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Is Skipping Meals For Upto 24 Hours Healthy For A Child?
Question: My grandson is a picky eater, although he will eat enough foods to cover the complete food groups. He is 4. His parents have decided that he should eat what they eat, and have started a program where, if he doesn't eat dinner, they will give it to him for breakfast, and then if he still doesn't eat it, they will give it to him for lunch. If he still doesn't eat it, he has to wait until dinner again. No other foods are allowed during this time. He asks for other foods and they are not given to him. He has given in a few times and eaten new things, after 24 hours of nothing. Is this healthy? Is it emotionally damaging? Would it be considered child abuse?
Brief Answer:
This is not right - he has to be convinced
Detailed Answer:
Hi....what is being done is the right way to treat a kid of 4 years.
The positive points are -
1. The kid is not being force fed.
2. He is encouraged to eat what is being cooked for the family. This is called family pot feeding and is quite good.
3. He's getting a balanced diet.
The negatives are -
1. At times he's not eating for 24 hours straight which is not at all good at this tender age.
2. He's not being given anything in between regular food timings, which is not good. I am not saying he should be given junk food but if he misses lunch and asks for food, he can be given other healthier food like fruits/ vegetables or porridges.
3. This type of extreme forcing may encourage adamancy in kids.
Coming to your queries -
1. This is not healthy.
2. This can lead on to adamant behavior in kids.
3. Whether this is child abuse should be decided according to the laws in each country as they are different in each.
Regards - Dr. Sumanth
This is not right - he has to be convinced
Detailed Answer:
Hi....what is being done is the right way to treat a kid of 4 years.
The positive points are -
1. The kid is not being force fed.
2. He is encouraged to eat what is being cooked for the family. This is called family pot feeding and is quite good.
3. He's getting a balanced diet.
The negatives are -
1. At times he's not eating for 24 hours straight which is not at all good at this tender age.
2. He's not being given anything in between regular food timings, which is not good. I am not saying he should be given junk food but if he misses lunch and asks for food, he can be given other healthier food like fruits/ vegetables or porridges.
3. This type of extreme forcing may encourage adamancy in kids.
Coming to your queries -
1. This is not healthy.
2. This can lead on to adamant behavior in kids.
3. Whether this is child abuse should be decided according to the laws in each country as they are different in each.
Regards - Dr. Sumanth
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
What is adamant behavior?
Brief Answer:
Adamant behaviour
Detailed Answer:
Hi.....what I mean by adamant behavior is - as his parents are being stern and unyielding in their decisions towards him, he too will start learning the same type of unyielding behavior. Kids always learn by seeing adults around them.
Regards - Dr. Sumanth
Adamant behaviour
Detailed Answer:
Hi.....what I mean by adamant behavior is - as his parents are being stern and unyielding in their decisions towards him, he too will start learning the same type of unyielding behavior. Kids always learn by seeing adults around them.
Regards - Dr. Sumanth
Note: For further queries related to your child health, Talk to a Pediatrician. Click here to Book a Consultation.
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
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