Right Method on How to feed your baby – expert opinion

Name 3 main principles of feeding children

 

• Security.
• Diversity.
• Regularity.

Does the number of feeds depend on the age of the child?

Yes, it depends. The younger the child, the more meals should be. After all, the small stomachs of children cannot digest a lot of food at a time. For example, babies are fed every 3-4 hours, and preschoolers – 3 to 5 times a day.

The portion size of a young child can be measured with his fists. He should eat 12 such “cams” of food, of which 2-3 are main meals, 1-2 are snacks. Plus, there should be 2-3 servings of dairy products per day.

Why do you need breakfast, lunch and dinner?

Food is a source of energy and nutrients. It must be done regularly so that the baby is active, grows and develops properly. Complete breakfasts, lunches and dinners are the key to children’s health.

Also, thanks to the diet, you can think over the diet for the day so that the child receives the required amount of calories from healthy food. Parents often plan in advance what meals to cook as main meals.

Can I have snacks between main meals?

Yes, it is necessary. Long breaks between meals can lead to fatigue, fatigue, low blood sugar and concentration, memory.

It is important that snacks are from healthy foods – vegetables, fruits, cereals or protein. For example, you can make dried fruit bars, sandwiches with bread and eggs.

Is it necessary to give porridge for breakfast? Which are the best to choose?

No, not necessarily. Porridge can be replaced with sugar-free cereal or a sandwich made from whole grain bread. During the day, the child should eat 5-6 “cams” of cereals.

You can choose any porridge for breakfast: oatmeal, rice, buckwheat, corn, millet. Be sure to cut out sugar. Instead, fruits, dried fruits are added to some dishes, and honey can be given to children over 1 year old.

How to replace porridge for breakfast to diversify the diet?

Any healthy food will do. The main thing is that the first meal gives satiety for at least 2.5 hours – before a snack. Breakfast usually includes:

 

• cereals: porridge, cereal, muesli, granola, healthy pastries;
• protein: scrambled eggs, meat, fish;
• dairy products: yogurt, milk, cheese, cheesecakes;
• vegetables or fruits.

You can combine these products in different ways. For example, this morning offer your child cheesecakes with strawberries, and tomorrow – an omelette with whole grain bread and cheese.

Remember that according to statistics, children who do not eat breakfast eat sweets more often and drink carbonated drinks. Because of this, they have an increased risk of obesity, the development of cardiovascular diseases and caries.

Does a child really need soups?

Not really. Some parents often prepare soup for their children because it is easier for babies to chew and it passes through the esophagus to the stomach faster. After all, there is already liquid in the dish. This is more convenient than chewing dry food for a long time and carefully so that the required amount of saliva is released.

Soup is water, vegetables and meat. It will be just as helpful if the child eats them simply sliced, chewed thoroughly, and drinks enough liquid throughout the day. The main thing is to make sure that the meal includes different food groups. It doesn’t matter if it’s borscht or vinaigrette.

The perfect dinner for a child – what is it?

The main thing is that the child does not feel hungry at night. So choose foods that saturate well. For example:

 

• cereals: buckwheat, rice, bulgur;
• proteins: chicken, turkey;
• vegetables.

For example, buckwheat with boiled turkey and broccoli is a great dinner option. Or bulgur with steamed chicken cutlets and cucumber and tomato salad.

Toddlers can have a second dinner 20 to 30 minutes before bedtime. Choose foods such as kefir, yogurt or some kind of fruit. Just don’t forget to brush your child’s teeth afterwards.

What types of meat and fish to choose for children?

Our recommendations:

• red meat – 1 serving three times a week: beef, pork, lamb;
• white meat – 1 serving per day: chicken, turkey, rabbit;
• fish – 2 times a week: hake, cod, perch, red fish.

Note! Do not give your child the meat of large predatory fish, such as shark, tuna. After all, they can accumulate mercury and other harmful substances.

 

What is the norm of fruits and vegetables for a child per day?

The norm for young children: 2-3 “cams” ​​of fruits and vegetables per day. Remember that dried fruits and baked foods also count.

With the start of weaning, you can give boiled vegetables, fruit purees and some raw fruits, such as avocado, mango, peach, banana. After a year, we recommend starting to introduce soft-skinned fruits into the diet – this is good for digestion.

Milk in the diet of children – for or against?

If the child does not have a lactase deficiency or an allergy to cow’s milk protein, then he can drink it and eat dairy products.

When parents notice that their children are consuming too much of this micronutrient-rich drink, it is important to find the cause. Perhaps the baby is not enough from the diet of any substances. Offer a healthy substitute – you need the child to eat a variety of foods and get the whole set of nutrients from different foods.

At what age can children be given sweets? What exactly?

Follow these guidelines:

 

• up to two years of added sugar should not be at all;
• from 2 to 4 years, sweets may be limited;
• 5 to 7 years old – 3-4 teaspoons of sugar per day is acceptable, including sweets, cookies, sugary cereals, juices.
• From the age of 5, you can give any sweets in moderation, for example, marshmallows, marmalade, marshmallows, ice cream, cereal bars, chocolate.

What does dry food lead to in children?

Poorly chewed dry dense food moves worse through the esophagus, takes longer to digest, creates discomfort in the stomach and a feeling of “lump”. It’s not harmful, but it’s uncomfortable. To avoid this, it is enough to chew food thoroughly and drink liquids throughout the day.

What if the child refuses to eat healthy food and asks for sausages and cookies?

If your child only asks for sausages and cookies, don’t buy them. Keep healthy alternatives at home, explain, show by example healthy proper nutrition.

Sausages can be replaced with the baby’s favorite type of meat, and cookies can be replaced with fruits or homemade cakes made from healthy ingredients.

How to instill healthy eating habits in your child?

It will not be possible to explain to the child that “chips are harmful” if dad eats them with pleasure. The kid will not understand that broccoli is healthy if mom has fried potatoes in her plate. The family and environment of children should lead a healthy lifestyle, eat a varied and balanced diet, and maintain a sufficient level of physical activity. Only in this way will you set a worthy example and be able to instill the right eating habits.