3-6 year old preschool children continue to increase in weight and height, have high activity levels, and their intelligence is also constantly growing. Therefore, the nutritional needs of children during this period are different from those during infancy.
[1) Energy: The daily requirement of energy per kilogram of body weight is about 378 kilojoules, which is lower than that of infants [generally 588-6720 kilojoules per kilogram of body weight per day].
[2) Protein: The daily requirement of protein is 50-55 grams. High-quality protein [found in animal foods and legumes] should account for more than 50%. Animal foods should be distributed appropriately among the three meals of the day, as consuming too much at once can cause digestion problems.
[3) Fat: The daily requirement of fat is 40-50 grams. Dairy products, meat, and lard are mainly composed of saturated fatty acids, while fats in vegetable oils and oil-containing plant seeds [such as sesame, peanuts, walnuts, and cottonseeds] contain unsaturated fatty acids. It is advisable to consume more vegetable oils.
[4) Carbohydrates: The daily requirement of carbohydrates is 160-220 grams. They mainly come from rice, flour, millet, corn, and fruits.
[5) Vitamin A: The daily requirement is 1700-2200 international units. It is found in liver, kidney, fish liver oil, milk, and egg yolks. Carrots, spinach, and red berries contain beta-carotene, which can be converted into vitamin A in the body.
[6) Vitamin B1: The daily requirement is 0.8-1.0 milligrams. It is found in grains, legumes, and peanuts.
[7) Vitamin B2: The daily requirement is 0.8-1.0 milligrams. It is found in liver, eggs, and dairy products.
[8) Vitamin C: The daily requirement is 40-45 milligrams. It is found in fresh fruits and vegetables such as oranges, hawthorn, and tomatoes.
[9) Vitamin D: The daily requirement is 400-1000 international units. It mainly comes from egg yolks, liver, dairy products, and exposure to sunlight.
[10) Calcium: Preschool children have rapid bone development, and by the age of 6, permanent teeth start to emerge and height continues to increase. The daily requirement for calcium is 800 milligrams. Children can consume more dairy products and soy products and get adequate sunlight exposure to generate vitamin D, which facilitates calcium absorption.
[11) Iron: The daily requirement is 10 milligrams. Animal foods such as liver, lean meat, and egg yolks, as well as plant foods such as cabbage, celery, soybeans, seaweed, and tomatoes, are all rich in iron.
[12) Zinc: The daily requirement is 10 milligrams. Animal foods such as fish, eggs, meat, and poultry contain higher amounts of zinc and are better absorbed.
