Food pyramid for children

Shaping good eating habitsAt the same time this is the stage when a child learns to develop eating patterns, and most of it is done with the influence from the parents.
The pyramid can be used as a time of great fun and useful learning. You can post the pyramid on a kitchen wall and plan the menu along with your child and decide on the shopping list together.




Diversity matters Products that are placed in the pyramid provide the body with all the right ingredients crucial both for thriving and the health of a child. It is important to diversify the diet every day, so that each day a child has something different to choose from.

Vegetables and fruit are essentialFruit and 100% fruit juices should be included in daily menu. They are a source of vitamins A and C, and when taken with peel, they are a source of fibre. They are recommended fresh, frozen and dried.
Vegetables, on the other hand, are a necessary element of the menu, they can be used fresh, cooked and frozen. Remember to add a bit of olive oil to salads.

Really white yoghurtsDairy products contain calcium which is so important for a child’s growth. The best and “the purest” are kefirs, yoghurts and butter milk naturally flavoured – the fruity ones contain additives and are more caloric.

Milk should be taken in a low fat form, or the non fat, but young children can drink 3,2% fat milk.
It is also important to accustom children with eating cheeses that hold less fat and sodium. This is an important element of creating the right eating habits.

Dark bread not always healthyThe base of the food pyramid are cereals –the most valuable are those that contain whole grains. They are a source of vitamin B, fibre and valuable microelements. Dark bread so popularly regarded as full of nutrients sometimes can be just coloured with caramel – it is better to avoid such products.
This group contains breakfast cereals, the healthiest form are the wheat ones, barley or rye. They will be a nice and tasty component of our own home made muesli, which can be served with fruit...

Chocolate instead of hard sweetsChildren are easy on sweets, but you should be careful that they only compliment a meal instead of replacing it. Make reasonable and tastier choices – instead of hard sweets give your child chocolate, instead of a cake with cream give them yeast cake or biscuits.

Soda drinks are a dangerous and silent sugar provider – teach the children to quench their thirst with water. When doing sports in a sports field or playing outside always provide them with a bottle of water.