A Tale of Two Explorers and their Discovery of Complete Nutrition

 

 A Tale of Two Explorers and their Discovery of Complete Nutrition #63PercentMoreProtein

This is the story of how my kids turned into explorers when they learnt about nutrition at school, bolstered with my efforts to provide them with well-balanced meals.

Scene 1: Dinner at a restaurant

“Did you check the nutritional values before ordering our food, ma?” my eleven-year-old son said, his voice grave and his eyes tacked to Nutrition Facts on the menu. We were in a restaurant, and the boy was following what had become the latest fad in the family. Read the label before you put something on your plate.

“If you are stranded in a place that has natural food and no labels to guide you, would you know what is a healthy and well-balanced meal?” shot my eight-year-old. She has always been the challenger, goading her brother to think deeper and logically.

The brother jumped in.

“Let’s see, a balanced diet should have vegetables, fruits, grains, protein and dairy,” he scrunched his face, obviously thinking back to what he had learnt at school.

The sister fired a volley of questions. “Alright, what kind of veggies? I only like starchy vegetables, and as mom says, I do need green leafy ones as well. And which foods will fulfil my requirements of micronutrients?”

“See, it would be good if we asked mom”, the brother faltered momentarily.

As the children talked about nutrition, I felt proud that they were interested in it at this age. To give them the whole picture, I delved deeper into the rabbit hole of childhood nutrition.

Here is a rundown of what I gathered.

Well-balanced diet

A balanced diet includes adequate amount of proteins, carbohydrates, lipids (fats), vitamins, minerals etc. Proteins, carbohydrates and fats are macronutrients, ‘macro-’ meaning we require them in large amounts. These provide the body with energy, measured in kilojoules or kilocalories. Vitamins and minerals are classed as micronutrients because they are only required in small amounts.

Protein, the golden child

Protein is the blue-eyed boy of macronutrients, and not without reason.

It isn’t just about building powerful muscles and resilient tissues; proteins and amino acids are the fuel that powers every adventure, every game of tag, and every leap off the swings

Proteins make antibodies that battle and kick nasty bacteria and viruses to the curb. They even make those neurotransmitters, the messengers of the brain.

Alongside calcium and vitamin D, protein helps to build and maintain strong bones, help reducing the risk of fractures and osteoporosis later in life. In a way, a protein-rich diet in childhood supports  healthy bones

Getting it just right

So, what constitutes a balanced diet?

According to the National Institute of Nutrition guidelines, individual needs may vary based on factors such as age, sex, growth rate, and physical activity level. One should check carefully for nutrient requirements and Recommended Daily Allowances (RDA).

Children need energy rich foods such as carbohydrates and fats from whole grain cereals, millets, seeds, oils, ghee,  etc. Proteins are considered body building foods and pulses, nuts and nuts & seeds, milk and milk products are good sources of these. Vitamins and Minerals are considered protective foods and vegetables and fruits fulfil these requirements.

Scene 2: Trip to the supermarket

It was on a trip to the supermarket when I heard my children chattering excitedly in one aisle. They were still discussing nutrition.

“Ah, this is perfect! I would love to try this flavour in milk and look, it is very nutritious too,” the brother remarked, holding out a box of Complan to his little sister.

“It is has 100% milk proteins and has 63% more protein than other nutrition drinks,” he added after checking the product details..

“Complan is clinically proven to support 2x faster growth and supports memory and concentration,” said another boy my son’s age as he picked two big boxes of Complan and stashed them in his trolley.

The sister’s eyes shone as she took it all in.

Needless to say, our consumption of Complan has spiked in leaps and bounds since that day the children discovered the great taste and nutrition packed together. The eight-year-old is no longer pestering her brother with questions. Rather, they are decoding labels together and asking me about the nutritional value of foods whenever they can.

So, if you don’t hear from us soon, you know what we are doing. Learning all about well-balanced meals and how to eat healthy.

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Disclaimer: The views expressed in the blog content are independent and unbiased views of solely the blogger. This is a part of the public awareness initiative supported by Complan.

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Picture Credit- Rachel/Unsplash