Staying Healthy in School | Diet & Exercise

A healthy diet and regular exercise are incredibly important for both the physical and mental development of a child. A consistently healthy diet aligned with continuous physical activity throughout the week will help the child grow and develop. It will also help promote their performance in school e.g. their concentration, energy levels etc.

Foods are the best source of nutrients and even a picky or fussy eater is unlikely to have nutritional deficiencies. A multivitamin may be beneficial if a child is showing failure to thrive, has a particular food allergy or malabsorption syndrome e.g. lactose intolerance or coeliac disease or has a restrictive diet e.g. vegan diet. It is best to talk to your pharmacist to ensure you get the correct multivitamin for your child that is required and is age-appropriate.

The Department of Health recommends that Children aged 6 and over should partake in at least one hour of physical activity per day. In addition, children should participate in muscle-strengthening and bone-strengthening structured activities at least three times per week. There are a variety of local sports and activity clubs right in Carrigtwohill where your children can achieve the recommended amount of physical activity in a fun, structured and safe environment. Joining a club and interacting with their peers will not only help them develop their motor and cognitive skills but also help the development of their emotional and social skills, while letting them explore new interests and learn new skills.

Some of the clubs and groups in your local area include:

• East Cork Taekwon-do
• Carrigtwohill United AFC
• Carrigtwohill GAA Club
• Carrigtwohill Camogie Club  
• Carrigtwohill Ladies Football Club
• Cork Acro Gymnastics Club

Carrigtwohill Pharmacy is dedicated to promoting the health and well-being of all the young people in the Carrigtwohill community and we support them getting involved and trying out as many sports as they can. Obesity amongst children in Ireland is rising at an alarming rate and indeed it is a major health issue across the entire Western world. Sadly, Ireland has one of the highest rates of childhood obesity in the world with 1 in 10 children aged between 5 and 12 being classed as obese.  This trend continues through adolescence with 1 in 5 teenagers being overweight or obese.  Children who are obese are at a higher risk of developing cardiovascular, metabolic, musculoskeletal complications. Furthermore children and teenagers who are obese are more likely to obese all through adulthood.

To discuss the best possible diet for your child why not call into the pharmacy in Carrigtwohill and ask to speak to our team to get some guidance and examples. Information on appropriate nutrition, portion sizes and general childhood exercise can be found on www.nutritionandhealth.ie.