NEW DELHI: It is natural to worry whether your child is getting enough food and nutritional value when they refuse to eat sometimes and demand an unhealthy snack. But it is perfectly normal for toddlers to behave in this manner hence the responsibility lies with the parents and elders of the family to smartly and subtly introduce healthy food habits into their life.
On National Nutrition Week, Kejal Sheth, Weight Management Expert and Founder of Nutrivity.in and Jinal Pasad, Paediatric Nutrition expert based in Mumbai share some techniques that will help you inculcate smart eating habits in your kids and look out for their health in the long run.
* Be healthy role models. Children often mimic their parent’s behavior. Try to eat together at the table as a family as often as possible.
* Make fruit popsicle’s as this makes a healthy treat for the kids and provides the much needed anti-oxidant dose.
* Introduce vegetable soup and juices. This ensures the incorporation of a good amount of veggies in the diet.
* Keep healthy snacks handy. If the child refuses to eat anything other than junk food, don’t worry. They will soon find there’s not much point making a fuss if you don’t react.
* Do not force the child to eat. Introduce new foods when the child is hungry.
* It’s best not to use food as a reward. Your child may start to think of sweets as nice and vegetables as nasty.
* Combine the ingredients they do not like to eat with the ones they usually prefer eating. E.g. bottle gourd in bhaji
* Grate vegetables in paratha’s or in the idli/uttapam batter. This makes the meal colorful and visually appetizing as well as
* Introduce one new food at a time. Kids are usually reluctant to try anything new but don’t give up.
* Involve the child with cooking- tasks, like squeezing fresh orange juice or cracking eggs, are well within the capabilities of a young child. It’s amazing how being involved in the planning and preparation of a meal can stimulate a child’s appetite.
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