DIET IN INFANCY

The First 6 Months

• Breast milk is the perfect food for babies, providing all the nutrients
they need in the first 6 months.
• It's easily digested, fights infections, and promotes emotional
bonding.
• Formula is a safe and healthy alternative for babies who cannot
breastfeed.
 WEANING FOODS
Weaning is the process of gradually introducing solid foods to a
breastfed or formula-fed infant and reducing their reliance on milk as
their primary source of nutrition.
It's a crucial stage in a baby's development, introducing them to new
tastes, textures, and preparing them for a lifetime of healthy eating
habits.
 When to Begin Weaning

• Around 6 months of age, most babies show signs of readiness for

weaning.
• These signs include good head and neck control, the ability to sit with
support, and an interest in what others are eating.
 The Gradual Introduction of Solids

• Start by introducing single-ingredient purées, one at a time.

• Wait 3-5 days before introducing a new food to monitor for any
allergic reactions.
• Begin with smooth textures and gradually progress to lumpier
consistencies as your baby develops their chewing skills.
• Breastfeeding or formula feeding should continue throughout the
weaning process.
Introducing Solid Foods (Around 6 Months)
• Around 6 months, babies are developmentally ready for solid foods.
• Start with one food at a time and wait a few days before introducing
another.
• Make sure that the food is smooth and easy to swallow, like pureed
fruits and vegetables.
• Offer iron-fortified foods to support healthy growth.
 Sample Healthy First Foods for
Babies

• Single-grain cereals (infant rice/semolina cereal semi solid porridge)

• Pureed fruits (avocado, banana, apple, pear)
• Pureed vegetables (potato, sweet potato, carrot, peas)
 FOOD ENERGY
•Food energy is the potential energy stored in food that is
used by our bodies to perform various functions.
•This energy is measured in calories (cal) or kilocalories
(kcal).
•One kilocalorie is equal to 1,000 calories.
Our bodies use food energy for a variety of functions, including:
• Maintaining body temperature
• Breathing
• Circulation
• Repairing tissues
• Building muscles
• Thinking
• Moving
Our bodies get energy from three main nutrients:
• Carbohydrates
• Fats
• Protein
• To choose foods that will give you sustained energy throughout the
day, focus on complex carbohydrates, lean protein, and healthy fats.
• Complex carbohydrates are broken down slowly by the body, which
helps to prevent blood sugar spikes and crashes.
• Lean protein helps to build and repair tissues, and it can also help you
feel full longer.
• Healthy fats provide your body with long-lasting energy, and they are
also important for cell function.
Conclusion
• Eating a healthy diet that is rich in nutrients is essential for having
enough energy to power your body throughout the day.
• By choosing foods that provide complex carbohydrates, lean protein,
and healthy fats, you can help to ensure that you have the energy you
need to live an active and healthy life.
 BASIC CONCEPTS OF ENERGY
The concept of food energy revolves around the idea that food provides
the body with the energy necessary to carry out various physiological
functions, including metabolism, growth, repair, and physical activity.
Calories: Calories are units of measurement used to quantify the
amount of energy provided by food.
In nutrition, kilocalories (kcal) are commonly used to represent the
energy content of food. One kilocalorie is equal to 1,000 calories.
• Macronutrients: Macronutrients are the primary components of food
that provide energy to the body. There are three main macronutrients:
• Carbohydrates: Carbohydrates are the body's primary source of energy. They
are broken down into glucose, which is used by cells for fuel. Each gram of
carbohydrate provides approximately 4 kilocalories of energy.
• Proteins: Proteins are essential for building and repairing tissues, as well as for
various metabolic processes. They also provide energy, with each gram of
protein supplying approximately 4 kilocalories.
• Fats: Fats are concentrated sources of energy and play a crucial role in
providing sustained energy during prolonged activities. They are also
important for absorbing fat-soluble vitamins and maintaining cell structure.
Each gram of fat provides approximately 9 kilocalories of energy.
Energy Balance: Energy balance refers to the relationship between
energy intake (from food) and energy expenditure (through metabolism
and physical activity).
When energy intake equals energy expenditure, an individual is in
energy balance, which helps maintain a stable body weight. If energy
intake exceeds expenditure, a positive energy balance occurs, leading
to weight gain. Conversely, if energy expenditure exceeds intake, a
negative energy balance occurs, resulting in weight loss.
Basal Metabolic Rate (BMR): Basal metabolic rate is the amount of
energy expended by the body at rest to maintain essential physiological
functions such as breathing, circulation, and cell production.
BMR accounts for the majority of daily energy expenditure and varies
based on factors such as age, gender, body composition, and genetics.
 COMPONENTS OF FOOD ENERGY
Food energy, also known as dietary energy, primarily comes from three
main components in our diet: carbohydrates, proteins, and fats.

Each of these macronutrients provides a certain amount of energy

when metabolized by the body.
Carbohydrates:
• Carbohydrates are one of the main sources of energy in our diet.
• They are primarily found in foods such as grains, fruits, vegetables, and
legumes.
• When carbohydrates are digested, they are broken down into glucose, which
is then used by the body for energy.
• Carbohydrates provide approximately 4 calories (kcal) per gram.
Proteins:
• Proteins are essential for the growth, repair, and maintenance of body
tissues.
• They are found in foods such as meat, poultry, fish, eggs, dairy products,
legumes, nuts, and seeds.
• When proteins are digested, they are broken down into amino acids, which
can be used by the body for various functions, including energy production.
• Proteins also provide approximately 4 calories (kcal) per gram.
Fats:
• Fats are the most concentrated source of energy in our diet.
• They are found in foods such as oils, butter, margarine, fatty meats, cheese,
nuts, and seeds.
• When fats are digested, they are broken down into fatty acids and glycerol,
which can be used by the body for energy or stored for future use.
• Fats provide approximately 9 calories (kcal) per gram, making them the most
energy-dense macronutrient.
 ENERGY IMBALANCE
Energy imbalance occurs when there is a discrepancy between the
amount of energy (calories) consumed through food and the amount of
energy expended by the body through metabolism and physical activity.

This imbalance can lead to changes in body weight over time.

Positive Energy Balance: Positive energy balance occurs when the body
receives more energy from food than it expends through metabolism
and physical activity.
In this situation, excess calories are stored in the body as fat, leading to
weight gain over time.
Factors contributing to positive energy balance include overeating,
sedentary lifestyle, hormonal imbalances, and certain medical
conditions.
Negative Energy Balance: Negative energy balance occurs when the
body expends more energy than it receives from food.

This typically happens when calorie intake is lower than calorie

expenditure, leading to weight loss over time.

Negative energy balance can occur due to reduced food intake,

increased physical activity, illness, or medical treatments that increase
metabolic rate.
• Consistently consuming more calories than the body needs can lead
to excess fat accumulation and contribute to obesity-related health
problems such as type 2 diabetes, cardiovascular disease, and certain
cancers.
• Prolonged negative energy balance, especially if extreme or excessive,
can also have adverse effects on health, including nutrient
deficiencies, decreased muscle mass, weakened immune function,
and hormonal imbalances.
Conclusion
Maintaining energy balance is essential for achieving and maintaining
a healthy body weight and overall well-being.
Factors Affecting Energy
Requirement
• Basal Metabolic Rate (BMR):
Amount of energy your body needs to function at rest, even while you're sleeping.
Body size- People with more muscle mass tend to have a higher BMR because muscle burns more calories
than fat tissue.
Age- BMR generally decreases with age as muscle mass declines.
Gender- Men tend to have a higher BMR than women due to their larger muscle mass.
Body composition- Lean body mass burns more calories than fat mass.

• Physical Activity Level (PAL): This is the energy you burn through physical movement. It can
vary greatly depending on your occupation, exercise routine, and daily activities.
• Thermic Effect of Food (TEF): This is the energy your body uses to digest, absorb, and store
nutrients from food. It accounts for about 10% of your daily calorie needs. The TEF is higher
for protein than for carbohydrates or fat.
• Non-exercise activity thermogenesis (NEAT)
Factors Affecting Energy
Expenditure
• Basal Metabolic Rate (BMR): This is a major factor in energy expenditure.
• Physical Activity Level (PAL): This refers to how active you are throughout the day. People with more
active jobs or who exercise regularly will burn more calories than those who are more sedentary.
• Thermic Effect of Food (TEF): The energy used to process food also contributes to energy
expenditure.
• Non-exercise activity thermogenesis (NEAT): This is the energy you burn through everyday
movements that aren't planned exercise, such as walking around the house, or cooking etc.
• Stress: Chronic stress can lead to increased cortisol levels, which can promote weight gain.
• Genetics: Some people are genetically predisposed to be more efficient at burning calories than
others.
• Medications: Certain medications can affect your metabolism and energy expenditure.
• Medical conditions: Some medical conditions, such as thyroid disorders, may also affect your
metabolism.
METABOLISM
• Metabolism refers to all the chemical reactions that occur within our
bodies.
• These reactions break down the food we eat (carbohydrates, proteins,
and fats) into usable energy .
• Energy is then used to fuel various bodily functions like digestion,
breathing, and movement.
• Metabolism also includes building and repairing tissues.
Metabolism has two main processes: Catabolism and Anabolism

• Catabolism: Breaks down food molecules into simpler forms, releasing

energy.

• Anabolism: Uses energy to build and repair tissues, hormones, and

other body components.
The food we eat significantly impacts our metabolism.
• Macronutrients (carbs, protein, fat) play a crucial role:
• Carbs: Provide readily available energy but can lead to blood sugar spikes if not balanced.
• Protein: Helps build and repair tissues and can boost metabolism slightly.
• Fat: Provides sustained energy and is essential for certain functions but is high in calories.
• Micronutrients (vitamins & minerals) are also essential for optimal metabolic
function.

By choosing a balanced diet rich in whole foods, we can provide our bodies with
the nutrients they need to run metabolism efficiently.
 CALORIE REQUIREMENT
• A calorie (often written as kcal) is a unit of energy.
• It represents the amount of energy needed to raise the temperature
of 1 gram of water by 1 degree Celsius.
• In nutrition, "calorie" is often used interchangeably with "kilocalorie"
(kcal).
• Factors influencing your daily calorie needs:
• Basal Metabolic Rate (BMR): The number of calories your body burns at rest
for basic functions like breathing and circulation.
• Physical Activity (PA): Exercise significantly increases calorie burning.
• Thermic Effect of Food (TEF): The energy your body uses to digest and absorb
food.
• Non-exercise Activity Thermogenesis (NEAT): Energy used for everyday
activities like fidgeting etc.
• Sleep: Plays a role in regulating metabolism.
 Specific Dynamic Action of Food
• SDA refers to the increase in energy expenditure (calorie burning) that
occurs after eating.
• It represents the energy your body uses to digest, absorb, and store
nutrients from food.
• This process involves various organs, including the stomach,
intestines, liver, and muscles.
• The thermic effect of food varies depending on the macronutrient
composition of your meal:
• Protein: Induces the highest SDA, accounting for roughly 30% of the energy
used for digestion and absorption.
• Carbohydrates: Have a moderate SDA, contributing around 10% of the
thermic effect.
• Fat: Triggers the lowest SDA, with only about 5% of energy used for
processing.