Nutrition is a very important aspect. The eating habits what the child develops in early age stays with him/her for his/her entire life. As everything else, they will also explore their taste buds. During age 1-2, they will try to taste everything which comes their way.
You can use this time wisely to shape their taste buds so that they have a healthy food habits for rest of their lives.
Create healthy variety of the food. Healthy whole grain, brown rice, whole wheat breads, Fruits, Vegetables, Meat, Chicken, Fish, Egg and Lentils. Do not over emphasize on white rice. Specially in Nepalese culture, Moms try to feed white rice all the time to the child.
Introduce your food to your child. Sooner or later he/she will be eating with you and you do not have to cook for him/her separately. Create variety in your own food. You eat healthy food and feed same to your child. In that way, you will eat better, and your child will eat better.
Give them time to be hungry. Do not run after your child 24/7 with a rice bowl in your hand trying to feed him/her all the time. If you don’t give him/her time to be hungry. He/she will not enjoy the food. Many mothers worry that their child will have malnutrition if they do not feed them 24/7.
Have a healthy routine of breakfast, lunch, and dinner time. Eat together with your child on the same table. You might like to invest in a high chair and a good bib. Encourage him/her to eat by himself/herself. Do not be angry if he/she spills or messes up. That is part of growing up and learning. It will take time, and it might be a little messy in the beginning. However, it is time well spent.
Water is the best drink. Make sure that your child drinks enough water whole day. A handy sippy cup is the best solution. Try to get your child drink a few sips of water throughout the day. As they grow up, it is important that they drink at least 8 glasses of water per day. Many people believe that drinking 1 glass of water on an empty stomach is really good for health. Milk is a great drink as well. It is a complete protein as well has important vitamins. Try to get your child to drink a cup of milk with breakfast, lunch and dinner. Sugary sodas, juices are bad. So, only allow them to drink it occasionally.
Between Breakfast, Lunch, and Dinner. Give some healthy snacks every couple of hours. It is very easy to give them Chips, Chocolates, Cookies, etc. They are convenient. They are bad. Instead, give healthy finger food like carrots, boiled eggs, cheese, whole grain chips, grapes, peeled oranges. Healthy finger foods are great. Make them available in intervals at the same place e.g. on the kitchen table so that the child can eat by himself/herself. Do not make your whole house a dining room. Do not make food available all the time all the places.
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