| BABY
& TODDLER FOOD |
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Toddlerhood
(One to Three Years) Make
Meal Times Fun & Healthy
The
best indicator that your toddler is getting adequate nourishment is her regular
weight gain and growth, general appearance and contentment.
Thinking of which
foods are healthier for your baby will be much easier for you by now, as you will
be an expert on which foods your child is best able to cope with. All the foods
groups viz. cereals, pulses, fruits, vegetables and milk are equally important
and are extremely healthy for your child. An adequate amount of these food groups
will ensure a healthy growing child. Very few of us really know what is the adequate
intake for our little toddlers. The daily food guide below will help you to know
the right amount of food for your child. |
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| 1. | Children
are good imitators. So set a good example for them by eating a variety of foods
yourself. Always offer a variety of foods to ensure that your child is getting
a balanced diet. Try not to show any dislike towards specific foods while feeding
as your child may easily be influenced by you. | | | | | 2. | Try
and serve small amounts of food at each meal and encourage your child to have
a second serving if she wants to. Make meal times pleasant and allow your baby
to eat what she wants to eat. Being rigid with her food will only make her stubborn.
Be flexible but firm. | | | | | 3. | Encourage
your child to have at least one meal with the family members. This also a good
time to encourage your child to feed herself if she hasn't started already. Do
not expect anything other than a messy meal time in the beginning. Very soon,
she will master the art of eating on her own with good table manners, making you
a proud mum. | | | | | 4. | Make
sure that your child sits upright and is not lying, running or playing while eating.
You could also engage her in some sit-down games to retain this posture. Television
is one way but should only be used as the last resort. | | | | | 5. | Be
innovative and occasionally serve your child's meal in plates with different shapes.
For example, a flat plate, a colourful oval shaped plate etc. if she is not attached
to one particular plate. | | | | | 6. | Foods
with different shapes and sizes also attract children to eat more. So it is wise
to occasionally serve foods like rotis, biscuits etc in different shapes like
round, oval, square etc. | | | | | 7. | Allow
your child to drink milk, soups and juices occasionally with a straw if she wants.
This will take more time but will definitely be a source of motivation for your
child to drink more too. Ensure that you wash and clean these straws with sterilised
water immediately, since even a little juice or soup left in the straw will harbour
germs easily. | | | | | 8. | If
your child shows dislike for a particular ingredient or a food, wait for a few
weeks and then try the same one again. If she reacts in a similar way, do not
force her to have that ingredient or food. Instead try and cook it in a different
style. | | | | | 9. | Fried
foods and aerated waters are a part of everyone's diet in some form. The trick
here is to let them enjoy everything in moderation because the more you forbid
them, the more tempting those foods will seem to her. If you give your child wafers
to snack on, ask her to include a fruit in that snack too. This will make both
of you happy. | | | | | 10. | Avoid
using too much salt, sugar and processed and refined products like maida, noodles
etc. in your child's daily diet, as much of their goodness has already been destroyed
and may also contain additional colours, flavourings or preservatives which are
unhealthy for your child. Also since the habits you create now will stay with
her for a lifetime, it is sound to stay with whole grains (wheat, bajra, jowar
etc.), fruits and vegetables | | | | | 11. | Kids
are usually aware of how much and what they want to eat. Let the meal end when
your little one has had enough. Do not force, bribe or threaten her to eat more
or you might find yourself in a shower of baby food or a resentful little baby. | | | | | 12. | If
your child goes to a day care center, you need to pay extra attention to your
child's diet. Do not give her perishable foods like curds, soups etc. Instead
give her whole fruits and vegetables like apple, carrot etc. or dry snacks such
as biscuits (Cheese Straws), toast, parathas, chikki, Carrot Cake, Vegetable Idlis
etc. |
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Also
in this section
Introduction
Daily
Food Guide
Tips for Healthy Cooking
Recipes Other
Related Topics
First
Four Months
Five
to Six Months
Seven to Nine Months
Ten
to Twelve Years
More
in Total Health
Pregnancy Diet
Low Calorie Recipes
Diabetes
Eating Smart
Calcium Rich Recipes
Home Remedies
Healthy Breakfast
Healthy Soups & Salads
Special Diets
Fast Food Made Healthy
Healthy Heart
Forever Young Diet
Iron Rich Recipes
Helathy Snacks
Low Cholesterol Recipes
Healthy Juices
Healthy Subzis
All
the recipes mentioned in the above text can be found through the search
option.
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