Fruits always contain abundant nutrients needed by the human body. It is essential for people to grasp some skills of maximizing the benefits of fruits. The task is extremely urgent for children. Four skills are introduced for children to make full use of the abundant nutrients contained in fruits. 

The first skill is to grasp the proper time of eating fruits. Fruits contain rich monose substances which can be easily absorbed by the small intestines. The accumulation of monose substances in the gastric tract can form flatulence and cause constipation. Therefore, it is not suitable for children to eat fruits immediately after the dinner. What’s more, children should not eat some fruits before dinner, as the gastric capacity of young children is low and the normal intake of nutrients can be affected.

The second skill is to choose suitable fruits. The fruits eaten by children should be consistent with the body constitutions and physical situations of children. If children always get much internal heat and constipation, they should eat cold-natured fruits so as to remove the internal heat, such as pears and kiwis. If children are attacked by indigestion, they can eat cooked apple butter.

The third skill is to eat fruits moderately. Although fruits contain a large number of nutrients, it is improper for children to eat them excessively. The serious results can be caused. For example, the excessive intake of watermelon can cause stomachache and diarrhea and affect the digestive system. Parents like to provide lots of bananas for their children, as they think bananas can relax the bowels. In fact, the excessive intake of bananas within a short time can cause nausea, emesis and diarrhea.

The fourth skill is to balance the intakes of fruits and vegetables. Many children do not like to eat vegetables, and parents like to use fruits to take the place of vegetables, as they think fruits can provide the same nutrients as vegetables. In fact, this behavior is improper. The excessive intake of fruits can increase the content of fructose inside the body, which can not only cause the lack of copper to affect the normal development of bones but also reduce the appetite. In addition, the lack of inorganic salt and coarse fibers contained in vegetables can affect the intestinal peristalsis and affect the absorption of calcium and iron. Therefore, in order to maintain the healthy growth for children, the intakes of fruits and vegetables must be balanced.