Live Chat - Right nutrition for toddlers
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Getting a toddler to eat right can be tricky. From right portion sizes to offering key nutrients for development and building a good immune system, get all the answers around what your child needs to eat and how. Register for a live chat with nutrition expert and get tips on balanced nutrition for toddlers.
- Get advice around
- - Essential food groups
- - Toddler development and nutrition
- - Practical tips for family meals with toddlers
- - Coping with picky eaters
- - Building immunity
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My lo is 8.months old n falls sick almost every month. He gets cough n fever v v quickly. Plz sugges....
My lo is 8.months old n falls sick almost every month. He gets cough n fever v v quickly. Plz suggest some remedies ?
Puja Vasisht
Hi Sayed, you need to build on his immunity. This can be done through food.
Puja Vasisht
For this ensure he is taking sufficient milk feed 400 ml -600 ml (including mother’s and any top feed).
Puja Vasisht
Do give other complementary foods like porridge of dalia, ragi, suji. Use either dates or jaggery to sweeten and not white sugar.
Puja Vasisht
can you please specify the weight at birth and present weight of your child?
Puja Vasisht
Dal, egg yolk (semi boiled),can be given as it is or it could be added to his soup, khichri, upma, mashed rice.Do include some green leafy vegetables, carrots (well cooked/mashed and sieved) in his diet either in the form of soup or add these to his khichri or mashed potatoes.
Puja Vasisht
Give some fresh fruit juice (apple, pomegranate). Take care that the juice is not sour.
I have a 8th month old baby boy. What are the foods that I can him at this age and can I give dry fr....
I have a 8th month old baby boy. What are the foods that I can him at this age and can I give dry fruits powder?
Puja Vasisht
Hi Preethika, at eight months you may give porridge of different cereals like dalia, bajra, ragi, semolina, rice flakes, sago etc. You can even stat with dals/lentils now. Add them to khichri or soup or can be given in idli form.
Puja Vasisht
Can you specify what all you are already feeding him?
Puja Vasisht
Wait for another one or two months and you can him give nuts in well powdered form only. Dried fruits like dates, apricots, raisins can be soaked and blenderised to make thin puree of those.
Puja Vasisht
Have you started with some vegetables? You can start with vegetables like carrots, potatoes, sweet potatoes, fresh beans, pumpkin, gourd, green leafy vegetables. These can be given in well cooked and mashed form.
Puja Vasisht
What about fruits? Apart from fruits like banana, papaya, cheeku you may also give fruits like apple, pear in stewed(cooked) form.
My daughter is 1year 4 months old.she does not eat any thing properly. Whatever given she just takes....
My daughter is 1year 4 months old.she does not eat any thing properly. Whatever given she just takes 1 or 2 feeds and then leaves it. Few days back she was at least eating half of her food happily but now she is not eating anything.
Puja Vasisht
Hi Suchismita, children around this age start getting fussy and choosy about food and other things. You may offer her variety in her foods. Does have any favourite foods?
Puja Vasisht
If she has any favourite food, include that more frequently in her diet.
Puja Vasisht
If she is preferring semi solid texture, offer porridge, custard, thin khichdi. If she likes solid more, give her bites of roti, parantha, biscuits, slice of apple, stick of carrot etc.
Puja Vasisht
Offer variety with different types of foods. She can be given ,different types of cereals in a day, porridge of suji/dalia/sago for breakfast, upma/khichdi/parantha/idli/roti for lunch and dinner.
Puja Vasisht
Keep a gap of atleast 2-3 hours between each meal, so that your child is hungry enough to eat.
Puja Vasisht
Does she eats her meals with family or not? Children like to mimic parents. So, if you'd like your child to eat a particular food, then you should eat too.
Hi, my son is 2 yr 3 months, 10.5 kg. very active & energetic. we are concerned about his weight gai....
Hi, my son is 2 yr 3 months, 10.5 kg. very active & energetic. we are concerned about his weight gain. other than dairy products like cheese, paneer what else can be added to his diet
Puja Vasisht
Hi Tushar, can you specify your eating habits? Veg or non vegetarian?
Both...veg & non-veg. major diet is vegiterian but we give him egg, paya or chicken soup
Puja Vasisht
Increase intake of dals/legumes,give more of fruits like mango, banana, cheeku,l itchi, grapes, dates. These may be added to their milkshakes as well.
Puja Vasisht
Then give egg daily and include chicken, fish in his diet more often. That is thrice a week.
Puja Vasisht
Instead of just soup of these, give chicken in shredded pr minced form.
We include most of the vegitables in his dal which is twice a day, afternoon & night
Puja Vasisht
Add an extra spoon of butter/ghee/oil to it.
he is very reluctant to eat solid food. majority for his meal is semi solid (mashed form) still he takes around 45 mins to an hour. If we increase the portion size he vomits. so how to keep the portion size adequate but ensure right nutrion
Puja Vasisht
If he is preferring semi solid texture, offer porridge, custard, thin khichdi. You may add chicken to khichri, upma etc.
Puja Vasisht
You need to increaes his portions only gradually. Don't force him.
Puja Vasisht
Instead of giving bigger meals offer him smaller, frequent meals to ensure sufficient nutrition.
also it is non spicy so bringing him to our taste is also a challenge, how to sort this out
Puja Vasisht
It can be done only gradually. let him develop the taste of these foods on his own.
One last question ....how milk intake is necessary for his age
Puja Vasisht
Milk though is a good source of quality proteins, vits & minerals, but if the child is not keen, you offer alternatives like cheese, paneer, curd, buttermilk etc.
He drinks milk without any grumble
Puja Vasisht
Good.
we are not sure about the quantity for his age
Puja Vasisht
400-500 ml
thanks a lot Puja
My baby is 15 months old, but she is still not eating food while sitting. What ever is given to her....
My baby is 15 months old, but she is still not eating food while sitting. What ever is given to her , she takes it but after some time remove it out. what can be done? she only drinks water while sitting. please suggest.
Puja Vasisht
Hi Sneha, can you please specify the consistency of the food you are giving?
we r giving her semi solid
Puja Vasisht
Is it too thick? The baby may be having problem gulping down thicker. Give little thin semi solids
we give her cerlac mixed with water n milk
not so thick, we grind it in mixture
Puja Vasisht
I think you may keep it either water or milk. Also do offer her other fresh porridges like suji, dalia. She may be bored of it.
Puja Vasisht
What all you are giving apart from cerelac?
sure we will do it.. but just want to know when she will be taking solid foods.?
we r giving her kal , rice , suji.. n milk
Puja Vasisht
You can start with bites of solids like well soaked chapatti, mashed rice in dal, according to her teething capacity
Puja Vasisht
Do add some vegetables and fruits to her diet for more taste and variety
we r giving her but she takes it in mouth and keeps it for some time and then remove it away..
Puja Vasisht
Keep trying and offer her different foods. Repeat any new food for 4-5 days, so that she develops a taste for it
we tried giving her fruits , chapati, paneer and biscuits..
Puja Vasisht
Even in 4-5 days if she doesn't like the taste of that particular food, don/t repeat.
sure would try it out..
but all we give her is by making her sleep na d offer..
Puja Vasisht
Try giving these both in softer/mashed form and solid form. Whatever form she prefers give her that.
milk also we have to offer in same manner...
i m considered why she is not drinking, while she is sitting...
Puja Vasisht
Milk can be as milk or curd/paneer form
is it fine for this age?
Puja Vasisht
Make her sitting comfortable. If that doesn't help, consult a doctor.
ok..
My son is 19 months old. He is more into playing than eating. He eats only certain foods and very ch....
My son is 19 months old. He is more into playing than eating. He eats only certain foods and very choosy. I still breastfeed him so in the night so he doesn't have cow milk much at bedtime. Please suggest how should I get him eat everything to ensure good nutrition and make him have milk in night. Also how long can i breastfeed him. hanks
Puja Vasisht
Hi Roopa, you need to fix his schedule of meal times. Give gap between his meals.
We generally give a gap of 2 hours. Is that decent enough?
Puja Vasisht
Be a positive role model. Children like to mimic parents. So, if you'd like your child to eat a particular food, then you should eat too.
If your child isn't hungry, don't force a meal. Kids generally regulate their appetites by eating when hungry, so don’t fret.
Make positive comments about the food you are eating, such as "this is yummy!", your toddler may be more willing to try them.
Praise your toddler when he eats well, because toddlers respond positively to praise.
Always serve small portions. Toddlers can be overwhelmed by big platefuls and lose their appetite.
Keep trying. It’s a given fact that it may take 10 or more exposures to new foods before a child accepts them
Is breastfeeding reducing his intake?
Puja Vasisht
2 or 2/1/2 hours is sufficient. Don't give even juice or milk in between
Puja Vasisht
Breastfeeding should also be given at fixed timings like any meals, so that it does not hamper his apppetite
Will do that and what js the ideal quantity of cow milk that should be given?
Puja Vasisht
Total intake in this age including your milk and any top feed should not be more that 500-550 ml
Will keep that in mind. Can we introduce soya at this age or wait?
Puja Vasisht
Experts believe you should wait till 5 years
Sure. Thnx a lot puja. Will follow your advice.
Hello,my dd is 18 months old,she is very much interested in eating but she is more interested in jun....
Hello,my dd is 18 months old,she is very much interested in eating but she is more interested in junk den in healthy food and also she don't like veggies,she eats Onli chapati nd how to make her sit at 1 place Nd eat
Puja Vasisht
Hi Sweety, Restrict the intake of junk food try to minimum, for once a week/ fortnight. Don't keep any junk food in the house, so that the child is not tempted. Be firm in saying no, when child asks for junk food.
Puja Vasisht
If she only eats chapatti, try incorporating veggies in those only.
Puja Vasisht
You may knead veggies in those or stuff it in chapatti.
Puja Vasisht
You also limit her milk intake 500 ml per day and make her have meals with family. Keep gap between her two meals of atleat 2 or 2 & 1/2 hours.
Hi, I have twin baby boys 21 months old. At birth their weight was 2.7 and 2.2 kg. now their weight....
Hi, I have twin baby boys 21 months old. At birth their weight was 2.7 and 2.2 kg. now their weight is 11 and 13 kg respectively. Although according to doctor their weight gain is appropriate but their immunity is very low. They fall ill very frequently specially stomach infection. I want to know wat are the right portion sizes for them. And how often should they eat. I want you to give me a diet chart for them so that I know what all foods shd I include in their diet and in wat amount. They get up at around 9 in morning and sleep at 11 at night with approximate 2 hr nap in afternoon. They have milk thrice a day totalling approx 600 ml ( in morning after waking up, after the nap and before sleeping at night). Apart from this wat else shd I give them and at wat times
Puja Vasisht
Hi Neha, Ideally at this age they can eat more than half our diet.
Puja Vasisht
That is one chapatti atleast, 1/2 a bowl of dal, veggies.
Puja Vasisht
For immunity offer citrus fruits, amla, almonds, walnuts, flaxseeds, raisins, etc. do give green leafy vegetables also 3 times a week.
Puja Vasisht
You can give them 3 main meals and 2 snacks in between. Keep a gap of 2-3 hours between each meal and depending upon the amounts they have eaten.
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