Is meal time with your three-, four- or five-year-old becoming like a game of tug-o-war? While you try to creatively present their meals, your three-year old starts to be picky with food, your four-year-old selectively eats vegetables or probably requests the same type of food over and over, and your five-year-old is glued to the television or would rather play than eat. Parents not only battle for their child’s attention during meal time but also worry if they are able to give them the right kind of food and nutrition to support their growth and development.
Ms. Tiffany Santuyo, a registered nutritionist and dietitian, explains that this is an essential stage for building your child’s healthy eating habits. Ages 3, 4, and 5 is when the child is at their most active and their curiosity is at its peak, thus, it is critical that a healthy eating habit is established to support this development phase.
Parents are responsible for what their child eats, scheduling their meal times within the day, and making it enjoyable for their preschoolers. Menu planning will help parents face the everyday challenge of preparing food for their children. It helps make sure that the meals they prepare are balanced, and has the perfect combination of meat, dairy, rice & grains, fruits and vegetables so as to provide the right mix of brain and body building nutrients they need. Parents will also see that planning ahead saves time, energy, money, and produces less waste.
“The key to menu planning centers on the following principles: strive for balance, emphasize variety, add contrast, think about color, and consider eye appeal,” shares Ms. Santuyo. “For parents’ easier reference, Alaska NutriBuild 345 has introduced the Alaska NutriBuild 345 Nutriplate, which is a tool that gives parents a visual representation of the kind and amount of food that are appropriate for their child’s age and needs,” she adds.
To add, Ms. Santuyo emphasizes that menu planning also includes meal time schedules. “Remember, your preschoolers need structure, routines, and limits. As such, it would help to plan regular meal and snack times. You can reserve 20 to 30 minutes for regular meal times and 10 to 12 minutes for snacks,” she recommends.
She also suggests that meal time with the whole family helps establish their child’s healthy eating habits. “You and your whole family must set a good example on eating healthily as children learn by imitating the people around them,” Ms. Santuyo explains.
To give them a more concrete example, Ms. Santuyo shares a sample menu that parents may serve their preschoolers.
Power Packed Breakfast:
½ slice papaya
1pc scrambled egg (with or without meat bits)
1/2 cup rice
1 glass of milk
Yummylicious Lunch:
Pork Sinigang (2 pieces meat and at least ½ cup vegetables)
1/2 cup boiled rice
1 pisngi of a ripe mango
Awesomeness Dinner:
1 small size fish fillet
1/2 cup chopseuy
1/4 cup sweetened Saba (w/ or w/o sago)
1 glass of milk
Milk is still an important part of your child’s diet. As parents carefully plan the nourishment they give their child, they are also responsible for giving the right milk support to help provide the nutritional requirements for their pre-schoolers’ growth and development, as solid foods alone may not be enough. Alaska NutriBuild 345 is packed with minerals that support the rapid demands for physical growth and endurance. It has FOS/Inulin that activates intestinal functions, assist in digestion and reduces the risk of constipation and diarrhea. Alaska NutriBuild 345 also contains E.F.A. or Essential Fatty Acids that are important for normal growth in body and brain development, and a mixture of Iron+Zinc+Iodine, which supports the development of brain functions. In addition, it has Choline and Taurine which helps in the development of cognitive and memory functions, and DHA/ARA that support healthy vision and cognitive development of young children. All of these are essential to support the needs of your growing 3 to 5-year-olds in order for them to be mentally alert and be able to adjust to their physical growth requirements.
The ages 3, 4, and 5 may be a period of slow-physical growth for your child, but this is when learning and acquisition of skills is at a fast pace. When you see your three-year-old assemble puzzles or your four-year-old use table utensils like an expert, or your five-year-old do broad jumps, these are great developmental milestones for your little ones! So, support your child’s development by establishing his healthy eating habits, including a milk appropriate for their age like Alaska NutriBuild 345, para ang mga milestones ng anak ninyo ay ma-achieve!
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