For children, growth comes first. We all have genetically programmed growth potential, and your child reaches it when diet and absorption are optimal.
Macronutrients are calories (energy), protein, fats/oils, and carbohydrates. While adults can get away with deficits in these areas, children can not.
Micronutrients is a simple word for vitamins and minerals. These are also important but secondary to macronutrient needs initially.
Do not be afraid of carbohydrates – children need carbohydrates.
Children need healthy fats for brain and nerve growth, among other things. Do not restrict fats in your child’s diet. Healthy fats include omega 3 oils (fish and flax oil).
Avocado, safflower oil, olive oil, organic eggs, fresh oils from nuts or seeds and even coconut oil.
Protein is not needed in large quantities, but does need to be of a high value.
Introducing a special diet:
- Speak and explain to your child simply what you will be doing.
- Allow for a gradual transition.
Hints and tips from parents
- Establishing a clear routine – meals and snacks at regular times.
- Adapt meals accordingly so he can eat together with us as a family (e.g., spaghetti bolognaise vs. spaghetti and grated cheese).
- We try to give a particular food up to two or three times a week in the hope that he will eventually come to accept it. If we were to offer a new food just once a week, he would never accept it. Familiarity with foods, as with everything else in his world, makes our son feel safe.
- We laminate pictures of the foods he eats and mount them in a photo album with Velcro fasteners. When he wants something, he has to present the picture of the item in exchange for the food. The aim is to slowly introduce pictures of food we would like him to eat.
- If food is presented in ‘finger’ form it’s more likely to be eaten.
- Portions are kept relatively small, so he doesn’t get visually distracted and manages to clear his plate so feels he has successfully completed his task/activity.
- Draw up lists of the things he is eating, things he used to eat and two new things I’d like him to eat.
- If he tries new food we praise him for it. WE need to produce it the same day or next. This immediacy is crucial.
- Buying a similar food with a slight difference and letting him try a little at a time has helped in introducing new foods.
- Each child is unique.
- Avoid making assumptions.
- Work out what is particular to your child (e.g., texture, taste or look of food).
- Have a positive and persistent attitude.
- Don’t stop presenting new food.
- You need to be inventive (e.g., playing with food; potato prints; looking at food; chopping food; burying food; growing food; make splodge – using all food items in the home).
- Familiar foods in amongst new stuff.
- Be careful of too much snacking.
- Don’t feel guilty.
- Parents are the expert.
- Recommended dietary allowances are over exaggerated.
Little Cooks Club is running a Baby Food Making Class on 5 April from 9h30-12h00. New moms, please join us to learn how to make your own Baby Food.
For more information, please visit our website: Little Cooks Club.
