This Is What Parents Should Give Their Children For Dinner As Recommended By Celeb Nutritionist Rujuta Diwekar

It is very important that we give proper attention to our children's diet and lifestyle. If we do not pay attention to this in the present, chances are that they may face some health issues in future. In today's busy day and life, parents may tend to ignore their child's health and may end up feeding them more of processed and packaged foods. Unhealthy meals, sleep deprivation, lack of physical activity due to studies and increased screen time can all adversely affect your child's health. 

Also read: Parents, Here's What You Should Serve Your Kids Before They Leave For School

Celebrity nutritionist Rujuta Diwekar in her 12 week fitness project aims at children and some nutrition tips. The fitness project for the year 2019 focuses on the overall well-being of children. Nutritionist Rujuta Diwekar took to Instagram to share some health tips for children. These included the importance of healthy breakfast, adequate sleep, physical activity, nutritious midday snack after school and perfect diet plan for children.

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Nutritionist Rujuta Diwekar suggests wholesome, simple and nutritious dinner for children. Parents should make sure that they give wholesome meals for at least six days a week. This could include lentils and rice, khichdi, roti and vegetable to your children. These foods are extremely nutritious and contain a variety of nutrients. Moreover, these traditional dishes are perfectly balanced meals. Also, there should not be variety for dinner.

Local and traditional meals are extremely healthy for children
Photo Credit: iStock

Nutritionist also tells that what will you eat for dinner is a question that parents should never ask their children. Instead we should simply tell them what they will be eating for dinner. A steady, simple, wholesome and nutritious meal is what is necessary for the overall health, growth and development of the children. 

Also read: Parenting Tips For Children Aged 2 To 7 By Lifestyle Coach Luke Coutinho

Last meal of the day for children should be:

1. Your grandmother's dinner too

2. Local to your region

3. Easy to cook and tastes best when served hot

All traditional meals like chapati and vegetables, lentils and rice, khichdi and kadhi and so on meet the above requirement. Moreover, these meals ensure that the growing bodies and brains of our children meet their daily requirement of nutrients too. It even ensures sound sleep. The key is to stay consistent with dinner, even if it becomes boring for children, on most nights of the week. Also, do not forget to add the healthy fat ghee in the dishes.

Also read: Top 4 Reasons For Non-Alcoholic Fatty Liver In Children

What you must not give children for dinner:

1. Variety: Do not give different meals to your children every day

2. Super-convenient packaged foods: Avoid giving ready to cook meals like noodles and pasta and frozen food. These meals are unhealthy as they do not provide any nutritional value. Moreover, these foods contain added sugar and other preservatives which might be harmful for their health

3. Take away or ordered food: It is best to give children home-cooked nourishing meals. Do not give give your children take away or ordered food. These do not have the nutrients to fuel growth and often leave our kids dehydrated and disturb their sleep routine too.

4. Eating out: Parents should not let their children eat out more than twice a month. Even food from outside does not meet children's daily requirement of nutrients

5. You may offer your children variety for dinner once a week at home. Ideally it should be on a Saturday. 

Also read: This Is The Snack Children Should Eat Right After School Instead Of Biscuits Or Chips!

Disclaimer: This content including advice provides generic information only. It is in no way a substitute for qualified medical opinion. Always consult a specialist or your own doctor for more information. NDTV does not claim responsibility for this information.