What to feed your baby on the road? The answer is not always obvious, there is a lot to think about. But if you prepare, everything will be fine. Feeding a child on vacation is no more difficult than at home, and you can go on your first family vacation a month after the baby is born. First category pediatrician Ekaterina Borisovna Bulavina talks about this.
— Ekaterina Borisovna, from what month can you start traveling with a baby?
— There are no contraindications to traveling with a healthy baby almost from birth. However, long trips are not recommended until the child is examined by specialized specialists. Not every health problem manifests itself immediately after birth; the maternity hospital doctor and mother may not immediately detect problems. Therefore, during the first month, the child should be examined by a pediatrician, neurologist, surgeon, ophthalmologist and dentist. An ultrasound of the internal organs and brain should be performed. And if after screening no pathology is detected, you can plan your first long trip.
— Does the baby need to be breastfed only or can artificial feeding be added?
- If the child is completely breastfed, nothing is easier for the mother. The most suitable, warm and sterile food will always be nearby. However, when traveling, it is not always possible to be alone with your child and feed him. Travel hassles can lead to a decrease in mother's milk supply, and the baby may refuse to breastfeed. Such moments should be foreseen in advance.
You can use pre-expressed milk, but its use is very limited. Carrying a freezer or thermal bag with a supply of frozen milk is not always convenient. In this case, an adapted milk formula can come to the rescue. All mom needs to take in this case is a bottle, a travel sterilizer, a package of formula and a thermos with hot water. It is optimal to use the mixture in packages designed for one feeding. Sachets are convenient to take in hand luggage: with them you do not need to add the mixture using measuring spoons from a whole jar.
Cook together
The easiest way to get your child interested in food is to cook lunch or dinner together. Entrust him with mixing the base for pancakes, making a couple of minced meat cutlets, or filling muffin tins with batter. The child will be filled with pride for the work done and will definitely want to try its fruits. In addition, this request will help instill in the child an understanding of household responsibilities. Just don't forget to remind him at the end what a great guy he is.
Advertising lunch
Appetite does not always come while eating. Sometimes he needs help. If your child doesn't eat and it becomes a habit, encourage him to draw before lunch. Draw a pot of soup, colorful vegetables, or a pie with filling on a piece of paper. And about half an hour before meals, start temptingly lamenting: “What a delicious lunch we will have today! I just can’t wait!” The baby will be intrigued and begin to count the minutes until the cherished hour.
Gourmet children or what to feed your child?
Author: Natalia Gorn, family doctor, general practitioner and functional medicine, specialist in preventive and anti-aging medicine
Passion for pasta
When at a reception parents complain that their child does not eat a whole list of foods, I always ask: “But he likes borscht? What about cutlets, meatballs, pancakes? Pasta, baby sausages, buckwheat with meat? Then why can’t you feed your child these dishes?”
A problem that is far from new, but still relevant for parents, is the food selectivity of children, when they refuse to eat many correct and healthy foods - from fish to cottage cheese.
Children demand the same thing - pasta, sausages, potatoes and chicken.
Most mothers are concerned: if the baby doesn’t eat everything else, it means he doesn’t get the necessary vitamins and microelements and doesn’t develop. And mothers continue to solve the problem the old fashioned way, as was customary in their childhood: they feed more often and more, coming up with various tricks, luring, scaring, including cartoons. But quite quickly, adults reach a dead end - the child still refuses many foods. Moreover, with such behavior, parents, without realizing it, cause serious harm to their children. There is a deep violation of food stereotypes and habits. After all, no one has canceled the importance of such a process as imprinting - the primary impression children have about any phenomenon, including products.
He doesn’t eat - and he doesn’t need to
You need to understand that a child is still a living organism different from an adult. Children may well not eat what is usual for the diet of mothers and grandmothers. This can manifest itself from an early age, when new foods are introduced into complementary foods. There may be several reasons - psychological, physiological and pathological.
Food selectivity can be the result of a number of genetic or enzyme disorders, when the body is unable to digest certain foods, for example, meat (due to low acidity) or dairy products (lactose intolerance). These mechanisms have not been fully studied, but doctors suggest that the child subconsciously feels that after eating a product he feels discomfort in his tummy, so he rejects this product. If a child suddenly changes his eating behavior, this is always a reason to think, observe and consult a doctor. And in such a situation, you should under no circumstances force feed him.
Psychological reasons for children's selective eating behavior result from parents' attempts to force-feed their child or force him to finish eating everything, or punish him for refusing to eat. And also an attempt to make feeding a tedious procedure for the child, when persuasion “for mom, for dad...”, games with birds, an evil uncle, etc. are used. Thus, the child develops an aversion both to individual foods and to the very process of eating food.
A matter of taste
Very often, children may simply not like the taste of a product, its appearance, smell or texture. Some children do not like grains of cottage cheese, the texture of green peas, the taste of liver, the smell of onions - everything is individual. This may change with age.
Or you can try to disguise these unwanted products in a form that is convenient and favorite for the child. If he doesn’t like cottage cheese in its pure form, he can easily eat it in the form of a whipped mass, yogurt or casserole. Doesn’t eat meat in pieces - offer it in the form of cutlets, meat muffins, liver pancakes. Broccoli can be mashed with potatoes or casserole. If your child does not eat eggs, they can be prepared in the form of omelet pancakes, which he will happily eat. Sometimes children simply don’t like the name of the dish: fish soup won’t be there, but fish soup will.
There are also objective reasons for a selective attitude towards food, which few people talk about - the mother’s elementary inability to cook. It simply tastes bad to a child. And boiled pasta is difficult to spoil.
Sometimes the reason lies in the fact that the mother considers her own diet acceptable for the child. Agree, not all children will be happy to eat the superfoods that their mother loves. Again, your culinary imagination will help you.
How to feed a gourmet?
It is best to formulate a child's eating habits from an early age.
- Try to stop breastfeeding in time, otherwise the baby will refuse new food in favor of the usual milk. Gradually introduce new foods into his diet, perhaps along with those he already loves. But don’t make the mistake of teaching your child to taste sweet.
- Be patient: often, in order for a child to agree to try a new food and accept it, you need to offer it 8-15 times.
- Stop trying to persuade and force your child to accept the product - this will make him even more disgusted. If he refuses the fish, offer it another time. Sometimes the “for company” trick works: the baby sees that the fish is on mom and dad’s plates, and he also wants to follow the example of the adults. Or the example of other children - at a children's party or in kindergarten. Therefore, mothers are often surprised that in the garden the child eats, for example, fish cakes, but not at home.
- In order for a child to want to try a new product, it is necessary to create a friendly and calm atmosphere, to choose the right moment when the baby is in a good mood and is not capricious.
- Do not make sweet snacks between main meals, but strictly adhere to the diet, then the baby will have a good appetite - he will have time to get hungry, and at this moment it is quite possible to offer him something new. But the child should not be very hungry - in this state all children are capricious and even aggressive.
Pedagogical complementary feeding
Unlike traditional complementary feeding, when there is a sequence of introducing foods, various cereals and purees, with pedagogical (natural) complementary feeding the baby tries adult food at a common table with his parents. This is how a child’s food interest is established.
Rules:
- — Get approval from your pediatrician for such complementary foods.
- — Separate breastfeeding and feeding at the table in order to track the baby’s body’s reaction to a particular product.
- - The family should eat properly - dishes should not be fried, smoked, salted or with seasonings.
- - Give the child foods from the table in minimal quantities, since at first the goal is not to feed, but to give him a try, to accustom him to adult food.
Published: December 2, 2021
Creating an atmosphere
Often the problem of feeding a child can be solved by creatively arranging his personal space in the kitchen. The baby should have his own place at the dining table and a chair. Place bright napkins or wicker coasters with cheerful designs next to it. Hang a poster in a prominent place with a funny animal holding a spoon and licking its mouth appetizingly. Be sure to buy your child his own set of dishes with his favorite cartoon characters.
Ways to feed a baby that almost always work
All parents want to have a magic wand, after waving it, the child would eat all the food. Alas, this does not exist in nature, but there are several proven methods that always work:
- The first time your baby tries to eat on his own, let him do it. The downside of this method is the dirty child and everything around him. Plus - while the child is trying to figure out the spoon and is engrossed, it is easy to feed him;
- The more active walks in the air, the stronger the baby’s appetite. Upon arrival home, before feeding your child, give him a couple of minutes to rest;
- Have lunches with peers more often. The plates will be empty in no time.
It should be remembered that children need to prepare a variety of dishes so that over time they can understand their taste preferences and can more easily choose food to their taste.
Adding colors
How to feed a child if he refuses to eat? Make familiar dishes bright and unusual. For example, you can prepare multi-colored traffic light puree. Make the potato base according to the usual recipe. Squeeze out 2-3 tbsp in advance. l. juice of spinach, beets and carrots. Divide the finished puree into three parts, mix each with a different dye and place on a plate vertically in the form of three circles. The child will be much more willing to try such a colorful dish.
Decorating food
Original decor is also welcome. The easiest ways to experiment are with cereals, omelettes and salads. Form a silhouette of a cat's head with pointed ears on a plate of boiled buckwheat. In the upper part, place eyes made of quail eggs, cucumber circles and peas. The cheeks and ears can be made from pieces of ham, the mustache from green onion feathers, the nose from a large olive, and the tongue from a slice of red bell pepper. Use your imagination and come up with your own images.
Learning to love vegetables
It just so happens that it is vegetables that cause the most whims. But a rare healthy dish can do without them. You can solve the problem and feed your child using freshly squeezed juices, adding fresh carrots, zucchini or cauliflower. These same ingredients can be added to oatmeal cookies. Another sure way to get your child addicted to vegetables is to grow onions, cucumbers or parsley together at home.
Trying new things
Many children are wary of new foods. If it's a vegetable, try cutting it into slices and making a colorful mosaic out of them. Using artistic cutting knives, you can make a chrysanthemum from beets or lilies from Chinese cabbage. Such creations are a hit with children. They also love to drink through a straw. Let them happily sip vegetable juices, kefir and other not very attractive drinks through it.
What food to take on a trip
— What foods should you never take and what can you feed your baby on the road?
— A couple of weeks before the trip, you should not introduce new foods into your child’s diet: the reaction may be unpredictable, and rest may not take place or be spoiled by digestive problems. During the trip itself, you should also not use new products, exotic fruits and drinks.
Absolutely not worth taking on the road
the following products:
- perishable;
- requiring special storage;
- with an expiring date.
Self-prepared porridge or soup is allowed if transported in a thermos and consumed at the very beginning of the trip. Depending on the age and type of feeding, the child should receive the necessary nutrients in sufficient quantities on the road. Therefore, you should stick to your normal feeding schedule. The menu may include instant cereals, vegetable and fruit purees, and for older children - cream soup or meat puree. It is important that the portion is used once - everything that the baby does not finish is disposed of immediately. Under no circumstances should opened jars of complementary foods be left for later.
— Why is it not recommended to introduce new foods into your baby’s diet before a trip?
— A new type of supplementary feeding or complementary feeding is a test for the digestive system of a small organism. Colic, regurgitation, and unstable stools are possible as a reaction to unfamiliar foods. Of course, all these troubles are easier to go through at home, in comfortable conditions. There may be allergic reactions, both immediate and delayed. Therefore, it is not worth the risk. All age-appropriate complementary foods should be introduced in advance, so that there is time to monitor the reaction and no surprises happen during the trip.
— How often do you need to feed your baby while traveling? Is it necessary to introduce a regime?
— Each child is an individual: some are punctual from birth, and their diet is precise down to the minute, while others prefer free feeding. It is difficult to give a single recommendation. If your baby is accustomed to a certain schedule and menu, you shouldn’t violate them even while traveling. The regime should be as close as possible to the usual. But if the order is disrupted, the baby easily adapts to this, so you can deviate a little from the usual menu composition or feeding time.
Expanding the menu
At the same time, sometimes the child does not want to eat because he gets tired of the monotony. Arguments that you need to eat porridge every day in order to grow big and strong will not help here. Try to cook different porridges at least once every 2-3 days. Prepare them with different additives: fresh and dried fruits, berries, nuts, honey. Alternately make vegetable soups with noodles, potatoes, rice, etc. Take this principle into account with other dishes.
A child does not eat well: 9 tips for parents from Dr. Komarovsky
Poor appetite in a child is a common occurrence nowadays. Although, you must admit, during the war, children were unlikely to suffer from such a problem. So maybe the reason that the child “does not eat” lies in our incorrect behavior? Dr. Komarovsky on his Instagram gave some advice to parents to improve children's appetite.
No moral teachings
Believe me, talking about the need to eat is tiresome for children. It's like talking about the need to breathe. Stop reading notations.
https://gorod.lv/
Calm, just calm
Never show your child that his reluctance to open his mouth/finish eating/just eat bothers you in any way. Children are excellent manipulators, and when you show your anxiety, you risk getting double the problem.
Don't force
How to properly store and cook chicken meat: advice from Dr. Komarovsky
And don’t let this advice scare caring grandmothers and mothers. If a child really doesn’t want to eat, then you can’t force him to do it by shouting, blackmailing, or in exchange for a gift. Food eaten without appetite is not digested properly, because the gastrointestinal tract is not yet ready to digest it normally (there is not enough hydrochloric acid and enzymes in the stomach, the intestines have not been freed from previous food, bile has not been produced in the required quantity, etc.) .
https://letidor.ru/
Don't give snacks
If the baby refuses breakfast, then he does not need to be fed anything at all until noon. This is the best way to whet your appetite for lunch.
Coordinate the menu
In order for your child to eat better, it is advisable to ask him before preparing breakfast what kind of porridge he wants - rice, semolina or oatmeal. But if the agreed-upon porridge is placed on the table, and the child refuses to eat it, then the games of democracy must stop. And the point is not that the hungry should eat what they give, but about basic respect for human labor.
Thinner soup, less frequent meals
Let your child's food not be too heavy, and do not supplement main meals with several snacks, especially when it comes to cookies and candy. This is a simple way to stimulate your natural appetite.
https://frutonyanya.ru/
Sweets - after meals
An old truth that is 100% true. The part of the brain responsible for appetite is stimulated only when there is a lack of glucose in the blood. Therefore, we give sweets only after the main meal.
Move more
Movement is the best way to expend energy and keep you hungry. Reduce the time your child spends with a tablet or smartphone in his hands and go for a walk together.
https://www.emag.ro/
Doesn't want to or can't?
Should you wear masks: the opinion of Dr. Komarovsky
If your baby doesn't want to eat, leave him alone and wait. But if a child complains of nausea, or it hurts to swallow or chew, this is a reason to immediately call a doctor and put food aside.
Dr. Komarovsky advocates adequate child upbringing without violence. Do not force your baby to eat against his will; it is better to reconsider your own behavior and adjust the child’s daily routine and lifestyle.
We play at the table
Nothing captivates a child more than play, especially if the whole family takes part in it. Many children are convinced that food tastes much better on someone else's plate. So why don't you have a game of plate swapping? Serve yourself the dish that you prepared for the baby and switch. Use a felt-tip pen to draw funny faces on the shells of boiled eggs and perform a mini-play with their participation. Such a delicious presentation will surely whet your baby's appetite.
We inspire by personal example
Children unconsciously copy the behavior of their parents, and this should be used for good. If the head of the family turns up his nose at vegetables, and older brothers and sisters stubbornly ignore soups, there is no point in lamenting that the child does not eat. It is important that he hears your family praise your dishes and sees that they eat them with pleasure. And to do this, you need to gather with the whole family at the table more often and have a heart-to-heart chat, leaving the discussion of problems for later.
Do your little gourmets eat with gusto? How do you tame capricious picky eaters? Share valuable tips and stories about how you managed to get your kids addicted to healthy foods.
How to feed a child healthy food and what do deficiency conditions in the body lead to?
In the period from one to five years, intensive physical development of the child occurs. The brain, muscles, ligaments, joints, all internal organs grow, and in general, the foundations of his future health are laid. Also, young children move a lot and actively, spending a lot of energy on games. All this is a strong argument in favor of the opinion of experts that it is during this period that it is very important to feed the child healthy food.
Healthy foods for children: building blocks of health
It is not at all difficult to create a healthy diet, because the nutritional elements necessary for small children are contained in the most common foods familiar to us.
Meat for children is a source of protein and iron
Meat is a source of complete protein, and red meat is also a source of iron, which maintains hemoglobin levels in the blood. Thanks to meat food, the child’s body synthesizes the protein fibrin, which strengthens the walls of blood vessels. Hemoglobin is also a protein. Without it, internal organs will suffer from a lack of oxygen, and a dangerous disease will arise - anemia. Animal protein is also necessary for general metabolism. The healthiest meats for children are turkey, chicken, and rabbit. The best so-called red meats are veal and beef, as well as liver.
Fish for children is good for the brain, vision, immunity
Fish, especially sea fish, is rich in proteins, polyunsaturated fatty acids, vitamin D, iodine, and phosphorus. Fatty acids are necessary for brain development, healthy vision, immunity, and the circulatory system. For your child, choose low-fat fish - cod, pike perch, perch, navaga.
Eggs for children: help develop attention and memory
Eggs are an animal protein with a complex of essential amino acids necessary for a growing body. The yolk, which contains carotene and lecithin, is also useful. Carotene is important for vision, and lecithin strengthens memory, improves concentration, that is, activates brain function. But keep in mind that eggs for children must be heat-treated - boiled or baked as an omelet.
Milk and fermented milk products for children: strengthening muscles and immunity
Milk and fermented milk products for children are among the healthiest. The protein, calcium and phosphorus they contain strengthen bones, develop muscles and generally activate the growth of the child. And lactic acid bacteria normalize the intestinal microflora and thereby strengthen the child’s immunity.
Cereals give children energy
Cereals for children are a valuable source of energy for the child’s body. Any porridge (except, perhaps, semolina) contains complex carbohydrates, which are slowly broken down and provide the baby with energy for a long time. And vitamins and microelements from oats, buckwheat, and millet strengthen the body's defenses. That’s why cereals must be included in your baby’s daily diet, and not only in the form of porridges. This could be pasta made from durum wheat, rye bread, or whole grain bread. These products need to be alternated so that baby food is varied.
Vegetables and fruits are necessary for a child to have normal digestion.
It is also better to give vegetables and fruits to children under two years of age heat-treated, and then you can include them in the menu in raw form, making salads and seasoning them with vegetable oil, sour cream or yogurt. Vegetables and fruits contain fiber, which activates the intestines and cleanses it. They also contain useful minerals and vitamins necessary for development.
Of the fats, vegetable oils are considered very valuable - olive, sunflower, soybean, sesame, pumpkin. They are rich in vitamins and polyunsaturated fats. Most often they are added to salads: one tablespoon is enough.
What to do if your baby dodges the spoon? Doctor's advice If your baby refuses basic healthy foods, use your imagination, experiment with recipes, but try to feed him them. It is enough to give your little one meat dishes three to four times a week, 100–120 g per serving, fish dishes – once or twice a week, 60 to 100 g per serving. A glass of fermented baked milk, kefir, acidophilus or yogurt is the daily norm; children should also be offered curd soufflé, casserole or cheesecakes two to three times a week. For a child up to three years old, it is enough to give one or two eggs a week; for children up to five years old, two or three eggs a week.
5 ideas on how to feed a little one
If your child is not eating foods that are good for his development, don't despair. Perhaps it's time to accept his rules of life - turn everything into a game. This is an easy way to persuade your baby if he doesn’t want to do something. During the game, everything will work out, including emptying the plate of your least favorite porridge.
- Take, for example, a cucumber, a tomato, a fish fillet baked in sour cream, and together with your little one, make a delicious boat on which he will sail to the country of Zdravlyandiya. Just tell the traveler that you can get there only if you eat this boat.
- Another secret is “high” cooking, but quite accessible for every mother. Agree that pieces of boiled meat or steamed fish, and not yet salted, are not always tasty. To make healthy meals appealing to your child, try making them special. For example, an airy soufflé sprinkled with aromatic bechamel sauce - this culinary masterpiece is quickly prepared and eaten just as quickly. Casseroles, zrazy with filling, rolls, puddings - all this is not so difficult to prepare, but children usually respond well to such dish options.
- Use spices that are acceptable in baby food. Fresh or dried herbs, as well as some spices, will help improve the taste of the product. You can add dill, parsley, basil, green onions, sweet red pepper, turmeric, and sea salt to various dishes for kids. All this will give the food a new taste and, for sure, will interest the baby. For example, many children are known to be reluctant to eat fish. And as a rule, this is due to the baby’s dislike of the pungent smell characteristic of such a dish. That is why, when boiling or baking fish, it is recommended to add aromatic herbs - dill, cilantro or parsley, and before serving - sprinkle the fish with lemon juice (this can be done for a child over three years old and if he is not allergic to citrus fruits). You can also include fish in combination cutlets along with minced chicken. Then the child will receive a healthy product without suspecting that he is dealing with an unloved fish.
- The biggest problem for most mothers is when the child does not eat vegetables. In this situation, it is necessary to compromise. For example, if a little picky person categorically does not like boiled cabbage, then in soups and casseroles (in crushed form, of course), he will most likely perceive it quite normally, since he will not distinguish this taste in combination with other, more pronounced tastes. And if your child does not eat vegetables in the form of salads, offer him each component separately.
- Try to at least sometimes involve your child in preparing the food intended for him. When a child participates in the creation of something, he rightfully considers it his own work and is proud of it. This means that he will gladly eat what he prepared with his own hands.
Why is balance in a child’s diet important?
If a toddler does not receive from food all the substances his body needs, then one should not expect him to have good health. On the contrary, the right approach to children's nutrition will certainly bring good results: excellent memory, full-fledged brain function, vigor and activity, as well as strong immunity that will protect your child from many diseases.
That's why mothers need to pay special attention to creating a diet for their young children. Remember that its illiterate organization can cause slow development and other serious problems.
- For example, protein deficiency can slow down a baby's growth, weaken the immune system and normal hormone production.
- Lack of iodine leads to disturbances in the functioning of the thyroid gland, delayed neuropsychic development, and decreased immunity.
- Deficiency of calcium and vitamin D inhibits the formation of bone tissue in a growing body.
- Lack of iron leads to slower psychomotor development, memory impairment and inability to concentrate.
- If there are too few healthy ones in the baby’s diet (the so-called “slow carbohydrates”), the child’s nervous system suffers, as well as his temperament - he becomes lethargic and gets tired quickly.
This is a fact. You need to talk with your child more often about the benefits of food. Keep in mind that young children absolutely believe what adults tell them. Therefore, if you tell a toddler that eating oatmeal will make him a real hero, and a girl that she will become a fairy-tale beauty, then they will take your words as a guide to action. And it won't be a lie. For example, oatmeal contains so many useful elements that children grow stronger before their eyes. And this applies to all products that are part of a healthy children's menu.
