All parents want their children to be healthy and happy. However, it is a task for parents to give their children a good diet. The reason is – these days their childhood has been drawn towards the consumption of food products especially unhealthy packed food.
Being a teacher I have witnessed children looking lethargic early in the morning during assembly or even during very light exercise in the morning. During classes, they are present physically but mentally somewhere else. It makes us wonder how to make sure that children start their days with healthy, balanced meals so that they are physically active and mentally alert.
Understanding proteins for your child’s overall development
Protein deficiency, unhealthy food habits, unbalanced diet, and more inclination towards packed, easy-to-make food are some of the hindrances in the child’s capacities and capabilities, in their daily lives. Parents should make sure that they develop good eating habits in their children and also emulate the same.
How to get your kids to eat right
As a parent, you must know how to make your kid like healthy foods. Sometimes, kids are fussy around meal times and making the food interesting and tasty can go a long way in helping them make healthy choices.
This you can do by adding some flavour so that they love the taste.
In other words, to attract children to healthy food, make a change in colour and taste. I prefer to add complan to a glass of milk for my daughter because it makes the milk taste yummy. This is what she says! Complan has 34 vital nutrients including 100% milk protein, vitamins and minerals. In fact, it contains 63% more protein than other nutrition drinks. Moreover, Complan is clinically proven to support 2x faster growth. It helps both of the problems that worry me all the time. It helps my child in her overall growth and development.
Other than this, I include some of the good brain foods too.
Other foods to make your child healthy and happy
Along with what my child likes, I prefer to add healthy food that she needs to grow well both physically and mentally. This diet includes good food like
1. Eggs
2. Peanut butter ( PBJ sandwich)
3. Whole grains like wheat couscous
4. Oats or Oats meal like adding oats and banana smoothie with milk.
5. Strawberries, blueberries, and cherries are the favourite ones for children. I also add Indian gooseberry to chutneys or other regular food or as Murrabba
6. Beans as a salad or with rice. I prefer to make a roll with bean salad.
7. Yoghurt with fruits or Milk with Complan (as told before)
Symptoms to check for deficiency
There are many ways by which we can interpret that our child is nutrient deficient, may be protein deficient.
This can easily be done by being a little vigilant about the child’s growth and his/her behaviour.
● If you see that a child’s nails are brittle or hair is without shine and even thinning of hair can be due to lack of protein
● Loss of muscle mass is another indication of protein deficiency
● Bone fracture and getting infections are other symptoms.
We always want our children to be at their best, so we should be very careful with the food we are giving them. Hence always check the food labels for ingredients so that our children grow fit in both capacities- physically and mentally too. Once they are focused and concentrated on their goals for life, about their decision-making, they will surely be good human beings and good citizens too.
DISCLAIMER- The views expressed in the blog content are independent and unbiased views of solely the blogger. This is a part of the public awareness initiative supported by Complan.
