Getting your child to eat right is crucial because he or she can get all his or her required nutrients through a diet that has elements of balance, moderation and variety. Simply put, your child should never need health food supplements if he or she is eating correctly. Health food supplements are not a substitute for good food, and they should never be used to justify a poor diet.
The recommendation is to eat a well-balanced, healthy diet to fulfil your nutritional requirements. It is far better in the long term to emphasise the importance of good fundamental nutrition habits in your child; get them started while they are young so that it becomes a habit. Any necessary nutrients that your child needs should come primarily from food.
Focus on correct nutrition
The basics of healthy eating mean that your child’s diet should consist of the following:
- Whole grains and its products.
- Fruits and vegetables.
- Fish, lean meats, poultry and eggs.
- Milk and dairy products.
The following types of food should be limited as much as possible:
- Drinks high in sugar content such as carbonated drinks, cordials, and fruit drinks.
- Food high in sugar such as cakes, kuih-muih.
- Fatty foods like sausage, fried foods.
- Dishes and meals with high fat, such as fried rice and noodles; curry dishes; curry noodles.
- High salt foods like sauces and seasonings, salted fish and processed meats (sausages, burger, nuggets).
Inculcate healthy eating habits
By getting your child to eat a regular, healthy diet based on the points outlined above, your child will get all the needed energy and nutrients, including vitamins and minerals that he or she needs. A balanced and varied diet will also provide many phytonutrients that are beneficial to the child.
If your child has a poor appetite, takes his or her meals at irregular times, is a picky eater, or is in the habit of skipping meals, ensure that you take the necessary steps that focus on this situation.
Encouraging healthy eating
Help your child understand more about healthy eating by teaching him about food. The following tips can help your child to better understand about his or her food:
- Let your children start helping you cook as soon as they show interest. Teach them simple, healthy meal preparations.
- Let older children help you with shopping. Use it as a chance to teach them about food labels. Challenge them to find lowfat or low-sugar foods by reading the labels.
- At the dinner table, point out the various food groups in the meal. Make a game of naming those food groups to teach children the importance of variety and nutritional requirements.
- Grow some of your own herbs/vegetables in your backyard or in a pot. Let your children have their own plants to care for.
Stick to basics
Rather than resorting to health food supplements, concentrate on getting your children to eat right instead. If you practice unhealthy eating habits, your child is likely to follow your behaviour and will also practice this in adulthood.
Important Note:
Before giving any health supplement to your child, seek the advice of a nutritionist to ascertain their usefulness; do they really help your child? There is no need to take a once-daily multi-vitamin and multi-mineral supplement “just in case” your child needs it. Depending upon the situation (recovery from sickness, or poor appetite during sickness), there are some rare circumstances where health food supplements may be recommended by your nutritionist.
Avoid giving your child excessive supplements on your own, as there may be dangerous consequences. There is no magic pill or single food that will make your child grow healthier or smarter. The best method is to have a regular intake of a balanced diet.
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