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The condition of picky eating significantly impacts a child's health, cognitive development, and psychology. So, what should you supplement for a picky eater to encourage better eating habits, steady weight gain, and healthy development? This article below will suggest 7 strategies to help moms address this issue!
Supplementing Milk for Picky Eaters
Picky eaters often experience slow weight gain and even malnutrition. Therefore, supplementing milk is an effective method to improve their eating reluctance and food aversion. Specifically, milk consumption offers many benefits for picky eaters, such as:
- Providing essential nutrients to promote steady weight gain and prevent malnutrition.
- Adding extra vitamins and nutrients to stimulate appetite, aid digestion, and enhance absorption,...
However, not all types of formula milk are suitable for picky eaters. In such cases, mothers should choose milk for their child based on the following criteria:
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- Appropriate Ingredients: Mothers should choose milk containing ingredients beneficial for digestion and stimulating the child's appetite, such as B-group vitamins, Zinc, Iron, Calcium, fiber, various oligosaccharides, BB536 probiotics,…
- Age Appropriateness: When a child shows signs of picky eating and weakness, some mothers mistakenly believe that giving the highest energy milk is best. However, the nutritional needs of children vary by age, and supplementing too many nutrients can put pressure on the digestive system. Therefore, mothers should choose milk suitable for their child's age.
- Trusted Brand: Currently, there are many low-quality milk products on the market posing a risk to children's health. Therefore, mothers should choose milk from reputable brands and purchase from authorized distributors.
Choosing Refreshing Milk for Your Baby
Morinaga Milk from Japan is one of the specialized milk lines for picky eaters that mothers should consider. Regarding its origin, mothers can be completely assured because it is a product of Morinaga – a leading Japanese corporation specializing in producing and trading milk and dairy products.
Morinaga Milk is enriched with many nutrients such as prebiotics Bifidus (Lactose, Raffinose, Duphalac, GOS), 2.8 billion BB536 probiotics, B-group vitamins, Iron, Zinc, Calcium, Lactoferrin to help children eat well, have good immunity, and healthy digestion. Moreover, Morinaga also offers three milk lines suitable for each stage of a child's development:
- Morinaga No. 1 – Hagukumi for babies from 0 to 6 months old.
- Morinaga No. 2 – Chilmil for babies from 6 to 36 months old.
- Morinaga No. 3 – Kodomil for babies over 36 months old.
Supplementing Zinc for picky eaters
If mothers are wondering 'What should I supplement for my picky eater who is slow to gain weight?' then Zinc cannot be overlooked. Zinc plays a crucial role, participating in enzymatic processes, the formation and development of mucous membrane cells in the intestines, blood, fat, nerves, heart muscles, etc. Lack of this micronutrient can lead to picky eating, irritability, slow growth, weakened immunity, susceptibility to digestive and respiratory diseases, etc.
Therefore, mothers should pay attention to supplementing Zinc adequately for their children through the following two methods:
Supplementation through diet
For infants under 6 months old, supplement Zinc through breast milk or formula. For infants over 6 months old, mothers can introduce Zinc-rich foods such as oysters, shrimp, crab, cereals, chicken, beef, etc., to their diet.
When cooking, mothers should pay attention to limit oily fried dishes and add more vitamin C-rich foods to enhance Zinc absorption.
Supplementing Zinc through food
Use supplementary products
Currently, there are many functional foods containing Zinc, so mothers can supplement their children with these products. However, mothers need to choose organic Zinc-containing products to ensure safety and help children absorb easily.
According to experts, supplementing Zinc for children should be carried out continuously for 1-2 months, divided into 3-5 courses per year. Besides, mothers should note that if there is no progress after 1 month of use, they should take their child to a reputable healthcare facility for a health check-up.
Supplementing probiotics
Supplementing probiotics is a method chosen by many breastfeeding mothers to improve their baby's picky eating condition. Adding beneficial bacteria to the intestines brings many benefits such as:
- Helps food digestion proceed smoothly and efficiently, allowing the baby's body to absorb more nutrients.
- Balances the microbiota, prevents harmful bacteria from invading and causing diseases.
- Supports the production of enzymes and vitamin B to help children feel hungrier and eat more appetizingly.
Mothers can supplement probiotics for their babies through some simple methods:
- Feed yogurt to children: Mothers should choose yogurts containing Lactobacillus/Bifidobacterium.
- Use probiotic supplements: Mothers can use probiotics to supplement beneficial bacteria to support digestion for their babies. When choosing probiotics, mothers should choose products containing probiotic capsules to avoid being destroyed by the acidic environment in the stomach. Additionally, mothers should choose probiotics from reputable brands and follow the manufacturer's instructions for their babies.
Supplement Calcium
Adding Calcium is also an ideal answer to the question 'What should I supplement if my baby is picky eater?'. Calcium acts as a catalyst to accelerate the metabolism and absorption of nutrients, thereby helping children feel hungry and eat more appetizingly.
There are 2 ways to supplement Calcium for picky eaters:
- Enhancing Calcium in the diet: Mothers should add calcium-rich foods to their baby's daily menu such as yogurt, cheese, nuts, whole grains, green leafy vegetables, fruits, etc.
- Using functional foods containing Calcium: Mothers should prioritize choosing products containing organic Calcium (e.g., Calcium glucoheptonate, Calcium stearate, Calcium fumarate) along with D3, K2 to facilitate absorption, prevent kidney stone deposition. Additionally, mothers should pay attention to supplementing the correct dosage, following the manufacturer's recommendations.
Supplementing Iron
Picky eaters, slow weight gain often show signs of pale skin, fatigue due to lack of the mineral Iron. Therefore, mothers should take their babies for nutritional check-ups and supplement Iron as prescribed by a specialist doctor.
Typically, mothers can supplement Iron to improve poor eating habits, prevent malnutrition in babies through the following 2 methods:
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- Diet rich in Iron: Some Iron-rich foods mothers can consider supplementing for their babies include beef, chicken, salmon, tuna, eggs, green beans, pumpkin, etc.
- Using Iron-fortified foods: Mothers should choose iron-fortified products in liquid form for easier consumption by babies. Additionally, mothers should pay attention to the iron content, the origin of the product, and ensure that the baby consumes it according to the doctor's instructions or the guidance provided on the packaging.
Supplementing appetite-stimulating vitamins for babies
Some vitamins have the effect of stimulating appetite and helping children eat more deliciously such as B-group Vitamins, Vitamin C,…These vitamins act as catalysts that activate digestive enzymes, improve the body's nutrient absorption efficiency.
Therefore, mothers should pay attention to supplementing an adequate amount of vitamins to prevent the condition of picky eating by:
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- Vitamin-rich foods: Mothers should feed their babies with fortified foods such as green vegetables, fruits, seafood, etc. During processing, it is important not to overcook at high temperatures as it may cause denaturation or loss of efficacy of some vitamins.
- Vitamin-enriched supplements: Mothers should choose reputable brands of B and C vitamins supplements to ensure safety and effectiveness for their babies. Additionally, selecting products with palatable flavors can make it more enjoyable for the baby to consume. The use of vitamins should also adhere to the doctor's and manufacturer's instructions. Typically, vitamins should be supplemented in the morning, 30 minutes after eating, for about 1-2 months.
Effective tips to improve picky eating in children
Raising a child is no easy journey, and surely every mother has at least once been concerned about their child's eating habits. If your child shows signs of crying or refusing to eat every time, closing their mouth tightly, shaking their head stubbornly, then you should consider the following experiences:
- Diversify food preparation to stimulate better appetite in children, avoiding boredom.
- Choose foods suitable for each stage of development and your child's preferences.
- Be patient, avoid threats, and create a comfortable atmosphere for the child.
- Take the child for a check-up when there are unusual signs.
When a child is picky eater along with the following signs, mothers should take the child for a nutritional check-up immediately to be diagnosed and treated in a timely manner:
- Pale skin
- Weight loss
- Fatigue, lethargy
- Vomiting
- Abdominal discomfort
- Diarrhea
- Constipation
- Frequent illness
- Hair loss
- Disturbed sleep, night terrors
- Excessive sweating
- Slow development,…
Hence, this article has helped mothers address the question 'What should I supplement for my picky eater?'. Hopefully, this useful information will help mothers better understand the condition of picky eating in children and find appropriate measures to help their children eat better and develop more healthily. If you need free consultation on any nutrition-related issues for your child, connect with our experts via hotline 0916 434 429.
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