Below we discuss easy tips and ways to help you make sure your kid gets a well-balanced diet full of nutrients.
Instead of reaching for chips or cookies, encourage your child to have a healthy snack
The best time for kids to learn about a healthy diet, body, and activity is when they are in school. Now that they have pocket money and a full social calendar, they can start making their own lifestyle decisions. Children at this age pick things up quickly and are impacted by their friends and current events as well.
This is a good time to inculcate a good diet and routine. Building a healthy relationship between your kid and their diet is essential at this age. Keep reading as we discuss easy tips and ways to help you make sure your kid gets a well-balanced diet full of nutrients.
10 Tips to ensure your kid get enough nutrients daily:
1. Encourage breakfast every morning
A balanced breakfast provides essential nutrients to start the day off right. Include whole grains, protein, and fruits or vegetables. Make sure to stack up on fresh seasonal fruits and veggies to ensure variety.
2. Pack a nutritious lunch
Include a variety of food groups in your child's lunchbox, such as lean protein (chicken or beans), whole grains (whole wheat bread or pasta), and fruits and vegetables.
3. Serve homemade snacks
Opt for homemade snacks whenever possible, such as cut-up fruits, yogurt, or homemade granola bars, to ensure they are getting nutrient-dense foods instead of processed snacks.
4. Encourage water intake
Provide water instead of sugary drinks like soda or juice. Kids need to stay hydrated, and water is the best choice. Make sure your kid consumes 1-2 litres of water depending on what the ideal intake for their age is. You can encourage detox water and other healthy water-rich alternatives as well.
5. Include fruits and vegetables in every meal
Offer a variety of colourful fruits and vegetables with each meal to ensure they are getting a wide range of vitamins and minerals.
6. Limit sugary and processed foods
While occasional treats are fine, it's important to limit highly processed and sugary foods as they provide empty calories without essential nutrients.
7. Promote healthy snacks after school
Instead of reaching for chips or cookies, encourage your child to have a snack like carrot sticks and hummus, apple slices with peanut butter, or Greek yogurt with berries.
8. Involve your child in meal planning and cooking
When children are involved in meal planning and preparation, they are more likely to eat a well-balanced meal. This can help you understand what your kid enjoys and what they don't like. This will also help reduce wastage.
9. Monitor portion sizes
Teach your child about appropriate portion sizes to ensure they are getting enough nutrients without overeating. Educate your kids on the importance of eating the right foods and understanding portion sizes.
10. Be a role model
Children are more likely to adopt healthy eating habits if they see their parents or caregivers practicing them. Be a positive role model and eat nutritious foods yourself.
Following these simple tips could ensure your child gets all then nutrients they need regularly.
Disclaimer: This content including advice provides generic information only. It is in no way a substitute for a qualified medical opinion. Always consult a specialist or your own doctor for more information. NDTV does not claim responsibility for this information.
DoctorNDTV is the one stop site for all your health needs providing the most credible health information, health news and tips with expert advice on healthy living, diet plans, informative videos etc. You can get the most relevant and accurate info you need about health problems like diabetes, cancer, pregnancy, HIV and AIDS, weight loss and many other lifestyle diseases. We have a panel of over 350 experts who help us develop content by giving their valuable inputs and bringing to us the latest in the world of healthcare.
