Questions Moms Ask!
Himalaya BabyCare, in their constant endeavour to promote ‘Healthy Babies, Happy Mothers’, recently organised a Webinar on Child Nutrition.
I too attended that.
The Live Session on Facebook was presided by renowned Nutritionist Poornima Shankar of Bengaluru. It was joined by hundreds of mothers and most of them shared almost same queries, concerns and grievance – my kid doesn’t eat anything! (am sure the nutritionist must be like – tell me something new).
Here I am enlisting some of the FAQs and their responses by the nutritionist (beyond the cliche of – my kid doesn’t eat anything) on mother and child’s nutrition.
Q: How many calories a child of 9 years should be having?
A: Anywhere between 1200 to 1500 calories per day in a nutritious, wholesome meal. Empty calories coming through junk food and fizzy drinks should be avoided.
Q: How soon a woman can start exercising after a Cesarean section?
A: After a month or a half of the delivery. She should avoid heavy, strenuous exercising and weight lifting. Brisk walking and other light exercises can be done. She can go back to regular gym exercises after 4 to 6 months under supervision.
Q: How much calcium is needed by a baby of 18 months?
A: A toddler of 1-1/2 should consume 500 to 600 mg calcium per day through milk and other dairy products.
Q: At what age can we introduce egg in a child’s diet?
A: Egg can be introduced in a child’s diet around 6 months of age. approximately after 6 month in the soft boiled form. One should start by giving egg yolk first as it is easily digested and also because some babies could be allergic to egg whites. So that can be introduced at a later stage.
Q: Does iron/calcium supplements need to be continued even after delivery?
A: No harm in continuing along with healthy, nutritious and balanced diet.
Q: My child is not accepting other new food items that I try to give him beyond the regular ones he is used to.
A: This is a usual condition known as Neophobia. It is natural human tendency not to accept anything new or which is unfamiliar instantly. Introduce one new food at a time, once a week. Try it for couple of time, in different situations and through different people.
Q: I have noticed white patches on my daughter’s face. Is it because of calcium deficiency?
A: Without proper physical examination it is difficult to say what kind of discoloration they are. It is best to take a dermatologist’s advice for this to rule out any skin related conditions .
Q: Are there any contrast foods which should not be given to babies – like salt and sweet together?
A: Nothing significant from nutrition or medical point of view reagrding this.
Q: Can I give almonds and cashews to my 10 month baby?
A: Yes, of course you can. They are rich in vitamin E and good for their system but makes sure that they are soaked and made into a paste. Larger pieces can cause choking hazards.
Q: How many meals should be given to a one year old kid?
A: Typically we follow 3 to 5 meal plan for the day, spread across every 2-3 hours.
Q: If a baby is breast fed for 18 months and is not accepting any top feed or food, how to deal with that?
A: You must start introducing other solid foods at this stage. If the child is not accepting them in their original form, try to mix milk with them. For example make a milk and banana smoothie or mix milk in cooked daliya.
You can listen to the complete session here
For picky eaters, read some quick and easy tiffin recipes here –
Tiffin Recipes – Plan, Prepare & Pack Smart