When your child turns six months of age, it signifies a significant milestone. It’s the time for them to begin stable meals, with most cultures having a ceremony to mark the event. 

Celebrations apart, the weeks main as much as this milestone are stuffed with nice confusion as dad and mom learn books, communicate to household and buddies, watch movies and seek the advice of medical doctors/nutritionists about what they need to provide to the kid first. 

As a mom  to a 15-month-old, I ponder what to feed my toddler each day and  find out how to give him a balanced weight loss program. Our nervousness will increase after we see a wide range of opinions from totally different medical doctors and nutritionists. 

Nonetheless, numbers don’t lie and the rising weight problems amongst kids right now underscores the necessity for the fitting vitamin for youngsters.

Within the period of fast commerce and quick meals, one is perhaps tempted to purchase packaged meals and purees like cerelac for infants. 

Nonetheless, a brand new report has unearthed surprising info. A report revealed by the Swiss organisation Public Eye, and the Worldwide Child Meals Motion Community (IBFAN), discovered that Nestle, the Swiss multinational meals firm, provides extra sugar in toddler meals merchandise in lower-income international locations, together with India. 

The report states that its toddler cereal Cerelac, supposed for infants from the age of 6 months, contained 2.7 grams of added sugar per serving in India. The identical Cerelac comprises no added sugar within the UK and Germany. 

However why is that this essential? 

India is seeing a rising development in childhood weight problems, with 43 lakh kids within the 0-5 age group recognized as overweight or obese in 2023, based on a report in The Hindu. 

The World Well being Organisation (WHO) recommends that no added sugars or sweetening brokers must be utilized in meals for youngsters underneath the age of three to scale back the danger of weight problems. 

Packaged meals objects like Cerelac sometimes present a straightforward choice for fogeys and have been used for many years in India. Over the previous few years, medical doctors have stopped recommending such cereals and as an alternative ask dad and mom to supply home made more healthy alternate options. 

So what do you provide your infants after they begin solids; and later, to your choosy toddlers? 

The Higher India spoke to paediatricians and nutritionists to reply these burning questions.

Which stable meals do you have to introduce first to your child? 

First issues first, you have to begin solids to your child solely at six months of age and never earlier, say consultants.

If you begin solids, breast milk or formulation stays the first supply of vitamin.

“The thought is to let infants attempt all kinds of meals slowly and introduce them to assorted tastes. Begin with single substances and provides every meals merchandise for 3 days. You may give carrots, apples, bananas or  papayas in pureed and mash varieties. You’ll be able to slowly introduce ragi, rice porridges, and moong, masoor and toor dal,” says Vidhya Ramasubramanian, Head, Division Of Diet on the SMSIMSR (Sri Madhusudan Sai Institute of Medical Sciences and Analysis). 

Begin by changing one meal a day, ideally breakfast, and slowly introduce the second meal. Don’t fret in case your child simply eats one or two spoons at first. It’s not about them ending the bowl, the concept is to show your child to eat meals and revel in it, stresses Vidhya.

Right here’s a pattern meal plan for a toddler by Vidhya Ramasubramanian-

No screens whereas consuming

Dr Vikram Gagneja, the Head of Division, Paediatrics And PICU (Paediatric Intensive Care Unit), Manipal Hospital, Dwarka, says that an important factor is to mannequin wholesome consuming habits. 

At any time when we eat at inns, we discover kids consuming with a video taking part in in entrance of them. This can be a probably dangerous behavior, explains Dr Gagneja.

“Kids see us as function fashions. We have to cease consuming in entrance of a display screen and cease feeding kids by distracting them utilizing a TV or a cell phone. They need to see what meals they’re consuming and develop an curiosity in it,” he provides.

Identical to we mannequin good behaviour, we have to mannequin good consuming habits too. 

No added sugar until 2

Everybody accepts that fully proscribing sugar will not be potential, however consultants advocate utilizing pure sugars and sweeteners as an alternative. 

“We see so many overweight kids now. Sugar is extraordinarily addictive, and if launched at a younger age, kids don’t eat the rest. Fruits have pure sugars and can be utilized to sweeten porridge. Refined sugar will not be advisable, fully keep away from until one, and after that, you need to use dates and jaggery,” provides Dr Gagneja.

Till one 12 months of age, no sugar and salt must be given to infants. 

To make your porridges tastier, you possibly can add spices like jeera, asafoetida, elaichi, saffron and extra; or you possibly can add fruits to sweeten them.

“When adults are shifting to low salt and sugar diets, why do children want a lot sugar and salt?” asks Dr Amit Gupta, Senior Advisor Paediatrician & Neonatologist on the Motherhood Hospital in Noida.

“Since processed meals comprises plenty of salt and sugar, we should keep away from that whereas beginning solids. As it’s not possible to fully keep away from it, it’s okay to present it as soon as in every week to older children,” he provides. 

After one, infants must be given what the remainder of the household eats, the place delicate sugar and salt can be utilized, he provides. Encourage responsive consuming and don’t drive feed. Identical to we regulate our consumption, settle for a toddler’s ‘no’ as properly, he explains. 

“Urge for food is a pure phenomenon. The thought of getting the kid to eat the identical because the household is to forestall fussy eaters. They need to get used to every thing one eats often,” he provides.

A child is a clear slate, and can settle for something you give. For instance, after I began cow’s milk for my son after he turned one, I didn’t add any sugar or sweetener to it. It’s simply boiled and cooled, and he loves it, since he doesn’t know some other style.  

Garima Dev Verman, a licensed nutritionist and medical content material analyst with The Wholesome Indian Venture (THIP), states that if we begin a child on the sweetened, powdered child meals at six months, she or he gained’t settle for the rest later.

“The quantity of sugar in a single serving of Cerelac is an excessive amount of, which isn’t in any respect required by a child. Sugar is addictive, resulting in infants demanding solely candy meals then. You’ll be able to as an alternative use fruits that are naturally candy,” she says.

What are the essential vitamins {that a} child wants?

A child wants a balanced weight loss program, comprising all important vitamins. Each meal for a child should embrace fat, carbohydrates and protein, says Sanchita Daswani, a vitamin guide. 

Iron and calcium are important for a child’s improvement.

“Carbohydrates and irons are crucial for infants, as are fat for his or her mind improvement. Together with this, a fruit and a vegetable is equally paramount. Embody ghee, nuts and seeds for fat; millets, root greens, dal, poha, pasta and  quinoa for carbohydrates with fermented meals like idli, dosa and curd,” she says.

All of the meals our child wants is accessible within the kitchen, provides Dr Amit Gupta. After six months, a toddler wants complementary meals to supply the required vitamin. 

“There are various recipes obtainable to exchange store-bought cerelac. We must always use these as an alternative. Give a number of pulses, nuts, inexperienced greens and ghee to your children. Non-vegetarians can embrace broths and soups that are additionally wonderful for infants,” he says. 

For a wealthy supply of protein, provide curd, eggs and paneer. Add nut butters and nut powders in porridges, dosas, fruits to make sure an entire meal.

Simple to make cereal mixes at residence/throughout journey

Most consultants advise dad and mom to make use of millets — India’s superfoods — that are nice for teenagers.

“You’ll be able to roast makhana, rava, poha, ragi, oats and different millets, after which powder them individually. Simply combine with sizzling water, add a fruit if you want, and an on the spot porridge is prepared. They’re nice for journey too. You may as well add mango, banana, apples, berries to sweeten them,” says Divisha Jadhwani, a child and baby nutritionist.  

One other good choice for Indian households is sattu maavu (multigrain) combine. Most of those powders and mixes are bought by homegrown manufacturers in case one can’t make it at residence. 

For snacks, you might attempt murmuras, makhanas, puffed rajgira, jowar puffs, ragi puffs, laddoos, and home made cookies. All these will also be carried throughout journey. 

Right here’s a one week journey meal plan by Divisha Jadhwani-

It’s time to get up and set instance for our youngsters. Prioritising vitamin and making them develop a wholesome relationship with meals from the get go is utmost essential. 

“Eat wholesome, spend high quality time along with your kids and keep away from display screen time as a lot as potential,” says Dr Gupta. 

The following time you’re confused about what to present your baby, simply do not forget that they too have their moods identical to us. Deal with introducing them to a wide range of wholesome meals, and attempt to restrict their consumption of sugar and processed meals. Allow them to develop relationship with meals by making a conducive surroundings sans screens and distractions. Get pleasure from your child’s milestones and don’t fret after they have their off days. Don’t all of us have these too?

Edited by Padmashree Pande.

Sources-

WHO

‘43 lakh kids under the age of 5 recognized as overweight or obese: official information’ Printed on 17 September, 2023. Courtesy: The Hindu