Hello Pairents,
I am sure you all are having a great time over the weekend with your little ones with all your attention and no routine or schedule. While we all go extremely relaxed during weekends and let our little ones be absolutely merry with what they want to do and what they want to eat, this shouldn’t be a habit for them….
No kid is born with habits.
That said, maintaining a healthy balance in what they want- to what they get, is the most important pairenting goal. This is extremely important to be followed in setting a discipline in their eating habits.
I often hear Pairents being extremely concerned about their kids not eating all the vegetables and throwing tantrums when they wish to eat a particular thing. Hence it is important to maintain certain discipline right from day 1. Whatever age they begin at, the rule has to be simple – You have to eat all that is served. Let me share a quick few tips of how my experience has helped me and I am all set to see the benefits on my second child too…
- Most important, not to pamper your kid by offering all that they feel like eating always
- Discipline in eating is extremely important
- Maintain the same time everyday for breakfast -lunch-dinner
- Encourage fruit consumption an hour or so before lunch and dinner and not after, helps absorb the nutrients well and also acts as good trigger for hunger to eat the meals
- Keep the food basic and simple right from the early toddlerhood
- A balanced meal is important
- As they grow older, encourage colors to make it attractive to the kid
- Delicious looking dal, Sabji, fulka and rice
- Don’t go overboard with the preparation, let them get used to simple taste, helps you in the long run
- Talk about what is being served and how it will help his/her health
- Never ever keep Plan B as an option
- Make it clear, this is the meal and there is nothing else to eat
- If a plan B is introduced regularly, you never know when it will become a habit
- Let the kids know, there is no discussion during eating, but focus is to eat and be happy
- Most important, don’t let your dislikes be theirs…. 😊
I have in the last 5 years followed the above very religiously for my elder one and am all set to follow the same for my second one too. My mother in law has been a massive support and blessing who has been a constant support for all the discipline we together could inculcate in the kids.
Occasional binge, once in a while pampering, letting them enjoy with whatever they want to eat is also extremely important at the same time but sometimes needs to be of some VALUE to the kids. To inculcate the value, we as Pairents need to be strong and not get affected with their emotional tantrums of not wanting to eat something.
I know as a working mother myself, it gets completely difficult to handle this at times. But I keep telling myself, in the process of giving them what they want, they should not start taking advantage of the same and end up being dependant kids.
Wishing you all Pairents all the very best for this journey, I am happy to answer any queries pertaining to this aspect and I will be delighted to reply with my Experience😄
Cheers!
