why are parents often worried about the growth of their chil

Parents are often concerned about whether their children are getting the nutrition they need.This is even more worrisome if you have a picky child.Most children,however,will not be undernourished or starve if they are healthy and have access to the foods they need to grow.
What Parents Can Do
The Food Pyramid (United States Department of Agriculture) provides parents with a simple way to determine how much food their child should be eating.The website,MyPyramid,provides a tool for parents.By putting in your child’s age,weight and physical activity level,parents can see exactly how much food a child should be eating on a daily basis.(The tool provides information for children ages 2 and above.)
Parents also must remember that a child’s appetite may change from day to day.Their food needs may be higher on days with more physical activity and decrease on days when they are tired or not feeling well.Children will,however,usually eat what they need,especially if healthy foods are provided.Allowing children to choose foods (from a selection of healthy foods) and to stop eating when they are done will help to develop healthy attitudes toward healthy diets.