7 Ways To Make Sure Your Child Gets Proper Nutrition

Raising a child is one of the life’s most enriching experiences for any parent, but it wouldn’t be wrong to say that it can also get taxing at times. One of the greatest challenges most parents face is of being able to provide wholesome nutrition to their child while also satisfying his picky food choices. A parent may often give into their child’s demand for certain foods that aren’t necessarily the healthiest, but are the only ones he finds appetizing enough to eat. The fall outs of a diet deficient in essential nutrients may not be evident immediately, but its long-term repercussions are many, ranging from obesity, mental and emotional health concerns. Here, we round up, seven easy ways you can help your child get proper nutrition:

1. Add interesting variations to healthy foods – One of the best ways to help your little one eat healthy is by making your dishes look appetizing. Expecting your child to enjoy a bowlful of green salad is as far-fetched a thought as is expecting him to sit through an eight- hour long car journey without dropping the “Are we there yet?” bomb! You can add fun variations to his daily sandwich by making smiley faces on it using veggies, fruits, dips and sauces. Or add delicious toppings and sauces to his mixed bean salad or wrap. If your recipe looks tasty, it’s half the battle won!

2. Involve your child – If you haven’t taken your child grocery shopping thinking he has no business being there, you probably should consider giving it a try. Ask him to pick out fruits and veggies of his choice and involve him in the process of cooking. Let him help you with little tasks such as fetching ingredients, measuring water, tasting, etc. The more involved your child is in the whole process of choosing and cooking foods, the lesser are chances of mealtimes becoming a horror story. Your child is sure to savor a meal that he’s been actively involved in making.

3. Model healthy eating – Are you someone who regularly indulges in fast foods? Are you always munching onto unhealthy potato crisps, namkeens and guzzling caffeine-laden sodas? If you’ve responded in affirmative to both the questions, it’s high time you start practicing what you preach your little one. The dietary habits that you enjoy go a long way in determining your child’s food preferences as well. It is important that both, you and your partner model healthy eating habits

to set a healthy foundation for your child’s dietary selections.

4. Enhance mealtime experience – Is mealtime only about you running after your toddler with a plateful of food and him dodging in the opposite direction? Time to change things a little! Ensure that

everyone in your family follows the ritual of eating together at the table, not in their respective rooms, or in front of the TV or laptop. Talk to your child about his day at school, his friends, his teachers and his hobbies. Appreciate him for finishing his meal. These little gestures can do a lot to make mealtime a pleasant experience for your child.

5. Offer healthier snacks – Does your little one gulp down the munchies you offer him easily but has a hard time finishing his meals? Well then, it’s a great idea to break down his meals into smaller portions. Include healthy snacks like fresh fruit smoothies, fruits, lassi, trail mix, nuts and yogurt as snacks in between the meals. These snacks offer the perfect combination of nutrition and flavor, keeping you stress- free and your little one satisfied.

6. Don’t be rigid - While you encourage your child to be healthy, don’t completely disregard his cravings for an occasional cookie, hamburger or doughnut. When had in moderation, these foods won’t do any harm to your child. Sure enough, after all that healthy eating, your little one also deserves to cheat once in a while.

7. Don’t force it – Parents often make the mistake of forcing their child to finish their meals but doing this can further turn them against the idea of mealtime. Understand your child’s appetite and don’t push him beyond his capacity. This can even backfire and lead him to the habit of overeating in future, increasing his susceptibility to obesity. Keep the portion sizes small and refill your child’s plate only when he asks for it. 

Help your tiny tot embrace the habit of healthy eating with these tips. We promise you that mealtime will never be a pain ever again!