’s scientifically formulated range of products are packed full of a total of 37 essential nutrients that include the key growth supporting D, B6, C, K, calcium, and iron.⁸

Find out which one works for your child by consulting a pediatrician or visit Pediasure Myanmar for more information and free samples and begin a journey to keep your children’s growth on track.

References:

1. https://edn.ne.gov/cms/resources/staying-on-track-as-your-child-grows-and-learns
2. https://childcare.gov/consumer-education/tracking-your-childs-development
3. https://www.cdc.gov/growthcharts/clinical_charts.htm
4. https://www.cdc.gov/ncbddd/actearly/milestones/milestones-5yr.html
5. https://pediasure.com.ph/kids-children-growth-milestones
6. https://pediasure.com.ph/growth-milestones/achieve-normal-height-and-weight
7. https://www.healthline.com/nutrition/foods-that-make-you-taller#1.-Beans
8. https://abbottfamily.com.sg/products/page/pediasure

Each growth spurt or cognitive leap happens in girls between the ages of 10 and 14, and for boys, it is between the ages of 12 and 16. These types of growth will happen over 24-to-36-month increments. With that, before you know it, the still little precious one in your eye has become an adult. Your child’s doctor will be able to provide you with the right tools to keep track of their growth, but did you know that their hunger pains, weight fluctuations, and changes in sleep patterns are tell-tale signs of growth spurt? Read on to learn more about and easy tips on nutrition with food and alternatives (eg. Pediasure) to provide the best support.^{1, 5, 6}

Hunger is an easy indicator

Simply put, for anything to move or grow, it requires energy from somewhere. This is especially true when it comes to growth. For the first 5 to 10 years of your child’s life, a child will experience a surge of hunger. If you notice them asking for more snacks or additional servings, it can be a sign of a growth spurt. It is your responsibility to provide them with healthy snacks and limit junk food, even though they provide calories or temporarily fulfill hunger. Processed foods are loaded with empty calories, cheap filler carbs, and additives with little nutrients found in real food.^{1, 2, 4}

Weight gain or loss

With added bone mass, muscle density, and possible fat, it is normal for your child to be heavier. A plump child may present them as lovable, but be careful as they can easily become overweight. Overweightness in children contributes to heart and cholesterol related diseases when older and bad body image. Body image problems are prevalent in children with their access to social media. During these impressionable years, steer them in the right direction of eating right, exercising, and that everyone’s body grows differently.^{1, 4}

Sleep schedule

Like most bodily functions surrounding healing, repair, and now especially growth, happen during sleep. When it is time for the body to go through its growth cycle, a child will feel tired. Since growth is happening in high frequency in the early years, they will often be drowsy. Because growth hormones peak at night, makes sure that a 5-year-old child gets 10-13 hours per night, while older 6-13 years get 9-11 hours.^{1, 3}

How to provide support

Nutritionally, it provides fiber and energy from healthy carbs in whole grains, while vitamins and minerals calcium, phosphorus, and arginine support from vegetables and fruits. Promote listening to music, do family events, encourage the outdoors, and lead by example to also enrich their mind and ease social anxieties. For parents who are worried that food alone is not enough, supplements such as PediaSure come complete with 37 nutrients in the right proportions. With an amalgamation of unique Triple Protein Complex, healthy amino acids, easy to digest lipid blend, and the essential growth spurt supporting calcium, vitamin D, K, and phosphorus. Your child’s growth spurt years are crucial and providing them with adequate nutrition is vital.^{1, 5, 6}

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Keeping your child’s bones healthy during their growing up years will help maximize growth and reduce the chances of bone related issues occurring (osteoporosis/weak bones). Though vitamin K2 and Arginine are highlighted for bone quality and health, the roles of phosphorus & magnesium are underappreciated, while most also probably do not associate hydration with water for bones. Even though these nutrients are found plentifully in food, a child may not be getting enough depending on the type of diet they follow and may need child nutrition supplements (eg. Pediasure 3+) to fill in the gaps.^{1, 7}

These are a few of the most important nutrients for developing a healthy bone growth:

Arginine

Technically an amino acid, it is responsible for triggering various growth factors in the body. It helps cells in the growth plates of bones to multiply efficiently to help them grow longer.⁷

Natural Vitamin K2

It helps balance the various bone cell functions that break down (Osteoclasts are responsible) old bones to build (Osteoblasts are responsible) new ones. It helps bind calcium to ensure strength and growth.⁷

Calcium

This is the base material the bones of your child are made up of. It is what provides the skeleton with strength and rigidity and relies on other nutrients to help its efficient absorption.^{2, 7}

Phosphorus

It combines with calcium to form calcium phosphate, which is the substance that gives our skeletons rigidity. Phosphorus is many animal and vegetable food sources where calcium and protein are abundant. A balanced diet should suffice for required phosphorus, but deficiency symptoms can range from loss of appetite, stiff joints, fatigue, irritability, weakness, and weight changes in your child so pay attention to those symptoms.^{2, 3}

Magnesium

It helps convert vitamin D into a usable form and regulates hormones for bone growth and development. Magnesium also helps regulate mood, energy production and muscle functionality for growth and regeneration. Magnesium is especially abundant in leafy vegetables, figs, dates, whole grains, and nuts.^{2, 4}

Water 

Our bones are composed of minerals, collagen, and water composition of 31% when they are healthy.^{5, 6} The marrow depends on water for red blood cell production, so dehydration can hinder the transportation of nutrients like arginine, vitamin K2, calcium, magnesium, and phosphorus for bone and overall health. In other words, dehydration can lead to musculoskeletal conditions like osteoporosis. To encourage your child to drink more, infuse with their favorite fruits or add water to natural fruit juices.^{5, 6}

A complete and balanced nutrition is very important for children in their crucial years of growth. We prioritize vitamins D, E, C, Calcium and Protein for optimal growth, but children need essentials like Arginine and K2, similar to the benefits of Phosphorus & Magnesium, to help with nutrient absorption. Always choose healthier food swaps, but when food alone is not enough or you are faced with a picky eater, Pediasure 3+ can help. PediaSure 3+ is a source of complete balanced child nutrition formulated with 37 vital nutrients, including Arginine and Natural Vitamin K2 to support catch-up growth in children who need it.^^ Pediasure 3+ can be served on its own, with meals, or as a snack as per Pediatrician’s directions.

If you would like to try before going for the full course, visit Pediasure Myanmar today to sign up for free samples.

Carbohydrates provide a source of energy. In a child’s active lifestyle, carbohydrates are a vital source of energy to keep them active ^1-3 .

Proteins can be found in meats, fish, poultry, eggs, nuts, and beans. Due to children’s growth requirements, they need adequate amounts of protein for optimal growth and to repair body tissues. ^1,3

Fats make a great source of energy too and are needed by the body to absorb fat soluble vitamins such as Vitamins A, D, E, and K. Fats also insulate all nervous system tissues in the body and are the building blocks of hormones. ^1,4

Vitamins are important to keep children healthy. ¹ An example would be Vitamin C, an important antioxidant that helps with bone formation and the absorption of iron. It can be found in fruits like strawberries and oranges. Vitamin E, found in nuts, seeds and leafy vegetables, is meanwhile a key antioxidant for a healthy nervous system and an important nutrient to support developing cells. ⁷

Minerals are needed to develop healthy teeth, bones, and muscles when children are in their formative years.  A significant development of teeth, bones and muscles happens during a child’s first 10 years.¹ An example of a mineral is calcium which is an abundant mineral in the body and essential for building strong bones, teeth and muscle. Another important mineral is potassium which plays a role in multiple key functions in the body. It is found in vegetables and fruits.

Fiber is important in helping children develop and maintain good functioning intestines as well as supports their body’s immune system and also helps children in having a regular bowel movement.^{5, 6} Fiber also helps in reducing the risk of constipation and other digestive disorders. Fruits such as apples, bananas, oranges, also vegetables such as broccoli, collard greens, and swiss chard make great sources of fiber.

References:

1. National Institute of Nutrition ICMR. Dietary Guidelines for Indians – A Manual.; 2011. http://ninindia.org/DietaryGuidelinesforNINwebsite.pdf endorsed by Food and Agriculture Organisation of the United Nations http://www.fao.org/nutrition/education/food-based-dietary-guidelines/regions/countries/india/en/
2. World Health Organisation. Healthy Diet Fact Sheet No. 394. September 2016. http://www.who.int/elena/healthy_diet_fact_sheet_394.pdf. Accessed October 7, 2016.
3. U.S. Department of Health and Human Services and U.S. Department of Agriculture. 2015 – 2020 Dietary Guidelines for Americans. 8th Edition. December 2015. https://health.gov/dietaryguidelines/2015/guidelines/. Accessed October 7, 2016
4. FAO of the United Nations. Fats and Fatty Acids in Human Nutrition.; 2010. http://www.fao.org/docrep/019/i1953f/i1953f.pdf
5. Anderson JW, Baird P, Davis RH, et al. Health benefits of dietary fiber. Nutrition Reviews. 2009;67(4):188-205. doi:10.1111/j.1753-4887.2009.00189.x.
6. Stewart, Nathan, ” The health benefits of dietary fiber consumption of adults in the United States” (2014). Graduate Research Papers. Paper37.
7. http://scholarworks.uni.edu/grp/37
8. https://pediasure.com/child-development-nutrition/powerful-nutrition-kids