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Child Is Very Fussy In Eating And Often Catches Cold. Suggest Diet?

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Posted on Sat, 21 Sep 2013
Question: Hi My baby is 2 years 2 months old. He is very fussy in eating. He does not eat any fruit other than banana. Food is limited if cooked in moong dal and rice. He is tall but slim. Please me the diet to make him look healthy. Also, he often catches cold.
doctor
Answered by Meenakshi Attrey (3 hours later)
Brief Answer:
plan small and frequent meals

Detailed Answer:
Hi XXXXXXX

Thanks for posting the query

A god diet plan for children of this age includes almost all types of food. However, his eating pattern would largely depend on his preferences. It is very important that you bring a variety in the diet and also, make sure that the child is happy with the flavor and texture of the food. Introduce one food at a time and if he rejects it, repeat the the same food in some other form after 7-10 days.

Include more fruits, cereals and pulses in the diet. as you mentioned that he like Dal and rice, you can bring variations in that easily. Add blend palak in dal, or some finely chopped vegetable sin the rice. Milk and milk products are also important. You can get soy and channa flour and add it to rice while boiling in pressure cooker. There is nothing to worry as long as he is active and happy.

Here is a sample plan for him:

Early Morning:
Full cream milk with honey or sugar. If the child is comfortable with sugarless milk, then continue with plain milk only.

Breakfast:
Vegetable XXXXXXX OR Vegetable poha OR oats with milk OR Thin sooji halva OR 1 small chapatti with vegetable of choice OR 1 idli with light Sāmbhar or coconut chutney

Mid Morning:
Fresh fruit juice (sugarless), fruit custard, sliced and peeled fruits, boiled mashed corn salad

Lunch:
Rice ½ katori + Light Dal ½ katori + curd ½ katori OR Small chapatti 1 no. + seasonal vegetable of choice ½ katori OR Properly cooked pasta with chopped vegetables 1 katori OR Vegetable XXXXXXX ½ katori + curd OR Vegetable Khichri ½ katori + curd OR Aloo stuffed Chapatti with white Butter

Evening Snacks:
Full Cream Milk with biscuits of choice

Late Evening:
Fresh Soup with mashed vegetable 1 katori OR Vegetable Puree OR Soft Upma OR Homemade ice-cream OR Rawa halva with dry fruits

Dinner:
Same as Lunch

Your child, in this age is developing a relationship with food. And to make it a healthy and lasting relation, you have a great role to play. Go easy with the child about his meal timings and ensure variety. If a particular food item is rejected by your baby, try it again after an interval in a different form. E.g. If he is not taking XXXXXXX try XXXXXXX juice.

Bring juices and other drinks like coconut water in the child’s routine, to keep him hydrated and active. Avoid too much of refined and preserved food, or the foods that contain derivatives.

Keep introducing new foods.

Hope This Helps,
Meenakshi

Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Shanthi.E
doctor
Answered by
Meenakshi
Meenakshi Attrey

Dietitian & Nutritionist

Practicing since :2004

Answered : 228 Questions

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Child Is Very Fussy In Eating And Often Catches Cold. Suggest Diet?

Brief Answer:
plan small and frequent meals

Detailed Answer:
Hi XXXXXXX

Thanks for posting the query

A god diet plan for children of this age includes almost all types of food. However, his eating pattern would largely depend on his preferences. It is very important that you bring a variety in the diet and also, make sure that the child is happy with the flavor and texture of the food. Introduce one food at a time and if he rejects it, repeat the the same food in some other form after 7-10 days.

Include more fruits, cereals and pulses in the diet. as you mentioned that he like Dal and rice, you can bring variations in that easily. Add blend palak in dal, or some finely chopped vegetable sin the rice. Milk and milk products are also important. You can get soy and channa flour and add it to rice while boiling in pressure cooker. There is nothing to worry as long as he is active and happy.

Here is a sample plan for him:

Early Morning:
Full cream milk with honey or sugar. If the child is comfortable with sugarless milk, then continue with plain milk only.

Breakfast:
Vegetable XXXXXXX OR Vegetable poha OR oats with milk OR Thin sooji halva OR 1 small chapatti with vegetable of choice OR 1 idli with light Sāmbhar or coconut chutney

Mid Morning:
Fresh fruit juice (sugarless), fruit custard, sliced and peeled fruits, boiled mashed corn salad

Lunch:
Rice ½ katori + Light Dal ½ katori + curd ½ katori OR Small chapatti 1 no. + seasonal vegetable of choice ½ katori OR Properly cooked pasta with chopped vegetables 1 katori OR Vegetable XXXXXXX ½ katori + curd OR Vegetable Khichri ½ katori + curd OR Aloo stuffed Chapatti with white Butter

Evening Snacks:
Full Cream Milk with biscuits of choice

Late Evening:
Fresh Soup with mashed vegetable 1 katori OR Vegetable Puree OR Soft Upma OR Homemade ice-cream OR Rawa halva with dry fruits

Dinner:
Same as Lunch

Your child, in this age is developing a relationship with food. And to make it a healthy and lasting relation, you have a great role to play. Go easy with the child about his meal timings and ensure variety. If a particular food item is rejected by your baby, try it again after an interval in a different form. E.g. If he is not taking XXXXXXX try XXXXXXX juice.

Bring juices and other drinks like coconut water in the child’s routine, to keep him hydrated and active. Avoid too much of refined and preserved food, or the foods that contain derivatives.

Keep introducing new foods.

Hope This Helps,
Meenakshi