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Feeding young children can be the most
challenging task for some parents; here are some useful tips to build
up healthy feeding habits for the toddlers or pre-schoolers.
Set a Good Example
A child's food preferences are influenced
by food attitudes of parents to some degree. For feeding children on a
well-balanced diet via eating a wide variety of foods, parents should
do the same for themselves. It should be reminded that children are
good copy-cats!
Allow Mini Meals
The appetite of a young child at each
meal is limited. Thus, it would be better to feed children five or six
mini meals instead of three bigger ones. Parents should ensure
nutritious foods are served for ach meal, e.g. sliced fruit, cheese and
meat. Formulated milk {link- milk for your growing child} is also a
good choice, since its easy for digestion and yet nutritious.
Maintain a Healthy Eating Atmosphere
Don't make your child dread mealtimes. Do
not nag, scold or punish him to make him eat. Also, avoid insisting on
rigid table manners or hold arguments with others at the dining table.
Make eating as relaxed as possible and avoid rushing. Eat as a family
at least once a day. This lets your child look forward to eating with
his parents and siblings.
Set the Times for Eating
Serve foods at regular and appropriate
times. Be sure not to offer snacks in less than 1.5 - 2 hours before a
main meal. Before mealtimes, ensure that your child is not too tired or
over-excited. Allow a short break before eating. Don't let mealtimes
drag on for more than an hour. Half an hour is a good time.
Keep Snacks Nutritious
Give preference to wholesome snacks such
as fresh fruits, vegetables, milk, fruit juices, whole grain crackers
and even whole meal sandwiches.
Give Substitutes
If your kid persistently rejects a
particular food, you could try offering it in a different form or offer
another good substitute from the same food group.
Make Food Appetizing
Vary foods served from day to day. Avoid
monotony by using different cooking styles. Be creative. Serve food in
fun shapes and interesting ways. Learn different styles of cuisines
from other cultures.
Try fascinating your child, especially if he is a picky eater, with
stories about each new food you want him to try. You can talk about
what the food can do, how delicious it tastes and even how you prepared
it.
Involve Your Child
Encourage your older child to participate
in planning, purchasing and preparing foods. Bringing him along to the
supermarket and discussing food choices can make him more inclined to
eat them. With an older child, let him help lay the table.
Let Your Child Decide
Allow your kid to eat as much (or as
little) as he wishes. If he is being selective, plays with his food or
rejects offer to eat more than a mouthful, allow him to leave the
dining table. Most likely, he is not hungry. If your child is old
enough, negotiate with him about the amount of food to be eaten. Having
made an agreement may make him more willing to eat. If your child
refuses to eat a particular food (e.g. vegetables), parents need to
persevere and continue to give the food in small quantities from time
to time.
Always Encourage
Never try to physically force food into
your child's mouth. Avoid scolding or threatening your child when
feeding difficulties arise; gentle encouragement always works better in
the long run. Do not bribe your child to make him eat.
Make Eating Comfortable
Make sure your child is seated
comfortably and at an appropriate height. He should be able to reach
his food without having to struggle. It is a good idea to let your
child have his own attractive set of personal cutlery which should be
without any sharp edges. A spoon with a thicker handle allows for an
easier, less tiring grasp. Your child's bowl, plate and cup should be
made of unbreakable material and be heavy enough to resist spilling. A
younger child will find scooping easier from a shallow bowl.
Make Eating Safe
Avoid extreme temperatures in food.
Children normally prefer warm food. Beware the risk of scalding.
Supervise your child while he is eating. Prevent choking by not giving
small, hard and round-shaped foods (e.g. peanuts), or foods that are
overly chewy or sticky (e.g. marsh mallow). Always check that fish is
properly de-boned. Let your child eat in a calm environment; he should
not be allowed to run around with food or cutlery in his mouth these
contribute to the risk of choking and serious injury to the mouth,
respectively. It is not hygienic to eat from the same plate, bite into
the same food item or drink from the same cup as your child. If you are
unsure whether a particular food item is safe for eating, throw it
away. It is better to be safe than sorry.
Daily Food Diary to Monitor Children Eating
Habits
If parents are concern about their
child's eating habits, a daily food diary of what and how much the
child eats should be kept. Through weekly review, it would ease the
planning effort on what to serve next.
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