Low-Carb Diet for Children?
- Joyce Giammattei, DrPH, RD, CDE
Question
With all this talk about carbs being the enemy, is a low-carb diet appropriate for children?
Answer
Growing children should be encouraged to follow a healthy diet that includes all the food groups: lean protein, complex carbohydrates and healthy fats. Low-carb diets are restrictive in many of the nutrients children need. Growing children need calcium, vitamins and minerals that come from milk, fruits, vegetables, and grains. A low-carb diet restricts these and other important nutrients which can affect their growth and development.
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