Children between the ages of 4-8 need 1300- 1700 kcal. in their daily diet. This includes 19 gm of protein, 800 mg of calcium, 10 mg of iron, and 5 mg of zinc. Environmental influences, including media and peers, and parental choices, influence the dietary behaviours of children and can have important consequences for long-term health. The following are a few pointers for parents.
Snack healthily
Children have small stomachs, and their meals should be small and frequent: 4-6 per day, rather than the usual three square meals per day. It is better to pack two small-portion lunch boxes rather than one large lunch box for the child. Snacks are an essential component of a child's diet. Milk, fruit juice and nuts are the most healthful snacks for a child.
Establish a healthy eating environment at home. No television during meals. This is important because the child needs to focus on inner cues of hunger and satiety while eating. It is easy to overeat when the mind is distracted by matters other than food.
Counter negative dietary influences with positive examples. It is useless to ask children to not be tempted by advertisements featuring fast foods and soft drinks. The better option is for parent to demonstrate good eating choices by example. Do not force-feed the child beyond his point of satiety. Parents tend to overestimate the child's capacity for food, and the stomach's natural elasticity aids them in this mistake. Do not encourage the child to “make a happy plate”. If the child indicates he is full, respect his wishes. Wait a couple of hours and try again when he is hungry.
Children on a regular, reasonably balanced diet do not need vitamin supplements or energy drinks. Some energy drinks are quite expensive; parents are better off spending the money on nuts and other healthful snacks.
Within reasonable limits, let the child choose what he wants to eat. This is one way of making the child take an interest in food. Most children, when given a choice, will choose the same food every day. This phase is temporary, and parents need to sit it out without losing their cool.
(The doctor is a specialist in Internal Medicine)
