Hello again everyone. This week, I would like to talk to you about a subject that I often hear and witness from those around me. I think we are a little weak when it comes to nutrition awareness in children. While one side complains about loss of appetite, the other side complains about obesity. As a nutritionist, my conclusion on this subject is that the common mistake in both cases is the way we approach children.
Another reason why I mention this issue is that the way to raise healthy and productive generations is to instill healthy nutrition at a young age. . Our main goal in child nutrition is not to force a child with anorexia to eat something or to offend an obese child by telling him about a food he should not eat. First of all, remember that the other person is an individual, even if he is a child. The main goal in this regard is to ensure that your child grows and develops normally and healthily and learns healthy nutrition from an early age.
Obesity is a serious risk not only for adults but also for children. Children who grow up obese may be exposed not only to chronic diseases but also to psychosocial problems such as low self-perception and lack of self-confidence. I hear a lot of complaints from my clients, such as: My child eats too much, he wants french fries at night, he loves to eat junk food, he consumes too much fast food, I cannot stop my child while eating, I put pressure on him by saying he has gained too much weight, but he does not listen to me. And the first question I always ask is "So how do you eat?" The first learning in children is by imitating individuals in their immediate environment. Therefore, growing children take their parents, siblings or peers as examples. The most important factor in a child's diet is the food choices in the home environment. In order for the child to grow up healthy and become a healthy adult, it is necessary to serve healthy meals from the moment he acquires the habit of eating at the table. If unhealthy foods are consumed in the home environment and family members have adopted a narrow and selective diet, do not expect your child to have a different attitude. Another factor responsible for childhood obesity is media and advertisements. Internet and television Increasing time spent in food negatively affects the food choices of especially preschool children and leads them to consume foods high in sugar or fat and with low nutritional value. For this reason, the time children spend in front of the internet and television should be limited. You can help your child make the most of his time by choosing a hobby that will enable him to socialize and be happy as much as possible. Unfortunately, another leg of childhood obesity is sales strategies. Particularly in large supermarkets, sugary foods placed on low stands close to the cash registers, meaning that children can easily reach them, also increase children's tendency towards such foods.
For children who tend to overeat, the responsibility that falls primarily on parents is much greater. As parents, I recommend that you change your behavior towards your children, never offend them, and teach your children healthy eating habits without comparing them with anyone. While teaching healthy eating habits, all individuals in the house should behave in this manner and the child should not feel alone and should feel that he is displaying the right behavior by taking his parents as an example. The role of physical activity in this regard should not be overlooked and should be given due importance. Take up a physical activity with your child that he/she can especially enjoy and make your child feel that you are with him/her.
Another complaint that comes after childhood obesity is the problem of loss of appetite in children. However, it should not be forgotten that children do not grow and develop at the same rate at every age, and their appetite will decrease and increase at the same rate. First of all, I must say that if your child has no problems with his growth and development and does not have any health problems, these periodic loss of appetite can be tolerated. In long-term loss of appetite, reluctance to food may not be the only reason. When you sit at the table, in order to make sure that your child eats enough food, you should constantly give messages about food, act in a hurry to make him finish his meal, set a time limit, insist too much, spill crumbs, leftovers or plates, etc. Reacting too much to the child when he is upset, comparing him with other children Behaviors such as judging or judging your child may, over time, lead your child to lack of appetite and a bias against eating. Your child may exhibit behaviors such as falling asleep at mealtime, complaining of nausea when mealtime approaches, or avoiding sitting at the table. Every child is born with the instincts of sucking, eating and drinking from the day he is born. Allow your child to listen to these instincts and let them experience these emotions as an individual, not you. The constant "finish your plate" warning at every meal can damage your child's sense of hunger and fullness over time. Such pressures placed on children may cause problems in the child's own body weight control in the future. A child who is forced to eat before he or she is hungry or who is rushed to eat another bite may also develop loss of appetite as a reaction. Since children have a small stomach capacity, sometimes even a glass of milk before a meal can make them feel full. Giving rewards, punishments or verbal warnings to encourage children to eat also has an impact on children's food choices. You can support children to finish their meals in portions they can eat, but never pressure them. While adults decide what, where and when children will eat, children should choose the food offered and the quantities they want to consume.
Do not forget that you, the parents, whom your children see as role models in both cases, should also pay attention to your nutrition and the choices you make. Keep in mind that your children are also individuals and they may have their own preferences.
Hoping that the diets that started on Monday continue, I wish you a healthy week.
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