Child Nutrition in Gaithersburg, MD
At Prime Pediatrics, Dr. Farnoush Jamali aims to help keep your child healthy. She does this by focusing on child nutrition in Gaithersburg, MD.
How Does Nutrition Affect Children?
Nutritious meals and snacks are essential for your child to grow physically, emotionally, and academically. The right foods, vitamins, and minerals ensure your child grows on track for their age group. It also helps strengthen their immune system to fight off viruses and bacteria.
A nutritious and well-balanced diet can prevent chronic diseases like diabetes, hypertension, and certain allergies. It's easier for your child to think clearly when nourished and rested. As a result, they can concentrate and perform well in school. Nutritional deficiencies also impact your child's behavior.
When children are malnourished, it can affect their sleep. This affects their growth and cognition, as growth hormones are mostly active at night. Therefore, poor sleep can stunt your child's growth. They can also constantly deal with brain fog, grumpiness, and not feeling well-rested enough for school in the morning.
What Are the Best Ways for Children to Get Nutrients?
The best thing to do is ensure your child has a variety of fruits and vegetables daily. The more color on the child's plate, the better. Meat should be lean, and an average serving is no more than 3 ounces or the size of your fist. Limit or eliminate processed foods, which are often packed with salt, sugar, and other additives.
Omega-3 fatty acids in fish are good for heart and brain health. Iron is also essential; your child can get it daily with iron-fortified cereals like Cheerios instead of sugary ones. If you're unsure what food is served in school lunches, play it safe and pack a healthy, balanced one for your child.
How Your Pediatrician Can Help
Luckily, you don't have to deal with child nutrition in Gaithersburg, MD, as a parent. Your pediatrician at Prime Pediatrics can assess your child's growth during checkups. By monitoring your child's milestones, health, and behavior, they can see where they may lack certain vitamins and minerals.
The doctor can create a personalized nutrition plan and advise on the best diet strategy for your child. You may need help managing food allergies or addressing picky eaters.
Dr. Jamali and staff are the caring team at Prime Pediatrics. Consult them anytime about child nutrition in Gaithersburg, MD. Call 301-977-2440 to make an appointment today.