The Healthy Diet »

Adequate food in quantity and quality is very important for a growing child, specially in first 5 years when the child is growing rapidly and at the same time he is entirely dependent on his mother for food. Under nutrition results due to insufficient food supply, which may lead to inadequate weight gain hindering growth. ‘The food and Nutrition Board' has suggested that human milk is the best food for infants and will meet the nutritional requirements early in life when it is supplied in sufficient quantity. In order to plan formulate from cow's milk or in case of giving other foods to the child, the nutrient allowances must be known to the mother.

CALORIES
If actual body weights of Indian children are considered for calculating calorie requirements. Then it will be much lower than those recommended in 1958 as their weights are low due to poor nutritional status. Hence these figures given in tables are based on expected body weight at different ages rather than actual body weight.

PROTEINS
Infants protein requirements are met by breast milk till 6 months of age4or infants of age group 6 months to 1 year should be given some protein supplementation as proteins from breast milk are not sufficient for this age group. As the infants grow rapidly Amounts recommended are given per kg of body weight.

Age in months	Protein Allowances
0-3	2.3 gms/kg body wt. Milk Protein
3-6	1.8 gms/kg body wt.
6-9	1.8 gms/kg body wt.
9-12	1.5 gms/kg body wt. Vegetable Protein

Total daily allowance of protein for children of different age groups, calculated by multiplying the allowance per kg body weight, by the body weight at different ages. Body weights intermediates have been employed to compute the total daily requirements of Indian children e.g. if one month old infant weights 3 kg. then his protein requirement will be calculated by 2.3 gms x 3 kg = 6.9 gm. of protein per day.

FATS
These give energy, helps absorbing fat soluble Vitamin A & D, provides fatty acid (for necessary matabolism. No fixed amount is recommended but it should be just enough to perform above said functions.

CALCIUM
In infancy calcium needs are met by breast milk and hence total intake of about 300 mgs would satisfy their needs. According to FAO/WHO expert group, 1 year old child should take 500-600 mg calcium.

Suggested Allowance by ICMR (Indian Council of Medical Research)

Age Group	Calcium Allowance Mg/day
0-12 months	500-600
1-9 years	400-500
10-15 years	600-700
16-19 years	500-600

IRON
Total iron during infancy is considered to be about 0.8 mg per day. This works out to be about 1 mg per day.

VITAMINS

Age	Thiamine(mg)	Riboflavin(mg)	Niacin(mg)	VitaminA retional (ug)
0-3 months	--	--	--	--
4-6 months	--	--	--	--
7-12 months	0.4	0.6	6.6	300
1 year	0.5	0.6	7.6	250
2 year	0.5	0.7	8.6	250
3 year	0.6	0.8	9.6	250
4-6 years	0.7	0.9	11.2	300

It can be concluded that an intake of 15 mg ascorbic acid would satisfy the daily requirements of this vitamin in young infants. If an adult's requirement of Vitamin 'C' to maintain WBC saturated, is 10-20 mg per day i.e. daily intake of 15 mg ascorbic acid by the infant may be considered more than adequate.

Ascorbic acid requirement of children should be in between 15-25 mg. Thiamine allowances depend upon the calories recommended i.e. 500 pg per 1000 calories.