October 25, 2024

Is Your Child Getting Enough Calories To Support Their Movement And Activities?

By Rebecca Appleman, RD

Many children live very active lives. They run around at recess. They play sports after school. They turn your house into a makeshift “Floor is Lava” studio before bouncing around in their room until the moment they fall asleep at night. From sun up to sun down, many children are burning significant amounts of energy as they are busy moving their bodies and staying physically active.

Many of these same children show signs of being picky or selective eaters, or simply may not seem to be eating very much food throughout the day.

This can be a concern for many parents – is my child eating adequately to sustain their level of activity? Are their nutrition needs being met? How can we make sure they’re getting the nutrients they need for their growing, moving, and changing bodies?

About Individual Nutrition Counseling for Children

First, it’s important to note that every situation is different. Some children may be doing a great job getting enough nutrients for their age, physical activity levels, and stage of development, while others may be deficient in certain nutrients or not getting enough fuel from certain food groups and may benefit from additional help. We encourage you to schedule a 15 minute introductory phone call so that we may talk about these needs and see if your child might benefit from intervention.

Appleman Nutrition is based in NYC, with registered dietitian nutritionists and locations in three separate states: New York, Connecticut, and Florida. Please reach out to us today for personalized service.

When Should You Be Concerned?

Children have different needs than adults, and their eating habits and preferences often do not look like ours. It can often be difficult to determine whether your child’s nutrition needs are being met solely by the quantity they are eating or the quality of any one meal.

Still, there are several signs that parents can look for to determine whether their child may not be consuming enough energy and nutrients, to support their activity levels and growth. Some of the signs that your child may not be meeting their nutritional needs include:

• Unexplained Fatigue – While all children tire after long periods of activity, persistent fatigue or difficulty staying energized during the day may indicate that your child is not getting enough calories or energy, to sustain their activity levels.
• Unexplained Weight Loss or Failure to Gain Weight – Children’s bodies are growing and developing, and weight gain year after year is a natural part of that growth. Not only are children growing in height, but their brains and other organs are developing, their bones are increasing in density, and their bodies are rapidly changing. We want to see children growing consistently along their growth curve as they age, (gaining in both height and weight). If your child is losing weight or not gaining weight in accordance with their growth curve, it may be a sign that their nutrition is lacking in some way, and this could be for a variety of reasons that are hard to pinpoint without the support of a pediatric nutritionist. Shifts in their growth chart can certainly indicate a need to look more closely at their nutritional intake.
• Mood Changes & Cognitive Struggles – Low or inadequate energy intake can affect your child’s mood and cognitive function, especially since they are in an important stage of brain development. Children who are not eating enough may appear to be low energy, more irritable, anxious, or even prone to emotional outbursts. The brain needs not only adequate protein, carbs, and fats, but micronutrients such as zinc, folate, and iron for proper functioning such as concentrating, focusing, and learning and understanding new information.
• Changes in Physical Performance – If your child is struggling to perform physical activities or sports that they previously enjoyed and excelled at, this could be an indicator that they are not getting enough nutrients to sustain their high energy needs.

We also know that many parents want to be proactive, providing children with better nutrition at an early age to give them the macronutrients and micronutrients they need to thrive. We are happy to help there as well, guiding parents on how to address things like picky eating, limited palette, and developing a healthy relationship with a wide variety of foods.

Why Early Intervention Can Be Useful

Children who are not consuming appropriate amounts of nourishment can face challenges in their growth and development. Early intervention with a nutritionist can help you identify what may be lacking in your child’s daily intake and how to best support improved intake moving forward. If you notice any signs of concern, then intervention can be especially important. But even if you do not, there are benefits to seeking help for children that appear to have problematic eating habits.

If you notice any of these signs or are concerned about your child’s nutrition, working with a nutritionist can be a valuable step. A nutritionist can help assess your child’s dietary intake, activity level, and overall health to create a personalized nutrition plan. This plan will help to ensure that your child is getting the appropriate amount of calories, macronutrients, and micronutrients to meet their individual needs and help to optimize their growth, development, and overall well being.

For more information, or to get started, contact Appleman Nutrition, today.