Food 4 Life - Introducing Ages and Stages

Introducing Ages and Stages

People at different stages of life will have different requirements of various nutrients.  Our Ages & Stages sections will identity the key life stages and highlight the nutrients required by each.

Baby & Toddler

0-3 Years

Baby Charlie is only eight months old. For the first few months of his life he obtained all of the nutrients he needed from his mother's milk. However, babies of Charlie's age are growing very quickly, and at about 6 months of age breast milk could no longer meet all his needs, and he was introduced to solid foods. He is being encouraged to eat a wide variety of foods, and because eating habits can start to form at a very early age, his mother should be careful not to give him too many foods high in salt and sugar and she should not  add extra salt to his meals.

To help you learn and understand more about a baby’s needs, why not try out our interactive games and activities:

Play it!
Answer questions to help baby Charlie build a tower.

Do it!
Find out how Charlie's energy and iron requirements change as he grows.

Make it!
Plan and prepare Charlie's diet for a day.

Child

4-11 Years

Meet Olivia. She is 5 years old and has just started primary school. Olivia is growing up very fast and needs a varied diet containing lots of nutrients to stay healthy and active. Protein is needed for growth, and iron is necessary for alertness in school. Calcium and vitamin D help her build strong bones and teeth, which she keeps healthy through regular brushing, and by avoiding too many sugary foods and snacks. Instead she eats plenty of fresh fruit and vegetables throughout the day, which provide her with a range of important vitamins and minerals. Her parents also encourage her not to eat too many fatty foods such as chips, as a high fat diet can lead to health problems in later life.

To help you learn and understand more about a child’s needs, why not try out our interactive games and activities:

Play it!
Use your knowledge to guide Olivia across the stepping stones.

Do it!
Find out how too many sugary foods can affect Olivia's teeth.

Make it!
Plan and prepare Olivia's diet for a day.

Adolescent

12-18 Years

This is Max. He is fourteen, and the eldest of three children. Like the rest of his family he needs a balanced diet to help him concentrate in school, and keep him fit for all the sports he likes to play. Many teenagers, particularly girls, don't get enough iron in their diet, so Max makes sure he eats plenty of meat, fish and leafy green vegetables. Protein is important, particularly during a teenager's growth spurt, as is calcium and vitamins C and D. Because Max is so active, he needs lots of energy in his diet. Foods like pasta and bread are good energy foods as they are high in carbohydrate."

To help you learn and understand more about an adolescent’s needs, why not try out our interactive games and activities:

Play it!
How much do you know about Max's nutritional needs?

Do it!
Discover how to keep Max active by boosting his iron intake.

Make it!
Plan and prepare Max's diet for a day.

Adults

19-64 Years

Meet Mum and Dad.  Mum is a teacher and Dad works in a post office. They are not very active during the day as they spend their time in the classroom or the post office so they have lower energy requirements than their teenage son Max, who is very active. However, like teenagers, they do need a well balanced diet to provide all the nutrients necessary for the maintenance and repair of body tissues. Both adult men and women should take particular care not to eat too many high fat foods.  It is also important for them to engage in regular physical activity throughout their lives. 

Play it!
True or false? You decide!

Do it!
Use the calculator to balance an adult's energy intake with their energy needs.

Make it!
Plan and prepare Mum and Dad’s diet for a day.

Preconception & Pregnancy

Both before and during pregnancy, it was important that Mum paid particularly close attention to her diet, as what a mother eats can affect the health of the baby. While a balanced diet ensured that she obtained a wide range of important nutrients, she also had to avoid certain foods which could potentially harm the baby. These included raw eggs and soft cheeses which could contain food poisoning bacteria.

Play it!
What should a mum-to-be eat? Test your knowledge against the clock!

Do it!
Help Mum catch and avoid foods in her shopping trolley.

Make it!
Plan and prepare a mum-to-be's diet for a day.

Older People

65+ Years

This is Grandad, who is 70 years old. Like many older people he is not as active as younger adults, and so needs less energy from his diet. Cutting down on energy-dense high fat foods is a good way of helping to prevent putting on too much weight. Calcium is important for ageing bones, as is iron to prevent anaemia.  It is important that Grandad eats foods which are easy to digest, and eats plenty of fibre. 

Play it!
Help Grandad win a prize at Bingo.

Do it!
Discover which foods help Grandad meet his calcium needs.

Make it!
Plan and prepare Grandad 's diet for a day.