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Nutrition at Any Age Articles

Nutrition needs change from birth through adulthood and continue to change through old age. Find what foods to focus on and what supplements may be beneficial at each life stage.

Folic Acid Prevents Birth Defects If all women of childbearing age consumed 400 micrograms of folic acid every day, 50 to 70 percent of neural tube defects would not occur. more

Cooking for Teens In the last few years, our grocery bill has taken a dramatic jump. The leap upward is not due to rising food costs, but rather, a more personal cause: two teenage boys! These guys mow through groceries almost faster than they come through the kitchen. As their mother, it's important to me that the foods they eat will fuel their rapidly growing, adolescent bodies. more

For Little Kids Only! Young children from ages two through six now have a food pyramid designed with just them in mind. The United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) released their new Food Pyramid for Young Children in March. It’s a simplified adaptation of the original USDA food pyramid focused on the food preferences and needs of young children. more

Nutritional Strategies from Here to Eternity It is a great time to be aging, or more gently, maturing in years. Average life expectancy for Americans has lengthened considerably in this century from about 47 years in 1900 to around 75 years in 1990. As researchers continue to understand more and more about chronic diseases like cancer and heart disease, life expectancy is expected to increase. By the year 2050, some estimates of life expectancy at birth are 86 years for males and 92 years for females! Eating well to improve our chances for a vibrant, long life is a strategy worth exploring. more

Nutrition During the Teenaged Years Adolescence is a time when nutrition has a long lasting impact on future health. Adequate nourishment at this stage lays the foundation for strong healthy bones, muscles, heart, arteries, and immune system. High-speed changes in body composition, growth, and psychological and social development during the ages from approximately 13 to 19 years old transform a child into an adult. Eating well to support all these changes is easily forgotten in the rush. more