#childnutrition – That Madras Mom

A healthy mind and a healthy body are all that we need for our kids. A well-balanced diet ensures that the child gets all the necessary nutrients to attain proper growth as per their age.

Milk is one of the most important foods that kids need in their early ages but making them drink milk is a herculean task. Kids tend to resort to all sorts of tantrums rather than simply drinking milk.

We’ve seen in television commercials where the kid pours the milk from his glass into the cat’s bowl in the absence of his mother. All this denotes that kids have an aversion to drinking milk which is very essential for their age-appropriate growth.

Why is milk necessary for kids?

BUILDS STRONG BONES AND TEETH

Calcium, the superhero nutrient found in milk, plays a pivotal role in bone formation. Bones grow rapidly in childhood and adolescence; calcium ensures that they become sturdy and resilient.

Vitamin D which is also present in milk ensures that calcium absorption is taking place. This dynamic duo is essential for healthy bones and teeth.

POWERHOUSE OF PROTEIN

Amino acids are building blocks essential for growth, muscle repair, and overall health. Milk as a complete protein source has all essential amino acids.
Growing kids need protein to fuel their active lives, support tissue growth, and build a good immune system.

BRAIN BOOSTERS

Vitamin B2 and B12 in milk contribute to the normal functioning of the nervous system. They help in energy production and keep the nervous system running.

IMMUNE SYSTEM

Vitamin A in milk powers the immune system helping kids defend against infections and diseases.

NUTRITION DRINK

Milk has a combination of carbohydrates, fats, and proteins offering energy throughout the day. These macronutrients help recharge their batteries after a good play session.

Why is protein important for kids?

Protein is very much essential for children’s growth and crucial for their development.

TISSUE BUILDING BLOCKS:

Protein serves as raw materials for building tissues like skin, hair, and bones.

IMMUNE SYSTEM

Protein is a key component of antibodies which help in fighting against diseases. A good immune system relies on protein intake.
MUSCLE FUNCTION AND MOVEMENT
Muscles are made up of protein. No matter whether the child is running or standing, muscle is needed to move limbs.

HORMONE REGULATION

Protein plays an important role in hormone production and regulation. These are the chemical messengers of the body.
A well-balanced diet with protein-rich sources ensures a child’s optimal growth and well-being.

Milk is one of the rich sources of protein that can contribute to your kid’s daily protein needs. But do not worry if your child resists drinking milk. Here are some ways that can help them drink milk.

FUN CUPS AND COLORFUL MUGS

Kids love bright and playful things. Offer milk in fun, colorful mugs, and cups. Visual appearance can make a difference and they will be excited to drink milk.

ADD FLAVOUR

You can add Complan which comes in 3 flavours to your child’s milk. Complan with 34 vital nutrients including 100% milk protein has 63% more protein than any other nutrition drink, supports 2x faster growth, and supports memory and concentration.
I am sure the different flavours will help you convince your child to look forward to their morning cup of milk!

WARM MILK MAGIC

Some kids love to drink milk when it’s warm. So gently warm it and offer it in their favorite cup. The warmth sure does some magic for kids.

SMOOTHIES TO THE RESCUE

Blend milk with fruits like bananas, apples, and berries to create smoothies. Kids love to drink these fruity concoctions.
Milk isn’t just a beverage but a nutritional powerhouse. Encourage kids to embrace their daily dosage of milk. Remember, healthy habits start early and milk is a delicious way to set the child’s path on a life-long journey of good health. Cheers to strong bones, bright smiles, and happy tummies.

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.

Gone are the days where a chubby kid was termed to be healthy. We were all once brought up with the notion that a kid was healthy and was of the right growth for his/her age if they are chubby. On the contrary, a lean child was thought to be sick or ill.

We are now in the time wherein the child’s growth is tracked with Growth Parameters. These parameters are the weight, height, head circumference, and now with the inclusion of BMI. I wasn’t aware of any instances where my parent or my pediatrician mentioned BMI. But yes, today it is also one of the growth parameters. Welcome to the world of Millennial parenting.

The worry about growth parameters doesn’t start when your kid starts eating by self, but when you conceive. The ideal weight for the fetus, the length of the thigh bone, and the head circumference for each week is already there on the charts, anything less than that is something of a worry that your doctor lets you know.

The concept of structured meals is not only when the kid is out but starts from when they’re inside you. An ideal weight gain is a parameter that is fixed for pregnant mothers and her diet varies whether or not she is providing enough for the fetus. So, a healthy baby comes from a healthy mom.

Growth parameters and structured meals for kids in India are interconnected. Structured meals or proper meal planning must begin when you start solids. This not only helps the kid achieve the right growth parameters but also brings in a good eating discipline. Failing here in the first step slowly molds a fussy eater or a picky eater.

The child achieving the age-appropriate milestones also quite has a dependency on the growth parameters. Nowadays, visits to the doctor involve a mandatory graph plot against the WHO standards and a question on the milestone being attained age-appropriate.

This not only happens during the doctor visits but also since information is now available on our hands all the time, you also check instantly by making a google search or making it much easier you even have apps to plot them for you and give you a comparison report. The Grow Right Tracker from PediaSure is one such option. Just enter the data and download the report. It helps you identify the gaps and plan ways to ensure your kids #GrowRight. Sounds easy, doesn’t it? If you still have questions you can take the report along whenever you visit your child’s doctor. It reduces stress for the mothers. Try it now!

Talking about information available to us, imagine the kids, their exposure to media, peers, and the influence that can have on their eating habits. Healthy eating through properly structured meals must be practiced right from a young age. Providing kids with healthier options in a tastier and much appetizing way sure will make an impact on their food habits. By structured meal plan, I would like to stress upon planning their meal in such a way that it has all the nutrients in a right, balanced way.

But if you still do have a picky eater, don’t worry you could supplement their eating and make them achieve the right growth parameters.

Post eight months a child should have a meal pattern which should comprise three proper meals and two snacks in between them. A snack should be something wholesome and made at home. Say fruit bowl, popsicles, multigrain, or dry fruit-based snack which is all the more, healthy.

Also, make sure you observe the patterns and intervene if you see any distractions or deviations. No mood swings, tantrums during mealtime. Most importantly no gadgets or bribing with sweets to finish a meal.

Right from birth or even before that is when the body gets into rapid growth mode, both physically and mentally so make sure that the child gets what he/she needs necessarily from the beginning. Like I mentioned above your picky eater could also have proper growth with a supplement. A supplement that offers proper growth, immunity, and brain development. PediaSure could be your adequate nutrition provider supplement that helps merge the nutritional gaps of your fussy eater. Along with nutrition you also get to keep track of your child’s growth and achieve the necessary parameters.

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Disclaimer: The opinions expressed in this post are the personal views of the author. They do not reflect the views of any brand. Any omissions or errors at the author’s end does not assume any liability or responsibility on any party mentioned in the blog.