As an adult, we can make our own food choices, focusing on healthy and nutritious food. Health and nutrition may not be you child’s first option when he/she is looking to satisfy their hunger. Of course, children enjoy junk food. Cheesy pizzas, pastas, caffeinated beverages and soda pops are tempting to children. It therefore becomes a parent’s responsibility to monitor diet plans for kids and help them choose their food wisely. Picky eaters or children suffering from food allergies or food intolerance pose a problem.
Formulating a child diet chart from your baby’s early years may help you understand your child’s dietary needs and fulfill his/her nutrition requirements accordingly.
Baby diet chart. For a newborn, your pediatrician may recommend breastfeeding milk from birth to the age of at least six months. After six months, your child may show signs that he/she is ready for complementary foods. Child experts agree that although most children express curiosity for solid foods post six months, there are numerous benefits of continuing breastfeeding up to the age of one.
Feeding your child iron-fortified infant formula is an alternative to breast-feeding, especially if the child is lactose intolerant. When your child is ready to try complementary foods, you may consult your pediatrician and formulate a baby diet chart to help you through each stage of your child’s eating process. You may start by feeding your child soft foods that are easy to swallow. Gradually, you may introduce solid or semi-solid foods such as strained vegetables and fruits, fruit juices, tender and fully-cooked meat, and dairy products such as mild cheese.
By the time your child is ten to twelve months old, he/she is ready to eat at the family table. When preparing your child diet plan, ensure to introduce a variety of foods early on. This will create a healthy and versatile palate for your child, and he/she will be less fussy about trying new food items.
Diet plans for teenagers. You may be in control of your child’s diet at home, but as they grow up, teenagers are more prone to experimenting with their diet. Remember that this is an important stage in your child’s life. They are growing into adults and need all the energy and nutrients that healthy food can provide. Moreover, as hormonal changes alter their bodies, diet plans for teenagers can help balance their hormone levels, provide strength, and improve physical development.
As parents, you need to watch out for signs of fad dieting among teenagers. At this age, your child may relate eating to his/her self-esteem, especially if they are overweight or underweight. Talk to your child about the harmful effects of crash dieting. Encourage them to visit a doctor or dietician along with you. You may study diet plans for overweight children and personalize a diet plan that can help your child attain the desired weight goals. Eating disorders like anorexia and bulimia often have their roots in teenage eating issues. Your support and encouragement may avoid your child taking drastic steps to lose weight.
Following a few of these guidelines will help you and your teenage child make healthy choices:
• Do not allow your child to skip breakfast. Include healthy breakfast items like oatmeal cereals, fruits and milk as part of their breakfast to provide energy.
• If your teenager is eating at school, explain the benefits of a healthy lunch. If they brown bag their school lunch, make sure you include tasty yet healthy food items such as lean meat sandwiches, vegetables, and fruits.
• Make snack time after school healthy too. Avoid stocking the fridge or pantry with oily, fried munchables. Plant fruit juices instead of colas within your teenagers’ reach.
• Suppertime should ideally be family time. Involve your children in setting the table or tableware and make them part of the dinner process. Include fresh salads, plenty of vegetables, lean meat, and seafood as part of dinner. Encourage them to eat a variety of foods and teach by example.