Healthy Meal Time Habits For Children

Every parent would like their child to be healthy and fit. Apart from the actual food content, about which volumes have been written, the following elements should also be taken into consideration.

- Manjula Shukla

The process of digesting food begins with the action of saliva in the mouth and so it is necessary to chew food properly for efficient digestion. Therefore, we need to eat in a relaxed manner rather than “grab a bite on the go.”

While eating, an attitude of gratitude also should be maintained. Smt. Hansaji has always emphasised that more important than the items in the Thali, it is the attitude with which the food is eaten that makes all the difference in the assimilation of the nutrients.

It is said that a feeling of satiety comes twenty minutes after starting a meal. If one is not sensitive or aware of this, there is a tendency to overeat leading to overweight and obesity.

Growing children need their meals at suitable intervals as their requirement of energy is very high. Breakfast is very important as it is eaten after a long gap. Lack of breakfast may lead to low energy levels. During the day, meals should be served at proper times with nutritive snacks in between.