Nutrition for Preschoolers
Mrs Gupta is always running behind her 3 year old Rahul as he is very naughty and fussy in eating. She is always complaining that Rahul doesn’t like roti sabzi! Nowa days in the junk food revolution which kids like roti sabzi! In this article u will get the tips to make roti sabzi in junk form.
Today’s children cases numerous influences, determine the food intake and habits. It is well known that habits likes and dislikes are well grounded in the early years and carry through to adulthood, where change is often met with resistance and difficulty. The major influences on food intake in the developing years include family environment, media, peer group and illness or diseases.
In recent decades, changes have occurred in the joint family, there are more nuclear family where mostly both parents are working, so many children eat one or more meals at babysitting house or daycare centre or at school. A child whose parents are divorced for them eating out and treats may help allay the divorced parent’s guilt or may be used to win back a child’s affection. Remember! Parents and older siblings are significant models for younger children as they learn and imitate the individuals in their immediate environment.
Tele- vision negative effect on child’s nutrition most of the food commercials targeted to children are for cereals, candy, chips, colas, sweets, fast food establishments and snack foods. All these foods are high in sodium, sugar, and fat which leads to dental decay/ obesity and malnutrition. The commercial message appears to children to eat the food because it is “chocolaty” or “fun” or “giving you energy” rather than on any rational basis such as nutrient needs. In addition there are rarely advertisements for foods such as fresh fruits, vegetables or whole grain cereals and breads.
Television can also be determined to growth and development by encouraging inactivity and passive use of leisure time instead of engaging in sports, playing outdoors or doing creative work. A pattern of inactivity and watching television with munching chips and colas may be a factor in excessive weight gain for children. The older they get , the more they are influenced by their peer ,and this includes food attitudes and choices. This may be manifest in the child by a sudden refusal of a food and a request for a current popular food. These behaviors usually represent a phase that will change. During illness usually have a decreased appetite and food intake. They need additional psychological support, love and affection with extra nutritional care.
How to overcome all these factors:
Preschool children, because of their smaller capacity and variable appetites, do best with small servings of food offered several times a day. It is important for mother to begin the day with a good breakfast. This helps to keep the child alert and active most children eat 4-6 times a day; making snacks as important as meals in contributing to the total day’s nutrient intake. Their snacks need to be carefully chosen so that they are dense in nutrients and are not limited to cookies, soda and chips. Whole some snacks enjoyed by many young children include fresh fruits, cheese, hard boiled eggs, raw vegetables stick, milk, sprout chat, whole grain biscuits or vegetables/ paneer / cheese sandwich, colorful popcorn.
Foods which are attractive to look at make the preschooler want to eat. We are all familiar with biscuits like a cartoon face, ladoos with a centre of one colour- outside another colour, sandwich with different colour layers, sprout toppings biscuits, sprouts bhel, vegetable roll or name it Frankie! The possibilities are so many if all mothers put their imagination to work they would be able to create interesting healthy snacks and lunch with less use of fats and sugar and more use of cereals, pulses, vegetables and fruits.
Children will grow and develop optimally when they are provided with adequate nutrition. Parents and others are working with children need to be mindful of the important of social, emotional and psychological aspects of food and eating.
For a child to achieve total well being and a positive self concept, he / she needs not only food but also love, support and appreciation of his or her own uniqueness.
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