Ahara for children health

Abstract

Appropriate nutrition is an important pillar for healthy lifestyle. A child body requires energy to perform all basic functions of body like inducing growth and maintaining a healthy immune system. Healthy dietary habits from childhood are basic prerequisite for longevity and productivity. Nutrition offers the building elements for the development of new Dhatus. Dhatus are continually being broken down to extract energy. So, replenishing good quality Dhatus is essential for this. In Ayurveda, eating foods are energizing the mind. Let my food be my medicine. Acharya Kashyapa described healthy diet habits as fundamental unit for longevity of an individual. Effect of food with different Rasa has been described in detailed and scientific manner for improvement of health with optimum and healthy growth of child and longevity which is actual purpose of Ayurveda as Dirghayu. Health depends on the food we intake. Strength, health and life depend on Agni but Agni is also constantly replenished from the nutrition. So, to maintain Sama Agni eating balanced foods are essential. Toddlers and preschoolers need adequate intake to achieve full growth and development. There are some basic principles in Ayurveda that apply to provide essential nutrition to kids. When we talk about feeding children, there are various healthy food options reflecting all the six tastes that are sweet, salty, sour, pungent, astringent and bitter. Each of them has a significant effect on the body and when children’s diet is all taken care of their body gets all the nutrients it needs for growth.