This is what is called food neophobia. After eating almost everything, they refuses almost everything, especially vegetables and what is new. How to make they eat something other than ham, pasta and potatoes? How to deal with this phobia?

At first the child likes just about everything

From birth, we have an innate taste for sweet taste. But very young children are very curious. Result from dietary diversification (food phasing in parallel feeding or bottle) and up to age 2, children at almost any taste, even if they show their own preferences. It is important to use this time to help them discover a wide variety of tastes. For after, things get complicated and often the child starts to refuse many foods.

Then the meals are complicated

This is the food neophobia. This term refers to the fear of new foods, a normal phase in the development of the child. In fact, around 2-3 years, the child would also like to refuse food before he ate it and even enjoyed. This period is especially marked between the child at this age in a phase of self-assertion and systematic opposition. So do not take offense too much, but respond appropriately to this situation and usually temporary.

Some tips for weathering the food neophobia

- Stay calm. Meals should degenerate into conflict. Keep in mind that this period is temporary and the child’s tastes are changing rapidly.
- Do not turn the refusal of food in an affair of state, the risk that food causes blockage final.
- Accept the refusal and propose another substitute food. But refused the food should not be ruled out definitively. Rather, it is important to offer again and again several times. It is likely that food will be accepted after several attempts.
- Do not try to force. Offer a child a cake or candy if he ends his plate is not a solution.
- Parents and / or siblings must lead by example: to enjoy eating everything.
- Demonstrate imagination presentation on the plate, a mixture of ingredients to mask certain tastes or food coloring, tomato sauce, ketchup, vegetable gratins, etc.
- Involve children in meal preparation. By manipulating the food, the child becomes familiar with them and can more easily accept or reconsider its refusal.

Children are often reluctant to eat more fruits and vegetables. Here are some tips and tricks to get them, look like much, to take advantage of these health food by excellence.

Tips for eats vegetables

- Offer beginning of the meal or during the preparation of the meal, raw vegetables cut into sticks or small pieces (carrots, zucchini, cauliflower, cucumber). These vegetables can be chewed or soaked in a natural sauce with yogurt or cottage cheese. Being able to eat with your fingers is also very attractive.

- Introduce the vegetables in an attractive and original. Play with colors and associations. Be careful not to over mix the different vegetables. Children do not like mixes (they sort those they like and abandon the others). Moreover, it is important that children find and analyze the taste of each vegetable separately.

- Involve your child in meal preparation, and ideal for racing on the market.

- Submit soups. This presentation as a soup can vary the taste and make them swallow vegetables considered more “difficult” as broccoli, endive, etc..

- Add vegetables to more substantial dishes: casseroles, quiches, pies.

- Finally, insist, but do not force your child to eat. However, do not give up: regularly represent or vegetables they refused.

Tips for  eats fruit

- Do not book systematically fruit for dessert. Offer fruit as a snack, for breakfast, and at any other time of day as a snack, such as after school, returning from a walk or after sport.

- Always leave the fruits in evidence, freely available.

- Eat fruits also. If your child sees you eat it you want to taste it and imitate the habit.

- Prepare the fruit that you present to your child while peeled and cut into small pieces, the fruits are more easily accepted, especially since children often refuse to eat out of the fruit.

The milk of its mother is first. But when, for various physical or psychological reasons, it is or becomes absent, your pediatrician will prescribe an baby formula. They are legion. How to recognize?

Milk is a Staple Food

Since his first cry at birth and until he is 6 months period of the early diversification of food where it will gradually discover other, milk is the food Baby exclusive.

Then, until he is 3 years old and in principle it does not scream – well, not in the same way! – And eat everything, milk should remain the mainstay of the diet of the infant. As in many months, he will drink less because he will love other dairy products. They bring him milk and the calcium it has a great need to make his bones.

In the first months, the best milk for a baby is obviously that of its mother. If she can not or will not provide it, it then use an infant milk recommended by the pediatrician.

But because the nutritional needs of a baby change with growth, this milk is not always the same. And because some babies can have problems with digestive disorders, allergies, there are milk adapted to these problems. All are subject to strict regulation.

Milk First Age

It can also be called “formula” because its composition is close to the best of the breast milk.

A standard milk first age is composed of proteins extracted from cow’s milk but have been modified to be closer to those of milk, fat of plant origin (with essential fatty acids), carbohydrates from milk. He must be fortified with vitamin D. There are also vitamin C and iron.

Is that your baby needs from birth to 4 or 6 months and who is easily in all supermarkets and hypermarkets. Whatever the brand, there is always the number 1 after the name of milk.

To deal with different problems, there are also the first milk age for preterm or low birth weight, milk enriched with lactic acid bacteria for those who have colic, thickened milk (with carob flour on more often) for babies who spit up too much of the lactose-free milk for those who have an intolerance to carbohydrates, and very specific milks for babies with allergies. They are in pharmacy.

But regardless of the milk, it should always be reconstituted with 30 ml of water with low mineral powder for a scoop.

Milk Second Age

Its shipping name is “preparation or follow-on milk”. His name is usually followed by the digit 2. These milks second age are also sold in the supermarkets and hypermarkets. They are available either in powder or liquid, briquettes or individual packs of 25, or 50 cl 1 liter. They are recommended for babies 6 months to 1 year.

From 4 to 6 months (six is ​​better than 4) starts food diversification. Baby gradually discovers other foods than milk. They bring him many nutrients but it still needs 500 to 750 ml of milk.

Cow’s milk does not suit him normal again, it contains too much protein and not enough iron or essential fatty acids or vitamin B9, C, D and E. Hence the need for a second milk age.

Depending on the brand, there is also a wide variety of milks. Their composition is clearly regulated. For 100 calories, protein intake should be between 2.25 and 4.5 g, the lipid between 3.3 and 6.5 g trans fat free, but with essential fatty acids, carbohydrates that between 7 and 14 g. They also contain iron, calcium (obviously!), other minerals and vitamins according to specific standards set forth according to a time when the baby grows quickly.

Always consult a pediatrician before taking milk to the milk second infancy age. And never give milk (juice) soy baby even if it is allergic or intolerant to cow’s milk. It exists for those cases of infant age second ideal.

Milk Growth

From the first year, baby up to be a small child eating yoghurt, white cheese, and soup cooked with a normal cow’s milk.

But it still needs to drink milk (500 ml per day) and he now takes for breakfast and lunch.

Certainly, he can drink cow’s milk. But it really does not provide iron or essential fatty acids it needs. If that cow’s milk is semi-skimmed, it did not bring enough vitamins A and D. If it is over, then he brings too much fat. And whatever it is, it is too rich in protein.

This is why milk growth, which also, like other infant formulas, a well-regulated composition, is useful for meeting the nutritional needs of a small child until the age of 3 years. Whatever the brand, all milk growth are measured in protein, rich in iron, essential fatty acids, vitamins A and D, sometimes in C, and other minerals.

The problem with these milks growth is that many are sweetened and flavored (usually with vanilla). And it is not top to form the taste of baby! It is better to choose one that is natural, no sugar or flavors added. Mom what she wants to add to the bowl of milk from her big baby honey or agave syrup or rapadura (this whole cane sugar), a little chocolate powder defatted. This will be much better for nutrition education for the toddler and discover different tastes.

Snacks, no breakfast, over-sweetened beverages, snack. Are all bad eating habits that contribute to the development of overweight. Here are some benchmarks to cover food at just the nutritional needs of your children and teens.

Nutrient intakes must cover the energy needs and at the same time ensuring growth. The energy needs of children and teenagers from 4 to 17 years range from 1750 to 2500 calories, but these values ​​are adjusted according to age, stature and physical activity of each child. The daily intake should include protein (11 to 15% of total energy intake), carbohydrates (50-55%) and fat (30-35%), as well as vitamins and minerals. This distribution in the different nutritional categories are not necessarily easy to apply, here are some pointers to help you.

6 benchmarks food

1) A milk product at each meal
Equivalences: Œ liter of milk = yogurt 2 = 80g = 60 g camembert county. Girls and young women, adequate supplies of calcium are very important to prevent later osteoporosis risk. You should know that the peak bone mass is reached at 20 years. Milk and dairy products are the best sources of calcium.

2) A portion of animal protein per day (meat, fish, egg)
Specifically, it is recommended per day, 10 g (meat, fish or eggs) per year of age + 10 g, for example, 40 g of meat per day for children 3 years or 80 g for a child 7 years (preferably one serving per day).

3) 5 servings of fruits and vegetables a day
Regardless of their presentation: fresh, frozen, canned. A serving is about 80 g of fruit or vegetables, either:

A half plate of vegetables or a small plate of raw vegetables or a bowl of vegetable soup;

A fruit type apple, pear, orange or fruit type two apricot, clementine, kiwi or a handful of small fruits such strawberries, cherries, lychees.

4) The carbohydrates at each meal
Bread, pasta, rice, pulses, potatoes.

5) Limit sugar without demonizing
The sugar should be a festive food, reserved for special occasions. It should not be demonized, but we must avoid excess and not accustom children to taste sweet. This often happens with even more sweets and sweetened beverages consumed with daily.

6) Give drink water
This is the only drink needed by the body without the addition of sugar as fruit juice or syrup.

These six markers are put in place rhythmically in the day, that is to say around three meals a day (breakfast is a real meal) and a snack. It is worth noting that the fast food are not to demonize, they must limit and ensure that they do not add up to other meal: a meal at fast food occasionally (once every 3-6 weeks) at the usual time of the meal, ensuring that the portions are adapted.

The risk of iron deficiency in young children is not zero in our developed countries. The period following the cessation of breastfeeding is the most sensitive as a baby goes from milk containing highly absorbable iron in another iron-containing significantly less bioavailable. Better to carefully choose the milk away and watch for signs of fatigue and anorexia.

Iron and Anemia

In the body, iron is found in various forms. Overall, there is the heme iron that is present in hemoglobin, ferritin and iron which is the reserve. If deficiencies in vitamins and minerals are now very rare in developed countries, iron deficiency is one of the few that still persist. It concerns mainly young children under three months. The effects of iron deficiency are significant and result in anemia, which results in insufficient production of hemoglobin and tissue oxygenation, which ends up sounding on psychomotor performance.

Iron deficiency: fatigue, anorexia and weakness

But before reaching this stage, there are also iron deficiency that can be described as lighter and do not result in a marked anemia. Only the stock ferritin is decreased. This condition results this time by a decrease in physical abilities of young children, fatigue and anorexia. Psychomotor development slowed and reduced mental performance. Such a ferritin deficiency can result in behavioral problems: child fearful, irritable, restless sleep. It is also suspected iron deficiency to interfere with hyperactivity. But children who do not have sufficient iron levels are weakened, they are more vulnerable to infections, including intestinal and ENT, which is affecting their growth.

The absorption of dietary iron

In fact, toddlers need very high in iron, about eight times larger than those of adults. At birth, they have sufficient stock for the first six months of life. But then, the dietary intake is essential. Now the iron content in foods comes in different forms, making its availability varies. In other words, it is more or less absorbed, used by the body. So do not necessarily rely on theoretical iron content of foods (milk, cow’s milk, beef, liver, spinach, etc). You should know that the iron in breast milk is better absorbed with a bioavailability of 50-70%. By comparison, the bioavailability of iron in cow’s milk is 5 to 10%, 30% for meat and offal and less than 5% for vegetables.

Furthermore, bioavailability varies greatly with the cooking and the presence of other compounds. Some of the decrease (oxalates, tannins, phosphates, phytates), Others increase as vitamin C, citric acid or lactic acid. Finally, note that the amount of iron absorbed from vegetables and grains increases when these foods are consumed together with meat or fish or other foods rich in vitamin C.

In conclusion, we must ensure that baby receives sufficient iron intake and take into account the degree of absorption of iron for the food, rather than theoretical content. But that attention needs to be strengthened to stop breastfeeding. Indeed, the transition period when one moves on to the milk or cow’s milk is at risk for iron deficiency in the infant. You should choose a milk content of highly absorbable iron guarantee.

Here’s another reason to choose breastfeeding because feeding to breast promotes weight loss after childbirth.

Good reasons to breastfeed is no shortage

Breast milk is inimitable for the proper development of the baby. It is rich in antibodies that protect against risk of infection, protein for growth, carbohydrates, omega-3 and minerals to the developing brain and nervous system. It promotes intellectual development and reduces the risk of childhood obesity. There is another advantage of breastfeeding that is not often is that of weight loss of the mother after pregnancy. Many women struggle to regain their original weight after childbirth. Indeed, getting rid of the pounds accumulated during pregnancy is not always obvious. Choose breastfeeding can help.

Do not forget that some of the fat accumulated during pregnancy have naturally precisely the objective of use in the manufacture of milk. It is not surprising that women who breastfeed more easily find their ideal weight compared to non-lactating women. Generally between 6 months and one year after the postpartum period, breastfeeding women have lost more weight. This benefit of breastfeeding occurs provided they do not eat for two, under the pretext of feeding one’s own baby. As throughout pregnancy, during lactation, metabolism of the mother adapts so that the diet is enough to mother and child. So it’s not a question of mathematics: do not eat much, but better. This easier to lose weight after pregnancy is still favored if we take regular physical activity gradually as walking, swimming.? This is something that should not be overlooked.

Is it forbidden to diet while breastfeeding?

Of course, any drastic caloric restriction may lead to a decrease in lactation and have a negative impact on the duration of breastfeeding and the baby’s growth. However, breastfeeding is not incompatible with a healthy and balanced diet. What is needed is that it is not too restrictive (never less than 1800 calories intake per day) and it does not eliminate the food categories. Studies suggest that the loss of overweight nursing women has no effect on the weight of the child, provided that the food program is balanced and moderate weight loss, not more than 2 pounds per months.

Some tips

- Do not try to lose more than 2 pounds per month.
- Wait two to three months after giving birth the body to recover from pregnancy.
- Avoid wacky schemes.
- Ideally, get help from a dietician.
- Practice at least twice a week physical activity: walking, swimming, gym.