Register | Login
Login
Sign in with:
---------- OR ----------
Create Account | Login
Create account
As a Member You Can:
  • Join clubs to discuss your interests
  • Connect with people like you
  • Share information, seek advice, get support

   
parenting
in Mumbai (change city)
Select City
  • All
  • Delhi
  • New Delhi
  • Gurgaon
  • Noida
  • Mumbai
  • Pune
  • Banglore
  • Hyderabad
  • Ghaziabad
  • Chandigarh
  • Ahmedabad
  • Kolkata
  • Chennai
  • Coimbatore
  • Jaipur
select‌ stage
Food and Nutrition Topics..

You are here : home > Food and Nutrition > Eating Disorders and Compulsions > Do You Make These Feeding Mistakes?

Do You Make These Feeding Mistakes?


Feeding mistakes can be responsible for development of poor appetite in children. It can also lead to the development of unhealthy eating habits in them. Read on to learn about the common feeding mistakes of parents.

So much has been written about child nutrition that it is perfectly normal for parents to be confused. Even if you think that you have mastered the art of feeding your kids this is not a standard process that can follow a certain prefixed process.
Unfortunately, feeding mistakes are responsible for diet imbalances in the formative years of childhood and causes a lot of problems in adulthood. Here is how you can understand if you are making a feeding mistake.

Forcing the Kid to Eat

Force does not work well especially when it is applied to very small children. If you try to force feed your child then he or she will start hating the meal times as well as the food. The act of force anyway dampens the appetite and forces resentment levels of kids to rise. It is recommended to create minimum fuss when your child refuses to eat something. You can try later with a more positive loving attitude and you can expect better results.

Insisting on Eating Larger Portions

Parents mostly are fixated on the idea that kids should be fed huge quantities of food to help them grow well. Some parents also serve snacks like biscuits and juice close to meal times which ruins appetites.
Child nutritionists say that over feeding leads to digestive problems and appetite suppression apart from unnatural weight gain. Serve only table spoon of each item (according to each year of age). This means that a three year old kid gets only 3 table spoons of each item. The golden rule for serving snacks is to serve them at least 1.5 hours to 2 hours before meal times. Ask your kids to eat till they are full and do not put pressure on them to finish the entire plate.

Ignoring Food Choices

Parents often forget that kids have many more taste buds than adults. Some food group which is okay for your palette may be too hot or too salty for your child. Food items like Broccoli can also turn bitter when eaten by very small kids.
It is your job as a parent to be a little considerate when your kids tell you that they do not like eating a specific food. Also use spices, salt and seasoning sparingly when cooking for kids. If you show kids that you are concerned about their likes and dislikes then they too will reciprocate with love and a good appetite.

Giving Up Fast

Children are basically very whimsical and are prone to changing food preferences. So do not assume that if your kid has rejected carrots twice in the past then it should be banished from the meal plans.
Nutritionists say that 20 exposures to a particular food group are ideal for fostering the acceptance of a particular food. A specific food should be given to the kid multiple times with a positive attitude if you hope to see a change for the better. Allow your kid to play around with food as this is the best way to get it accepted and eaten.

Giving Unsuitable Snacks

Snacks meant for kids should always contain healthy dose of nourishment. Giving your child cookies, cola and pastries as snacks is a big feeding mistake. Your child will also get addicted to eating high sugar and high fat food and then it will be very difficult to wean them away.
Snacks must always be healthy like assorted vegetables, fresh fruit, yoghurt and other good quality dairy products. Stick to serving only healthy snacks to your kids as this is how they will develop the habit of eating healthy and developing strong nutrition concepts.
Keep these points in mind while feeding your lad, avoid feeding mistakes and develop healthy eating habits for the lifetime.

What risks are associated with the feeding mistakes made by parents? How can parents avoid feeding mistakes? Which ways can be followed by parents to develop health eating habits in children? Discuss here.



Cancel
Save Edit
parenting
Notifications
6 Comments
Sort by Newest

avatar

Hemali
Hemali.8 years ago
Feeding mistakes can cause great harm to kids. Thanks for sharing these tips.
 
 
 
.
Reply
Riya
Riya.8 years ago
Parents make mistake by introducing junk food to kids.
 
 
 
.
Reply
Sneha
Sneha.8 years ago
Forcing kids to eat is the biggest feeding mistake.
 
 
 
.
Reply
Back to Previous Page | More on Food and Nutrition Index









Subscribe




All tips on Eating Disorders And Compulsions
You ever wanted in one place.
No need to go anywhere else. No spam.

*No spam only genuine emails
Follow us on:



Featured Articles - Infertility | Baby Development | Health and Fitness | How to Get Pregnant | Parenting Advice | Weight Loss | Pregnancy Advice | Name Numerology
Baby - Baby Photo Contest | Lucky Names | Lucky Birthdates | Horoscopes | Chinese Calendar | Compatibility Test | Fun Zone
Parenting - Message Boards | Planning a Baby | Pregnancy | Parents of Babies | Baby Names | Baby Name Poll | Birth Announcements | Parenting Quiz
Family - Cooking Club | Love & Relationships | Beauty Tips | Kids Weight Calculator | Recipe Maker
General - Calorie Counter | Personality Quiz | Love Signs | Compatibility Quiz