Feeding children can be cumbersome and exhausting – especially since their tastes and preferences change from week to week. Every parent is on the lookout for healthy and nutritious foods for kids, but with picky eaters, it can be difficult to make a balanced plate that they will actually eat, which can be guided by Dr. Namita Nadar.
Do’s-
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Start Early
You might think that your child is too young to be taught about healthy eating habits. The truth is that if you keep postponing. It’ll be too late, and unhealthy eating will start affecting his/her development.
Start inculcating healthy food habits in your child at an early age.
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Try Being a role model
Monkey see monkey do. Your kids, either consciously or subconsciously, learn by imitation, if they see you eat healthy food, they’re likely to imitate you and choose to eat healthily.
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Use a creative presentation
A kid’s perception of the food in front of him/her depends a lot on how it looks. So, try to come up with ideas to present the food in fun, colorful ways. You can use different shapes, textures, and even tastes.
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Involve your child in planning meals
Children feel good when you let them contribute to something. So when you draw the daily or weekly plan for meals, ask for their opinions too. Also, ask them whether they would like to help you cook a “Healthy” meal.
Don’ts:-
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Expect them to finish everything
There will be times when your child won’t finish everything or his/her plate. Be patient, it pays off to be understanding when they say that they have eaten enough.
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Over-feed
No, every child has the same appetite. They may also take some time to realize that they have eaten enough. To ensure they feel full, you may feel the need to over-feed them. However, force-feeding them will affect their relationship with food in a negative way. Instead, of giving them a large portion of food, it is best to ensure that they have more healthy food than junk food, and consult the best nutritionist for the same.
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Save appetite for dinner
You might think giving them snacks in between meals is going to make them feel full later. That may be true. However, not giving them food when they feel hungry is not good either. Moreover, kids need more energy, so they feel hungry more often. Allow healthy snacks in-between meals.
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Forbid treats
Kids tend to do those things that you’ve specifically asked them not to. It’s just their nature, you might just want to keep sweets and other treats away from your kids, but forbidding it entirely is only going to make them want it more, in such case engage with the best Dietician.
A healthy diet plays a crucial role in a child’s development. However, we understand that it is easier said than done! It might not be possible to provide all the nutrients in the required daily quantities to your children throughout just their diet.
SOURCE : https://drnamitadietclinicnoida.com/