If you have a book explaining nutrition relating to vitamin and mineral needs, read the chapter regarding what is proper nutrition for kids as well as for adults.
Children don’t consider the amount of vitamins and minerals in food, only the desire to cure hunger. During growing years is the time that they need good nutritional habits. And as we age, eating habits change and many factors, medication, special diets, illness and loneliness get in the way of proper nutrition.
How does, grapefruit, coffee and toast sound for breakfast: A common diet that many exist on, or maybe a TV dinner and coffee, or two beers and a sandwich for dinner. We wouldn’t feed our kids this way but it is too often a daily occurrence in the life of the working adult. People do have different nutritional needs. For example, a physically active woman involved in daily exercise may need double the amount of the vitamin riboflavin (B-2) in her diet. It helps release the needed energy in ingested carbohydrates, protein and fats during exercise. And it helps lubricate the mucus membranes.
At the heart of nutritional deficiency is the factory-prepared meal as well as the restaurant meal. What they often lack is fresh fruit, vegetables and fresh dairy products. The total amount of vitamins needed for your body on a daily basis is as little as one teaspoonful: hopefully that teaspoonful is contained within the calories you take in during one day.
There are thirteen basic vitamins and if you are lacking in one area of your proper vitamin or mineral consumption, you may show deficiency symptoms. If you want a real eye opener read up on the deficiencies that are waiting for you if your diet lacks any one vitamin or mineral type for long periods of time.
Learn a little about what you are putting in your mouth and your children’s mouths and pay attention to how you are preparing your food. If you cook your vegetables, cook them in as little water as possible and refrain from cutting them. The smaller the piece the less vitamins are retained during cooking. And surprise, pressure-cooking retains the most amount of vitamin and mineral content in your food. Get educated about your daily food consumption and the nutritional benefits and you will eat better, feel better, and be healthier too.
