Author Name: StartRight
Getting kids to eat food mixed with a healthy diet can be a lot harder in South East Asia. Most parents are thrown into momentary confusion as they worry about a lot of things. They worry if their children are not eating enough and also getting adequate nutrient for growth they need. 50% of Malaysia children are suffering from insufficient vitamin D. Malaysian children between the ages of 6 months to 12 years possess a very low level of haemoglobin, serum ferritin and vitamin A, which is required for their mental and physical development. With the existence of unhealthy food like junks, snack and meat which is constantly on display everywhere, from the stores and restaurants to advertisements on the television to even schools where they watch their peer consume seemingly yummy meals that usually contains chicken nuggets and red meat. They as well do not fail to perceive the great smell of fried turkey from the neighbor’s backyard. It would be important to make them understand that food should be eaten for nourishment and not for comfort or boredom relieve. This is important in other to promote a healthy diet. These kids depend on the knowledge and good judgment of parents concerning food to help them grow strong and healthy. To be discussed are some of the steps to be taken to encourage children to embrace and practice good eating habits which gradually.
Setting good examples
For a child starting off on non-animal dieting right after the phase of breastfeeding is over, it would be quite easy to introduce fruit and vegetables without as much difficulty faced by parents who used to be meat lovers. Either way, the best way of getting a child to do anything is through leading by example.
Having the right information about the correct combination, to sum up, a healthy family meal that contains the necessary nutrients which include vitamin B-12, vitamin D (in a case where adequate sunlight is not gotten) and others is very important.
Techniques to discourage under eating and overeating.
The knowledge of what a child prefers shouldn’t fool a parent that it is unlikely to change, they should be spurred on to try little of every food cooked, and if they have no further urge to eat anymore, do not force them or send glares towards their direction. Simply package it and give serve it to them as their next meal but do not make present other choices of food at that point as it might give them options to overeat. When they realize the food won’t be going away because they wouldn’t have it, they will soon start eating more. Kids are likely to eat less sometimes but as long as they makeup on other days, no harm is done. They should be constantly reminded that they would do better in school as they would have higher IQ and memory skills when they eat healthy diets.
Get them involved
Parents could plan their food menu with their children, this way variety of flavors from fruits, beans, vegetables and grains will be known to them as different kinds of combination is figured out.
During food preparation, permit them to be creative with food by making fun shapes with food , the idea of eating what they made can be pretty fun and appealing.
Is milk really necessary?
Instead of milk, water should be taken; children do not need milk for growth at any age after the breastfeeding stage. Water is able to supply the needed adequate nutrient for children.
SUMMARY
Encouraging your child to eat a healthy diet is essential to promote the child’s growth and development into adulthood. A healthy diet could also help your child to maintain mental balance and help to regain control of their health whenever faced with a health challenge.
It’s important to know that children are not born cravings for any kind of meal, but what is introduced to them and what will be available is what they finally settle for. The sooner they are conditioned to healthy food sources for a healthy diet, the better.
Introducing wholesome, nutritious choices into your children’s diets will enable them to develop a healthy relationship with food that would do well for them as they grow. These diets are less-time consuming and less tasking. With the above tips, you can encourage healthy eating habits in your home. This, in turn, gives your children the all-round mental, the physical and emotional balance they need in life.
