Dos and don’ts in developing healthy eating habits in children
World Food Day is observed to highlight the importance of a global society. In order for children to grow up in good health, it is important to ensure nutritious food for them at school or at home.
Ask any parent how difficult it is to inculcate healthy eating habits in their children. Especially school going children are easily attracted to unhealthy junk food instead of nutritious food
This article discusses 4 important food categories for children that will help them develop healthy eating habits.
Fruits and vegetables
Vitamins, antioxidants, fibrous vegetables, water, fruits and vegetables are a great source of nutrients. They help prevent diseases in children later in life. Generally, most of the children do not like food that is cooked with fruits and vegetables. But they must be encouraged to eat fruits and vegetables of different colors and flavors.
Nusrat Ali Hasnat of Bashundhara residential area has a 7-year-old child. She said, ‘I regularly give my son almonds and cashews besides fruits like apples, bananas, oranges and grapes. Kids love fruit salad. It is nutritious.’
Cereals
Children need energy to grow, develop and learn. It is essential to give them grainy or grainy food like pasta, rice, oats, barley to develop properly. The best part about any grain food is that it keeps the baby full for a long time. These foods have a low glycemic index which keeps the baby active and energetic.
Dairy products/food
A great source of protein and calcium are dairy foods like milk, cheese, yogurt etc. These are ideal healthy foods for babies. Children should be encouraged to eat milk products regularly. This can include liquid milk, a few slices of cheese or a bowl of yogurt.
Protein rich food
Protein foods are very important for muscle growth and development in children. In addition to protein, foods like lean meat, fish, chicken, beans, eggs, and lentils contain various vitamins and minerals like iron, zinc, and vitamin B-12. Omega-3 fatty acids from fish oil and lean red meat are especially important for children’s learning and brain development.
Protein rich foods are especially important for children’s tiffin. Because they have to spend a long time in school Healthy protein-rich foods keep them energized and provide them with the nutrients they need outside the home.
Essential drinks
When it comes to healthy drinks, just drinking water with the essential nutrients and fluoride helps build strong teeth. Also, low sugar homemade fruit juice is great for babies.
Foods that should eat in less amount
Eating foods high in salt and sugar puts children at risk of obesity and type-2 diabetes. Also, eating too much of these foods can lead to unhealthy weight gain.
Of course, it’s almost impossible to stop young children from eating junk food. So instead of banning these foods completely, we need to ensure that children eat them only occasionally, in the presence of parents.
Tags: five good eating habits for child, teaching healthy eating habits to students, eating habits example, healthy eating habits for babies, recommendations on how to develop good eating habits in infants, importance of healthy eating habits, how to improve child eating habits, good eating habits for nursery
