Food, Shelter, and Clothing – that’s fundamentally what babies need, alongside good sleep and a loving environment.
But from the age of 6 months even up to 5 years, parents usually face the issue where their kids refuse to eat food. They may not communicate their hunger as often as needed or may not be eating good enough portions at scheduled meal times. This could affect their weight gain and growth causing you to worry even more. This is a stressful situation for any parent as they face difficulties providing nutrients to their kids.
So. after trying tons of tips and tricks, here is a compiled list of proven ways to enhance your baby’s appetite and some natural foods you can include in their diet to make them grow well…
But firstly, let us know what could cause low appetite in our kids.
Causes of Low Appetite in Kids
Some of the common causes of low appetite in kids are:
1. Recovering from a Sickness
If your child usually eats well but has been showing poor eating habits recently, it could be that he is not feeling well or is just recovering from some sickness. When a child is sick, all the bodily processes take a hit, including digestion and this could result in a loss of appetite. Even after recovering, the medication and after-effects could cause the digestive process to take a little more time to return to normal, as well as the food to start tasting better.
2. Zinc Deficiency
One of the major constituents that is necessary for the stomach to digest foods is hydrochloric acid. This also triggers the feeling of hunger. Zinc is mainly responsible for producing this acid. So, if your child has a low appetite, zinc deficiency might be a contributing factor. The inclusion of foods rich in zinc in your child’s diet, for example, chicken, cashew nuts, wheat bran, and pumpkin seeds, can help restore the depleted zinc in your child’s body.
3. Slow Down of Growth
Having a low appetite does not always signify a problem. For an infant, appetite for food and feeding might be consistent or on the rise for the first few months. But right after 4-5 months, the growth begins to slow down a bit and the energy required to do so reduces as well. This, unavoidably, results in a reduction of appetite, which is perfectly normal.
4. Too Much of the Same Thing
Every diet given to your child should be of the right type and in moderation. If your child has been eating a lot of food items made of whole grains, these could keep him feeling full for a long time. Whole grains contain fiber and would need quite some time to digest fully. At the same time, if your baby is dependent on cow’s milk or even the feeding formula more than required, this could adversely affect appetite, leading to him not feeling hungry at all.
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How to Increase Your Child’s Appetite
You can try the following tips to improve your child’s appetite:
1. Giving Your Child a Nice and Filling Breakfast
The name, ‘breakfast’ signifies breaking the fast your body has been on while asleep. Therefore, the need for energy is usually highest at the beginning of the day. Giving your child a nutritious and substantial breakfast primes the body into a peak metabolic state and kick-starts their day.
2. Changing the Meal Structure
We, as adults, might be used to the 3-meal structure that gets us through the day comfortably. However, with children, since their growth is at a peak and they use up a lot of energy, their digestive system needs a strong boost. This can be achieved by replacing the 3-meal structure, and instead, giving them portioned meals every couple of hours or so. This can keep them energized and help them eat the right amount, too.
3. Snacks Can Be Considered As a Meal
The general notion of snacks is common items like biscuits, chips, and salted mixtures. But instead of snacking on non-nutritious items to kill the hunger, you can replace them with small sandwiches or nutritional cookies to take care of the hunger pangs and provide the required nutrition, too.
4. Milk is NOT a Sufficient Meal
‘A glass of milk is the best meal for breakfast,’ is in reality, a myth. Although, it may be nutritious just having a glass of milk for breakfast or as a meal is not sufficient. Excessive milk consumption reduces your child’s appetite for the following meal, being counterproductive. Therefore, milk should be kept in moderation and other dairy products can be used as an alternative as well.
5. Physical Exertion is of Great Importance
Nothing feels as good as playing outside on a cool evening or having a nice exercise session in the morning. Spending energy creates the need for energy in the body, which stimulates the digestive system and makes your child ask for more food. Usually, you will notice that children who are heavily engaged in sports and other physical activities rarely have poor eating habits.
6. Zinc is the Friend We All Need
The presence of zinc in the body is essential to carrying out the very process of digestion itself. Once the levels of hydrochloric acid in the stomach are normal, the digestion processes realign itself. Apart from giving your child food items rich in zinc as mentioned earlier, you can get your pediatrician’s approval in using zinc-based supplements as well.
7. The Secret Weapon of Having One’s Favorite Food
At times, everything looks fine and it is just the mood of your child that is not right. He might be tired of eating the same food or upset with something else. By preparing his favorite foods, you can get him started on eating adequately.
Foods That Can Help to Improve Appetite and Gain Weight in Kids
Every parent’s biggest concern is regarding the weight gain and good appetite of their kids. Here are examples of some foods that can improve the appetite and help to gain weight in babies and kids:
Breast milk: Right from birth till when babies attain 6 months of age, they need only breast milk to grow well. It is a superfood that is most nutritious and balanced for babies and helps them gain weight. It also helps to improve their immunity and appetite.
Banana: Bananas are rich in carbohydrates, dietary fiber, potassium, vitamins C and B6 thus it is an excellent source of natural energy. A single banana can provide more than 100 calories. You can make banana smoothies, shakes, puddings, or mashed bananas, and can be introduced to your child after 6 months.
Full Cream Milk: Full cream dairy milk can also help your child gain weight. Milk is a natural source of protein, calcium, essential vitamins, and minerals. At least two glasses of milk per day should be included in your 1-year-old child’s diet. You can also include homemade health powders or, dry fruit powders in the milk if your child doesn’t like plain milk. You can also make it into different shakes. Cow’s milk should be avoided until your child is 1- year old.
Sweet Potatoes: Sweet potatoes can be introduced after 6 months. It is one of the most nutritious foods as it is rich in vitamin A (beta carotene), vitamin C, vitamin B6, copper, and manganese. It is also, a very good source of dietary fiber, magnesium, phosphorus, and potassium and is low in saturated fat. It is easy to mash and digest and can also be very tasty.
Plain Meats and Eggs: Plain meat and eggs can also be a good option for gaining weight. Meat contains the essential amino acids, fat, protein, iron, zinc, and selenium. Red meat particularly provides an easily absorbed form of iron for your baby. Ensure that you introduce homemade meat to your child initially. Eggs, too are high in protein and saturated fat. They contain minerals and vitamins A and B12. They are a very healthy choice for your child’s growth and development. You should consult your child’s pediatrician before introducing eggs to your child because few kids may have egg allergies.
Along with the foods mentioned above, you could also include these in your child’s diet to improve the appetite:
• Carrot Juice
• Pumpkin seeds
• Lemon Juice
• Cinnamon
• Ginger
• Peanuts
Moreover, you should keep in mind that your child’s growth and weight are two different things. A child’s weight is one part of his overall growth but it is not essentially the only measuring criteria to mark his development. If your child is active, eating healthy food, and has a strong immunity system, you have a healthy child.
Dr. Favvy
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Disclaimer
The
information on this blog is just for educational purposes only.
It
should not be used as a replacement for the medical care and advise of your
child’s pediatrician.
Always
consult your pharmacist before giving your child any drug.
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