Tips on how to teach your baby the right snacking habits
Most babies love junk food, especially those with attractive flavors and colors. Most of the above-mentioned snacks are high in sugar and fat, which negatively affects children's digestive systems. That is not to mention, on the market, there are many types of junk food that do not guarantee the quality, which can cause digestive disorders. However, snacking will also be beneficial for the development of the baby if parents give them the right snacking habits.
Why do children have a habit of snacking?
Children often grow up quickly and are very active, so they have high needs for energy as well as other essential nutrients. But children's stomachs are smaller than adults, so they can't eat a lot of food in one meal and often feel hungry between meals. If your child only eats 3 main meals, he may not get all the nutrients he needs. Therefore, supplementing snacks in addition to the main meals is more beneficial for the development of children.
Things to keep in mind when giving your baby the right snacking habit
Proper snacking not only helps children develop comprehensively but also contributes to the formation of healthy eating habits. Here are simple, easy-to-follow ways to help your baby develop healthy snacking habits:
Choose healthy snacks
When choosing snacks for children, parents should limit their children to eating fast foods, containing a lot of sugar and "bad" fats such as fried foods, carbonated soft drinks, prepackaged snacks, etc. .. Instead, add foods rich in protein, vitamins, and minerals and should only be limited to between 100-200 calories. It may be mentioned as:
- Dairy products: cheese, yogurt
- Oatmeal
- Crunchy biscuits
- Fresh vegetables and fruits (banana, apple, pear, ..)
Try combining the above foods with herbal spices, to stimulate the baby's taste and increase interest. You can use garlic powder, cinnamon powder, cumin, basil, .. combined with fruits, green vegetables, oats, cereals for your baby to enjoy. Not only bring delicious taste, but the above spices are also extremely safe and rich in nutrients that are beneficial for children.
Control your baby's snacking needs
When children start going to school, because they want to have fun with friends, they will eat snacks outside. Although these may be unhealthy foods, do not be too strict to prohibit children. Instead, adjust your baby's wishes, which will allow him to eat when he is obedient, obedient. This is also a good way to help children avoid bad eating habits. On the other hand, prepare snacks for your child to take to school from foods that are low in cholesterol, low in sugar, and low in fat. From the healthy foods mentioned above, you can try to create many different snack recipes, to help your baby develop better-eating habits.
The right time for baby snacks
That is the time between two main meals, at least 1-1.5 hours from the main meal. Your baby's snack time can be fixed or not, but make sure not to snack too close to the main mealtime. Thus, the baby will feel full, no longer have an appetite.
Snacks are also a part of the diet, helping your baby better balance nutrients. Therefore, helping children form scientific eating habits, using healthy foods is essential for their healthy and comprehensive development.
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