Sunday, August 06, 2006

Nutrition Tips for Children

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A child needs a balanced and adequate diet to supply the nutrients and energy needed for growth.

A healthy body weight promotes good physical and mental well being. As parents, you can help your child achieve a healthy weight. Fat children can have health problems later in their life. To prevent you child getting fat, help them to form good eating habits while they are still young. Here are some hints:

  • Have meals together and make healthy eating a family affair. Make meal time relaxing for your child.
  • Meal hours should be regular and nibbling in between meals should be discouraged.
  • Make healthier food your choice. Set a good example by practicing good eating habits. Children are good imitators.
  • Avoid scolding or feeding forcibly your child as this makes the child dislike food.
  • Avoid using food as a form of reward, threats or bribery.
  • Encourage breakfast eating to avoid hunger and over-eating
  • Teach your child to eat slowly, chew well and swallow. Enjoy each mouthful before swallowing
  • Allow your children to feed themselves. Do not feed them while watching TV or reading books
  • Make available fresh fruits as snack
  • Provide water or unsweetened juices instead of soft drinks
  • Prepare attractive, appealing and colourful meals whenever possible. Avoid monotony in food preparations.
  • Last but not the least, explain the functions of different types of food to the children. For example, telling them that carrot is good for vision will make them understand why they should include carrot in their food.

Today's healthy children are tomorrow's healthy citizens and pillars of our nation. So, inculcate healthy eating habits from today onwards.

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