10 CHILD NUTRITION MYTHS THAT NEED TO BE BUSTED

Feeding kids is one of the biggest challenges that parents face, especially when there are conflicting bits of advice coming in from various sources.

- By Dr Hemapriya, mylittlemoppet_official

Someone suggests avoiding bananas in winter, while another thinks your child should have 5 meals a day.

There are many such pieces of 'nutrition myths' that we hear all the time and the noise can get deafening. How does one know what the truth is? Well, today we're going to sift the chaff from the wheat, and bust all the myths once and for all!

Children Need Frequent Snacks

Most parents (and grandparents) are of the opinion that kids need to be eating something constantly, and frequent snacks are essential to ensure they don't get hungry in between meals. While it is true that smaller, more frequent meals are better for younger children, constant snacking reduces a child's appetite and by the time mealtime rolls around, he doesn't feel like eating anything.

The kind of snack also plays an important role. Avoid deep-fried snacks or processed foods. Instead, go for fruit or veggie chunks, or some nuts. If feeding something like a sandwich, don't make it so heavy that it ends up becoming a full meal in itself. Most of the time, what kids really need is a glass of water, so try offering that first before a snack.

Kids Will Starve If They Skip A Meal

Indian parents get all flustered when their child skips a meal, thinking it's the end of the world! However, such fears are misplaced, and skipping one meal will not have any major long-term impact. There are many reasons kids skip meals - maybe they had a huge snack or they're just too caught up in their play. Kids often eat less during certain seasons, like summer.

Most children will make up for their missed meal at other times, so don't worry too much about it. Children also tend to balance out their nutrition throughout the course of the day, so don't stress if they don't have a perfectly balanced meal every single time.