The Role of Dietary and Nutrition Guidance: in Managing Chronic Diseases

At Kids First Pediatrics, you have a trusted team of doctors looking out for your child’s health. Dr. Kristine Liberty, Dr. Steven Kovar, and Dr. Jessica Ciszek are happy to provide dietary and nutrition guidance in Plainfield, IL. Under the guided care of your pediatrician, you can ensure that you are feeding your child the proper nutrition to help ward off chronic diseases that can plague them well into adulthood.

The Relation Between Diet and Disease

A healthy diet is essential for building strong immunity. Remember, your children's immune system is still fragile and developing as they go from babies to teens. A well-balanced diet containing vitamins, minerals, and amino acids can fortify your children and help them build white blood cells, strong bones, and muscles that can keep their bodies aligned. Good nutrition can give them the energy to move around and stay active, which is another vital part of warding off chronic disease. 

When following dietary and nutrition guidance in Plainfield, IL, remember that a diet packed with sugar and fats can breed chronic diseases like heart disease, diabetes, and cancer. It can cause children to become obese, which is a growing problem in the United States. Obesity is also linked to being more susceptible to these chronic diseases, as well as putting pressure on the body, such as the lower back and joints.

What Growing Children Should Eat

If you're unsure where to start, a good idea to keep in mind is to have your child's plate be as colorful as possible. Remember, natural fruits and vegetables come in a rainbow of colors. The more colors a child eats, the more vitamins and minerals they consume. Aim for about five servings of vegetables a day. You can even get creative and blend vegetables into foods your child won't suspect. Instead of sugary breakfast cereals, give them oatmeal and whole-grain cereals made from wheat. Also, focus on these grains instead of white bread for extra fiber. 

When it comes to dairy, many low-fat and non-dairy options are now fortified. Some healthy fats are also essential, which you can get from nuts, seeds, and cooking oils like olive or coconut oil.

For dietary and nutrition guidance in Plainfield, IL, look no further than Kids First Pediatrics. Dr. Liberty, Dr. Kovar, and Dr. Ciszek can help you pick the right foods for your family. Feeding your family a healthy diet from a young age can help them prevent disease and live a good quality of life. To learn more, call us at (972) 569-9904.