Our world is going through difficult times. As individuals who protect and monitor public health, we stay isolated in our homes. In these difficult days, on the one hand, we are worried about the news we receive, and on the other hand, we are thinking about how to keep ourselves busy. As far as I can see, staying at home is associated with eating, so most of us are in the kitchen. Of course, everything a mother touches is wonderful, but what if our children don't want to eat? The answer to this question is usually disappointment.
Let's take a look at how we should understand the lack of appetite in children.
Although eating is an important social activity for humanity, its main purpose is to obtain the substances necessary for the maintenance of life. Babies grow very quickly in the first year of life, but the growth rate slows down in later years. This rate slows down especially in children in the pre-school growth period. Therefore, children do not need food. This situation is reflected as loss of appetite.
Children get enough calories by eating enough to grow, and this is healthy. Young children's daily calorie need is 1000 calories and they understand their own energy needs. In this case, the duty of parents is to offer healthy nutrition alternatives to their children. First of all, it is necessary to offer meals to children in age-appropriate portions. The appropriate portion for preschoolers is ΒΌ of an adult meal. Large portions and forcing children to finish it unintentionally can bore them, turn them off from the meal, and cause them to eat less.
It is useful to leave the decision of which and how much of the food on the plate to the children to the children. If they do not want to eat anything, they will definitely want to eat something because they will be hungry at the next meal. Children can suppress their hunger with liquid foods. Drinking 500 ml of milk daily ensures that they get enough calcium.
Children are often closed to new foods and tastes. You should not force him to eat the new food, but you should patiently offer this new food over and over again and you should eat it with appetite.
When eating with children, it is generally necessary to avoid bargaining.
'If you eat your food, I will give you chocolate';
'Come on, another spoon' g Statements like this may, on the contrary, cause children to eat less.
Choosing the available options and menu for the meal together, helping your child prepare the meal will help him decide what to eat. You can suggest a few dishes and ask him to choose one.
'Do you want vegetables tonight?'; instead of 'Would you like peas or green beans this evening?' You can leave the control to him/her with optional questions such as.
I know, there will be times when you feel like your limits are being pushed and your tolerance level is exceeded when you are with children. Despite all these difficult moments, I hope that every moment you spend with your children will be filled with joyful meals that you will enjoy.
I wish you healthy days.
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