SPECIAL DIETS
Diet for children
The formula for infants should be prescribed by your own doctor or by a hospital clinic doctor, who will tell you when to supplement it with cereal, vegetables, egg, and so on, and how much juice or vitamin concentrates to include in the baby’s diet.
From the time the doctor says your child can eat everything, his diet can be much the same as that of the adult given in the preceding pages, except that the child needs a quart of milk a day, and he may need snacks between meals to supply extra energy. Bread or biscuits covered with cheese, butter, or jam; ice cream; cocoa; and chocolate milk are good for this purpose. However, remember that sweets increase the risk of tooth decay and cavities.
Diet for the adolescent
During their rapid growth in adolescence, boys and girls need extra milk, proteins, and vitamins. It is essential that they eat the balanced diet listed at the beginning of this chapter. They need extra food and milk drinks between meals to add poundage to the lengthening body. Good dietary habits are especially important at this age.
Diet during pregnancy
The pregnant woman must supply her own body with proper food and at the same time eat foods to build the baby’s bones and tissues. This means that extra minerals, proteins, and vitamins are needed. The diet during pregnancy should be regulated by a physician. This is one of the reasons why every pregnant woman should be under the care of a doctor.
Diet for the later years of life
Many doctors feel that older people benefit from additional vitamins taken in capsule or concentrated form. Let your doctor decide what is best for you. He will probably caution you against gaining weight. Of course, ageing also brings with it other special considerations.
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