Tasya Kamila Reveals the Importance of Nutrition to Support Children's Active Activities
JAKARTA - School time is an important period for children to grow, learn, and explore various activities. All these activities of course require energy and adequate nutritional support so that children can live their days optimally.
Experts assess that children's nutritional needs are not only related to physical growth, but also play a role in maintaining concentration, body resistance, and their ability to follow various daily activities.
Therefore, meeting balanced nutrition from the morning is one of the important things that parents should pay attention to.
Singer and actress Tasya Kamila admitted that she felt how the energy needs of children increased as they grew older. Her eldest son, Arrasya, is now entering school age and has a pretty busy schedule every day.
"Now he is active in school age. His activities are getting more crowded, active at school, then he likes sports too. He likes tennis, running, swimming, riding a bike, even now he likes climbing monkey bars," said Tasya at the MILO Three Advantages: Moms Community & Media Gathering held at PT Nestle Indonesia, Karawang, West Java, Monday, June 8.
According to him, the diverse physical activity makes the child's energy needs also increase. As a parent, he tries to ensure that Arrasya gets enough intake to support his daily activities.
"As a mother, it is enough to wake up early to wake up the children and prepare all their needs. It is important to provide breakfast to start the day. For example, with milk and nutritious food that can help meet the child's energy needs so that they remain active and focused while doing activities," he said.
On the same occasion, Nutritionist and Founder of Gizi Nusantara, Esti Nurwanti, S.Gz, RD, MPH, Ph.D, explained that children who have high activity need a complete and balanced nutritional intake to support their growth and development.
The energy needs of children are ideally obtained from a diverse diet with the appropriate amount. Not only paying attention to the quantity of food, the quality of the nutrients consumed also needs to be a concern.
"We get energy and nutrients from foods that are diverse in type and the right amount. That is the basis for supporting children's growth and daily activities," he said.
He explained that one of the sources of nutrition that can support children's growth and development needs is cow's milk which contains complete amino acids. These contents play a role in helping the process of growth and development of the body.
However, the nutrients that enter the body also need to be optimally utilized. Therefore, various micronutrients also play an important role in the metabolic process.
"The nutrients that enter the body need to be metabolized first. This is where vitamin B complex plays a role in helping the body make better use of energy and nutrients," explained Esti.
In addition to vitamin B complex, iron is also one of the nutrients that should not be ignored. Iron serves to help transport oxygen and various nutrients throughout the body, including to the brain.
"Iron is important to support the circulation of oxygen and nutrients to the whole body, including the brain. The impact can help children be more focused in carrying out activities and the learning process," he added.
In the midst of the current children's activity, breakfast is often referred to as an important foundation to start the day. The right intake in the morning can help meet energy needs after the body rests all night.
For children who are active, exercise, and study all day, a combination of balanced nutritious foods and nutritious drinks can be one way to help meet their daily needs.
However, experts warn that there is no one type of food that can meet all of a child's nutritional needs.
A varied diet, consumption of fruits and vegetables, protein sources, and active living habits remain the main keys to supporting optimal child growth and development.