When chubby isn't healthy
Parents are comforted seeing that their toddler looks chubby even
if he has become a picky eater. But being round does not necessarily mean being
healthy. What's more important is for the child to eat the right kinds of food.
"Pediatrician Dr. Arturo C. Ludan stresses that trans fats and animal or saturated
fats, usually found in toddler "favorites" like French fries and other junk food,
should be avoided.
"Too much intake of these fats is the root of inflammation in the body. It's been
shown to cause many diseases like atopic dermatitis, asthma and later on in a child's
life, diabetes, hypertension, arthritis, stroke, and cardiovascular diseases," he
says.
So nurture your children with well-balanced meals for optimum growth and development.
Q: How important is it for toddlers to get the proper nutrition?
A: "It's a growing stage, so certain nutrients are needed to support a child's physical
growth, neurodevelopment, and immune system," says Dr. Arturo C. Ludan, a fellow
of the Philippine Pediatric Society, American Academy of Physicians, and Philippine
Society of Pediatric Gastroenterology and Nutrition.
He adds: "Assuming the baby was breast-fed exclusively up to six months, and [ideally]
even up to two years of age, a toddler will continue to have natural antibodies
and the essential nutrients for neurodevelopment from his mother. However, at 2
to 5 years, a toddler gets his first exposure to viral infections, and will need
the appropriate nutrients to strengthen his immune system."
Q: What should my 3-year-old be eating?
A: During the toddler years, as your child begins to show more interest in play
than in food, you must ensure that he gets the nutrition vital at this stage. Build
the foundation of good nutrition - feed him a balanced diet, which should cover
both macronutrients and micronutrients in different combinations every day. Toddlers
should have lean meat, fish, beans, and fat sources like nuts and vegetable oil.
For his neurodevelopment, he should also get trace minerals like iron, iodine, and
the very important fatty acid, docosahexaenoic acid or DHA, which contribute to
higher IQ. Also give milk, a good source of calcium and vitamin D. And because a
toddler is now able to move around more "with monumental speed, agility and energy"
it is important to keep him hydrated with lots of water, and to lessen his white
sugar and sodium intake. A high sugar intake may result in hyperactivity, whereas
too much sodium is bad for a child's young kidneys.
Q: Are there new tactics I can use to feed a picky eater?
A: Getting a toddler to eat the right food is a challenge, so a little creativity
in presentation is often necessary. However, the approach now is to employ a more
holistic manner. Apart from the proper diet, exercise and the right environment
also help. Fresh air, lots of space, toys that encourage creativity and problem
solving, and limited TV and computer time will encourage better eating habits."