Be mindful of nutrition and taste in your child’s diet

We live in times where supermarkets are on every corner selling junk food in shapes, sizes and colors that are attractive enough to satisfy our cravings. Plus, we have apps that deliver anything we want to our doorstep within minutes. Is it any wonder that lifestyle diseases are on the rise, not only among us adults but also in children and young adults?

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Thanks to our frenetic lives, instant and packaged foods have become a convenient choice over healthier, home-made foods that previous generations did not have as many choices as we do today. When convenience trumps conscious eating, an issue parents of young children must constantly grapple with is how they can be more mindful of what their children eat. Lounge she talks to experts to find out how important it is to pay attention to what’s on a child’s plate and the ways parents can balance their busy lives with their children’s health.

“We live in an age where kitchens have become modular and the food we eat is processed,” writes Bengaluru-based clinical nutritionist Gauravi Vinay. Gut, Set, Go, a children’s journal she wrote to help them create a healthy relationship with food. The magazine, reveals Vinay, was the result of the many inquiries she was constantly receiving from parents on how to encourage their children to eat healthily.

“I also did an online workshop on child nutrition during covid-19, which many people signed up for,” she recalls. The magazine hopes to further educate children about what goes into their bodies, and does so through pictorial descriptions of healthy foods, nutritional information, and sections such as ‘Know Your Food Colours’ and innovative ideas for school . dabas. Emphasizing that good eating habits start at home, Vinay says, “I didn’t have to try hard to get my son to eat good food because it was always important in our house to get fresh produce. Also, he was always involved in grocery shopping where he saw us, his parents, choosing fresh food over processed food.”

The Rise of Clean Baby Food Brands
Many companies understand the growing gap between children’s nutritional needs and the challenges parents face in getting children to eat healthily. And they want to close it by giving many cleaner and healthier alternatives. For example, Kiddoze, a Mumbai-based brand, makes nutritional gummies for children, but to ensure that their ‘target group’ enjoys them, they offer their range of multi-vitamin, calcium, omega and iron gummies in tasty, fruity flavours. . For Nonita Mehta, founder of Kiddoze, the idea to create flavored supplements for kids came from the lack of options in the market.

“The options (available) are convenient but they do not contain the essential nutrients necessary for their growth and development. In addition, busy lifestyles and the ubiquity of digital devices have contributed to a decline in physical activity among children, affecting their overall health,” she says. Mehta believes that it is essential today that baby nutrition products are comprehensive and meet different needs. Especially due to the new health challenges that have affected our modern lifestyles such as iron deficiency, food sensitivities, malnutrition, dietary restrictions and allergies. The way she sees it, Mehta feels that it is possible to “strike a balance between modern life and having nutritious options that kids can enjoy”.

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Vinay approves of ‘alternative and clean packaged foods’ for children. “The processing is not that bad. It just depends on the level. The key is to read the ingredients listed on the package. Usually, the first few ingredients are the largest in quantity,” she explains.

The biggest problem faced by most parents who consult him is that children are eating voraciously and are not against healthy, nutritious foods, says Dr. Sayed Mujahid, pediatrician, influential (Dr HiFive on Instagram) and co-founder of Hungry Koala, a company. which makes organic food products such as cereals, nut butters and pancake mixes for children.

“A growing child needs a healthy, balanced diet with the right portions of carbohydrates, proteins and other essential vitamins and minerals. But today’s kids crave sugary or salty processed foods that are readily available. That’s why I started Koala Hunger two years ago: to make clean, nutritious foods for children that are free from artificial flavors and preservatives,” he says.

Mujahid also runs workshops, and is known for his ‘Read Before You Feed’ campaign. “It’s really important to read the labels of all the foods we buy,” he says. “Parents should set an example by eating healthily, avoiding the screen while eating, and making time to sit together and eat as a family, at least once a day,” he says.

When parents watch what their children eat, the children develop a positive relationship with food, Mehta notes. “Different nutritional options are introduced and mindful eating habits are encouraged with children developing a healthy attitude towards food. With a few simple changes, feeding can be an enjoyable experience for babies and a worry-free journey for parents.”

Deepa Natarajan Lobo is a freelance journalist based in Bengaluru.

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