Different stages of life

• Nutritionals requirements depend on age, sex, level of physical activity and state of health.
• The amount of nutrients depends on their different functions and quantities.
• During the first 4-6 months of a baby's life, they go through a period of rapid growth and depend on breast milk, which contains all the nutrients, until they are 1 year old.
• The recommended advice is to give solid food until 6 months old.
• The process from milk to solid food is known as weaning, which is the gradual introduction of food.
• During weaning, there should be a variety of foods, such as infant cereals, pureed fruits, and vegetables.
• If a parent prepares food at home, salt and sugar shouldn't be added, as infants can overdose as their livers haven't fully developed yet.
• This may be why parents choose home-prepared meals over commercial foods.
• When introducing solid foods, they should start by mixing a teaspoon of either breast or formula milk with food, for instance, to introduce mashed, pureed fruit and vegetables, e.g., potatoes, bananas, and then introduce finger-sized soft or cooked fruit or vegetables.
• Babies are born with iron stores, but in the first 6 months, they are depleted.
• The process of weaning must contain iron to replace what they had before, such as fish, meat, eggs, and cereals.
• Foods for children that are weaning include protein (egg), B vitamins (liver), magnesium (green leafy vegetables), zinc (seafood), chloride (seaweed), and sodium (cured meats).
• Between the ages of 6 and 12 months, sodium intake can increase.
• At this age, the texture of the food can be altered from a smooth puree to a mashed or lumpier texture.
• Children at this age are growing fast and need a healthy balanced diet due to their high energy requirements and nutrients due to rapid growth.
• 4-6 year olds have a greater need for protein and iron and all vitamins except C and D and minerals.
• 7-10 year olds have an increase in energy requirements and protein except thiamine, vitamin C/A.
• Adolescents have high nutrition needs, a large appetite, and require a balanced diet.
• The period of considerable change centred on puberty includes growth, weight and sexual development.
• During pregnancy, fat reserves are laid down to provide some energy requirements that are needed for breast milk production
• These foods provide substantial amounts of food energy, protein, calcium, iron, zinc and vitamin A,D and B12.
• The nutritional content of a vegetarian diet may be reduced when appropriate substitutions are not made.
• In an omnivorous diet, foods of animal origin such as meat, fish, eggs and dairy products are consumed.
• Meat, fish and nuts such as brazil nuts are the best sources of selenium, a vegan will need to make sure that nuts are included in the diet.
• The main nutrients to consider for vegetarians and vegans are iron, selenium, vitamin B12 and omega 3 fatty acids.
• Brie should be avoided due to risk of listeria which can lead to premature birth/ miscarriage
• Fluid intake is important during pregnancy.
• Vitamin B12 is needed to make red blood cells and to keep the nervous system healthy which also helps release energy from the food eaten.
• Cravings are common in pregnancy and can be a sign of nutritional deficiencies.
• Research states that lactating women suggest that an extra 300 to 400 kcal per day is enough for full breastfeeding mothers during the first three months.
• Sources of iron for vegetarians and vegans include pulses, wholemeal bread and flour, breakfast cereals fortified with iron, darky green leafy vegetables such as watercress, broccoli, spring greens and okra, nuts, dried fruits such as apricots, prunes and figs.
• Vegetarians have ethical beliefs as they believe it is cruel to kill animals due to welfare issues.
• Bread and eggs are also good sources of selenium.
• As the baby is weaned, a woman's energy levels will reduce to pre-pregnancy levels
• Vegetarians can choose to be vegan or pesco- vegetarian/ pescatarian.
• Types of vegetarians include pesco- vegetarian/ pescatarian, lacto- ovo vegetarian, lacto- vegetarian, fruitarian and vegan.
• A balanced healthy diet is recommended for vegetarians and vegans.
• Selenium is a mineral needed for the immune system to function properly.
• A medical emergency is a situation that requires immediate medical attention.
• The elderly can be divided into two groups: young old (younger than 75) and old old (older than 75), with very little nutritional difference between adults and elderly.