Nutrition is crucial for our survival, both for our development and for maintaining our health and vital functions. Diet affects an individual’s physiological development; irregular nutrition, such as chronic nutritional deficiency, can hinder an individual’s growth process. A healthy nutritional process is essential for individuals to maintain their vital activities, to achieve healthy development and growth, and to have a regular, healthy, and high-quality life. At this point, it is observed that when there is no regular and adequate nutrition, especially in children, a number of negative consequences occur. Unhealthy and inadequate nutrition can lead to a decline or stagnation in a child’s learning life, as well as in their creativity and productivity. Furthermore, various physiological disorders and diseases can occur in the child, and this process can sometimes even bring with it the risk of death (Elmas et al., 2021).
For children to maintain a healthy life, their diets must contain both balanced and healthy nutrients. A healthy diet contributes to a positive emotional and mental state, leading to well-being. This positive psychological state can be observed in their relationships with peers and their positive attitudes at school. Proper nutrition will positively impact a child’s social interactions and physical activity in both daily life and school. This will positively contribute to their mental, emotional, and motor development. Paying attention to nutrients that support this cognitive, emotional, and motor development process and provide the necessary energy will positively contribute to the child’s well-being and feeling of satisfaction. Consuming and encouraging the consumption of fruits, vegetables, and protein-rich foods, while also considering the child’s overall health, will support a sufficient and balanced diet and promote healthy psychological development. Especially for children, it is necessary to follow an adequate and healthy nutritional schedule, taking into account both school and home nutrition processes. If there is an inadequate nutritional process, or if the child consumes too much sugar between meals, this process will lead to various illnesses. Consequently, the child will experience psychological distress, including discomfort from illness, illness psychology, unhappiness during hospital stays, and psychological trauma from being disconnected from or interrupted from daily activities such as play, friendships, and school life. Furthermore, research highlights the need for parents to be mindful of preschool children developing habits related to chocolate and sugary foods, such as cakes and pastries, which have low nutritional value. The study also emphasizes the importance of regulating mealtimes, particularly avoiding giving such foods to children before meals. It is stated that a diet consisting mainly of fast food or junk food, instead of healthy eating, can cause attention deficit hyperactivity disorder in children (Özçelik, 2022).
In another study, it was observed that this period, which is a critical threshold where children acquire fundamental habits and significant changes are observed in terms of preschool success and skills, is the most sensitive period in which children begin to express themselves, articulate their desires and wishes properly, and adapt to their environment. Children also exhibit self-feeding and eat only the foods they want. While resisting foods they do not want, it has been determined that in this preschool period, sensory decision-making regarding food is more important and effective than touch, as seeing is more important and effective. Therefore, in children of this age, the color, taste, visual preparation, and smell of food are much more important and attention-grabbing than the texture. This is effective and decisive in children’s food choices. In another study, it was stated that young children aged 4–5 primarily focus on the color and shape of fruits and vegetables when choosing them, while older children aged 11–12 primarily make their choices by tasting the foods (Solmaz, 2025).
In another study, we see that among children and adolescents aged 11–16 who applied to child and adolescent psychiatry outpatient clinics, obesity and overweight rates were high, while the increase in behavioral problems and hyperactivity symptoms was found to be related to negative eating attitudes. It was determined that good social behavior skills in children and adolescents triggered positive eating behaviors as well. It was emphasized that identifying individuals’ attitudes and behaviors toward nutrition and psychiatric factors will be an important guiding element in understanding and preventing both nutritional and mental disorders (Başay et al., 2021).
Conclusion
In conclusion, children’s eating habits directly and indirectly affect their daily lives. Therefore, balanced, adequate, and healthy nutrition is crucial for children’s social well-being, academic growth at school, and overall well-being, contributing significantly to their positive and healthy psychological development. Thus, it can be argued that unbalanced and unhealthy nutrition, especially during critical developmental stages, slows down both emotional and physical/motor development. Let us not forget that mental health is just as important as physical health. During the process of raising healthy children, we must consider both physical and mental health, and the positive impact of healthy and balanced nutrition on both development and well-being. Healthy children can only take meaningful and positive steps toward a healthy body and a healthy mind through the adoption of healthy eating habits.
References
Başay, Ö., Başay, B. K., Erbay, C., Coşkun, O., Sağıroğlu, B. (2021). Body Mass Index, Nutritional Attitudes and Behaviors of Cases Applying to Child and Adolescent Psychiatry Outpatient Clinic; Relationship with Emotional and Behavioral Problems, Pamukkale Medical Journal, 14(2), 411.
Elmas, B., Dilbilir, Y., Açar, D., Demiralp, C. (2022). Examination of the Relationship Between Mothers’ Attitudes and Psychological Well-being in the Feeding Process in Children, Journal of Child and Development, 4(8), 89–90.
Solmaz, P. (2025). The Effect of Nutrition Education Based on Piaget’s Cognitive Development Theory on Food Consumption, Nutrition and Eating Behavior in Preschool Children: A Mixed Methods Study, Pamukkale University Institute of Health Sciences, 2.
Özçelik, B. (2022). Nutrition and Social Behaviors of 3–6 Year Old Children Attending Preschool Education Institutions, Biruni University, 1.