Child growth is orderly and continues,as the child grows their body become more active, they engage in too many activity, allotting more time for physical activities, more time for play while undergoing a poor appetite. There's a tendency that their body might not meet the right amount of nutritional value their body requires. Oversight to this matter may lead to minor to serious problems, child may suffer health problems due to poor nutrition, like malnutrition, overweight problems, retarded growth, poor eyesight, week bones and teeth and many more.Parents should supervise the food that their children eat.

Helpful Guidelines in Proper Feeding a Child

1. Follow the food pyramid guide- this a healthy guide every parents should observed.
Food should contain the following below:
  • dairy products like milk, yogurt, cheese
  • energy-giving like whole grain, cup of rice, pasta/noodles, cereals and crackers
  • protein-rich food like cheese, eggs, butter, soya, meat
  • fruits and vegetables , any green and leafy vegetables.
  • fats and sweets, butter, margarine, cakes, cookies
2. They should have 3 big meals in a day ( this major meals should contain the food in food pyramid guide) and 2 light meals in between ( slice of fruits, a whole apple, or crackers will do).

3. Give food that are rich in fiber, all fruits, whole grain, muffin, berries, dried fruits, oranges, green peas, broccoli, nuts, corn etc.

4. Serve them delightful meal that is pleasing to the eye, if they hate veggies make it more acceptable to them by shaping it into flower, moon, heart-shaped this will help in boosting their appetite.

5. Give a glass of milk to cover up food spaces or gap, in order to fill up the loses in their body. Give them a growing-up milk that is fortified with complete list of necessary vitamins and minerals that their body need plus it has probiotic or bifidus a friendly bacteria which naturally found in healthy intestine. Give them a variety of milk flavor, never stick to usual, giving them other milk flavor will restore their milk drinking habit.

  • Parents should discuss with the carer/nanny/ caregiver the details in feeding their child. They should be consistent and determined in imposing the proper feeding guide. They should need to work hand in hand. Both of them should be keen in observing the behaviour of child during meal time, monitoring the early signs and symptoms like total or complete loss of appetite should be coordinated right away to the health care provider to be properly treated.