Nothing is more important than adequate nutrition for the child, especially in the first 3 years of life, when growth is most rapid and the child is, by and large, totally dependent on the parents or other caretaker. An important factor responsible for adequate growth is balanced nutrition. Erroneous nutrition leads to inadequate growth in addition to under-nutrition and poor gain in weight. Understandably, a basic knowledge of nutritional requirements at various ages as also sources of such vital nutrients as vitamins and micronutrients as iron and zinc is mandatory. The term, energy requirement, denotes the amount of dietary energy required to balance energy expanded and deposited in new tissues (growth). Breakup of energy expenditure is: growth 12%, physical activity 25%, basal metabolism 50% and fecal loss 8%. In order to meet the growth needs in first 3 years and during adolescence, a higher energy dense diet is needed. The chief constituents of food are water, proteins, carbohydrates, fats, vitamins and minerals. These six factors form the human body in the following ways: water 63%, proteins 17%, fats 12%, carbohydrates 1%, vitamins and minerals 7%. Free radicals are atoms or molecules that contain one or more unpaired electrons that capable of altering (usually enhancing) their chemical reactivity and cause tissue damage. To counter the unfavorable effects of free radicals, defenses are provided in the form of antioxidants. The antioxidants are substances in foods significantly decreasing the adverse effects of free radicals. Vitamin C, vitamin E, selenium, zinc, etc. are noteworthy examples of antioxidants.