Nutritional Importance of Nuts and Dried Fruits
Dried fruits are fruits that are either dried naturally in the sun or by using processing machines. Some nutritional and commonly available dry fruits are apricots, figs, dates, raisins, kiwi, papaya, etc. Likewise, nuts are edible fruits composed in an inedible hard shell or a seed. Cashews, almonds, pistachios, walnuts, hazelnuts, brazil nuts, chestnuts, and macadamia nuts are some of the popular ones.
Dry fruits and nuts have an interesting nutritional profile. Delicious, flavorful and highly rich in nutrients these food items come with a host of health benefits. Moreover, these super foods tend to have a longer life shelf than fresh fruits and other food items. They are a handy snack, particularly on long trips where refrigeration is not available.
Being a child dietician and a fertility nutritionist, I would like to highlight the benefits of adding dry fruits and nuts in a pregnancy diet plan and a child diet plan.
Benefits of Adding Dry Fruits and Nuts in Pregnancy Nutrition Plan
· Dry fruits and nuts are pregnancy power foods. Rich in iron, magnesium, calcium, zinc, potassium, and selenium - they make a perfect snack for pregnant women.
They are also a good source of iron and protein which can be particularly advantageous if you are vegetarian.
Dry fruits provide substantial amount of vitamins and foliate, that’s necessary for the growth and development of the baby.
These super foods control blood pressure and strengthen the muscles of the uterus. This, in turn, aids smooth delivery and reduces the risks of bleeding post-delivery.
Being rich in dietary fibre, dry fruits also help prevent constipation during pregnancy.
· Moreover, the natural sugar present in them provides a good dose of energy to the body.
Dosage of Dry Fruits and Nuts Recommended in Pregnancy Diet Plan
A handful of dry fruits and nuts or 20-20 gms/day is the suggested amount. Try consuming a mix of all to get maximum nutritional benefits.
Ways to Include Dry Fruits and Nuts In Your Pregnancy Diet Plan
There are different ways to include dry fruits and nuts in your diet during pregnancy. Have a look below:
· Mix it in your milkshake or fruit smoothie to get a nutrition-rich meal.
· Add some nuts in your delicious snacks, like poha, oats, idli, upma, dhokla, etc
· You can even add powdered dry fruits like cashews to any of your gravies and salads.
· Note: For a healthy and balanced diet, it is best to eat them in their natural state.
Benefits of Adding Dry Fruits and Nuts in Your Child’s Diet Plan
Want your kid to be smart and healthy? Ensure you include dry fruits nuts in your child’s diet plan. If you want to know the goodness of these super foods, have a read below:
· Dry fruits and nuts are important elements of your child’s diet plan. They safeguard the brain development of your kid and ensure strong teeth and bones.
· A storehouse of vitamins and minerals – these super foods play a vital role in boosting your child’s immune system. By increasing the count of protective cells in the body they prevent kids from metabolic disorders and infections.
Rich in dietary fiber- dry fruits can regulate your kid’s bowel movements.
Crunchy and delicious - healthy nuts and dried fruits can keep your child’s tummy full for a longer time and prevent him/her from consuming junk food. This factor will also keep the threat of childhood obesity at bay.
Dosage of Dry Fruits and Nuts Recommended in Child Diet Plan
The dosage of dried fruits and nuts in a child’s diet plan varies with each age group.
· 1 to 2 years: You can grind and serve them in the form of fine powder (around 1 tsp is fine)
· 3 to 5 years: ¼ cup of dried fruits/nuts day
· 6 to 10 years: ¾ cup or ½ cup of dried fruits/nuts day
· 11+ years: a handful of dried fruits/day
Ways to Add Dried Fruits and Nuts in Your Child's Diet:
· Sprinkle crushed dry fruits and nuts over a fruit smoothie or a milkshake
· Add chopped nuts to homemade desserts like pancakes, caramel cake, etc.
· Add dried fruits to snacks like sandwiches, idli, boiled corn chat, oats, etc
· Stir a tablespoon of crushed dry fruits to low-fat yogurt etc
If you are looking for nutritional food recipes for kids or diet tips for a healthy pregnancy – visit my website: https://kanupriyakhanna.in/.
Having gone through two pregnancies myself, and with my educational and practical backgrounds, I take pride in sharing my knowledge with expectant mothers and parents who have fussy eating toddlers.
You can even get in touch with me for personalized pregnancy diet plans and child diet plans. Contact details are listed below: