Parenting tips: Strategies to feed your child healthy food if he/she is a picky eater | Photo Credit: Thinkstock
New Delhi: Parenting is difficult, and there is no second opinion about this. From taking care of their diapers, to ensuring that the child is safe and sound, to making sure he/she is eating right and getting the right nutrition, a parent's life revolves around their child. Things get difficult when children throw tantrums related to their food, and are extremely picky and choosy in what they eat.
The most important thing for children when it comes to food is how it looks, and what it tastes like. Parents can adopt these five strategies to make sure their children eat right, and healthy, and their bodies stay nourished, no matter how picky they are in eating. Also read Poor aerobic fitness linked to diabetes, heart disease risk in kids: Benefits of exercise for children
Make it look interesting
If you have ever followed the TV show Masterchef, you know how important presentation of the food is. But for children, presentation is even more important. If you can make the food look nice to them, it will also taste nice. Put your creative cap on and experiment with designs, shapes, sizes, and patterns of the food and make it look appealing to the child. Use more colors in your food and in your cutlery to make it more attractive.
Seasonal fruits and vegetables
Eating seasonal fruits and vegetables is also really essential for the health of your kid. Seasonal foods have many vitamins, minerals, and nutrients that are required for better immunity, strength, and growth of children. The benefit of seasonal fruits and vegetables is that they are really versatile and can be turned into absolutely anything that your child will enjoy eating. Also, since they arrive only once a year, the child is not bored of them and will enjoy the taste of these foods once in a while. Peas, spinach, and many other green and leafy vegetables available in the winters can be given to your child. Also read Hydration: Stay warm and hydrated this winter with these easy to make beverages
Set good examples
Being picky is one thing, and being absolutely pro-junk food, and anti-healthy food is another. No child is born this picky, though they may have their likes and dislikes in taste and food. As parents, it is very important that you imbibe healthy habits and foods in your everyday lives, because children, at the end of the day, will take on the same habits. If you are not into healthy eating, there is no way your child will want to eat healthy and be fit. You have to start out by leading with a good example.
Remove the 'un' from the 'unhealthy'
If you child likes pizzas and burgers, which most children do, then give them the pizzas and the burgers, but with a twist. Make the pizza dough with spinach, potatoes, or even wheat flour, instead of using the unhealthy refined flour. Substitute all unhealthy choices with healthier ones and make them a meal they like, with the nutrients you like. For the burger, you can replace the fatty oil fried patty with a baked patty, or even fresh raw vegetables like corn and peas mixed in some sauce, and watch how your child enjoys his/her meal. A lot of children create trouble in drinking plain milk since it is boring and doesn't taste good, but the same milk when mixed with honey and fruits to make shakes can be oen of their favourites!
Snacks in between meals
Children are always full of energy, and the energy required for their hyper-activity has to be ensured by snacks given in between meals. You can change the way your child eats, only by changing the snacks you are giving him/her. In winters, peanuts and jaggery are a great option for snacking as they have innumerable benefits for the child's health. Similarly, raw vegetables like carrots, radish, and cucumbers can be sprinkled with some salt and masala, and given to your child while he/she watches television in the evening, or even when he/she is doing their homework.
Disclaimer: Tips and suggestions mentioned in the article are for general information purpose only and should not be construed as professional medical advice. Always consult your doctor or a dietician before starting any fitness programme or making any changes to your diet.
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