Reduced Appetite in Children
After the age of one, it is normal that a child's appetite decreases. It may seem to parents that their child does not eat enough, that he or she is never hungry, or doesn't want other to be fed. As long as the child is active and progressing normally, the fall of its appetite is natural.There can be many reasons for losing appetite. Most of them are perfectly harmless. Young children are especially prone to appetite oscillations. In addition, children develop a strong tendency towards certain types of food, and can easily reject new foods or food they dislike.
How to Improve a Child's Appetite?
Offer a variety of foods in meal - main dish, bread, side dish, butter, vegetables, fruit, and allow the child to choose from all the offered.Prepare a tasty meal that will, in addition to that, look nice. Be imaginative and try to arrange food attractively. Among other things, the kids love the bright colors so you can put carrots, tomatoes, parsley on the sandwich.
A child doesn't care for some special food, but for that which is easy to chew and swallow. Do not cook without fat, because it improves the taste of food.
Let the kid help in preparing meals, and also serve it to themselves.
Don't force the child to empty the plate. Like yours, its eyes may be hungrier than the stomach.
Avoid the rules: "Take a little bit of everything" or "If you take something, you have to eat it".
Limit fruit juice to 120-180 milliliters, because it reduces the appetite for other foods. Give the juice together with the breakfast or lunch, but not between meals.
Don't prolong meals and don't force the child to remain at the table as the rest of the family completes their meal, because that will cause unpleasant feelings toward food. Avoid forcing. Converting a meal in the fight usually does not work, on the contrary - creates resistance to eating.
Make a meal plan with three main meals and two snacks. Avoid giving your child sweets and snacks that are rich in calories and poor in proteins. The sandwiches should include cheese and vegetables. Mushrooms falls in the group of appetite stimulants, so put them in a pizza, mixed vegetable dishes, soups.
Some nutritionists recommend a food that will provide more calories, such as multiple proteins that promote growth.
Sometimes the child's appetite is not synchronized with the family meals. It is important that child eats when he or she are hungry, so a good solution is to give an easy snack to the kid until the meal is prepared.
Do not use food as a reward.
If they are tired, young children are not in the mood to eat.
Turn off the TV during meals.
Consider the use of vitamin preparations. They are not necessary, unless the diet isn't well balanced and does not meet the needs of the child. It is best to consult with the pediatrician to include vitamin supplements.
Regular visits to counseling will help you to determine if your child is progressing normally. However, if he or she loses weight, does not increase body weight in six months, often chokes or vomits, pediatrician's help is necessary.
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