Types of food: in order to understand how we can enjoy greater health and eellbeing we need to understand something about food. There are four essential groups of food. For health and wellbeing we require food from all the groups.many foods contain more than one group of food, and milk contains all groups of food.
Food is often classified as:
1.Protein
2.Fat
3.Carbohydrate, including Fibre
4.Vitamins and Minerals
If these situations are common in your family, you can set a more relaxed atmosphere and help your young child enjoy mealtime with some suggestions from the LSU AgCenter nutritionist:
- Serve small portions on a small plate.
- Serve new foods at the beginning of a meal while your child is hungry. Serve familiar foods with new foods. A disliked food may be accepted later if the issue isn’t forced.
- Use your imagination, and serve food in different ways: cut meat in strips or bite-sized pieces; cut vegetables and fruit in rings; serve foods in a pretty, but unbreakable dish.
- Be casual, friendly, patient and set a good example: say nice things about food; enter into friendly conversations; practice good manners. Children are great imitators.
- Let children help. Eating is more fun for the child who helps prepare the meal. Children can scrub potatoes or carrots, set the table (so what if silver is misplaced?), pour milk onto cereal from a small pitcher or do other small tasks.
- Children like to feed themselves, and, even though there may be a mess, they need to learn. They’ll use fingers first, but you can patiently show them how to hold and use a spoon and fork. Be prepared for accidents, and keep your sense of humor.
Reames says to allow time to eat and have meals at regular times so your child will be ready to eat. "Let small children leave the table when they have finished eating," she says, noting, "They have trouble sitting still for long." A simple, "May I be excused?" can be learned quickly. Perhaps if mealtime is fun for everyone, the youngster wouldn’t want to leave the table!
Food used as a reward gives confusing messages to a young child. Eating should be enjoyable and should provide the nutrients needed for good health. Using food to control behavior can lead to eating problems that can last throughout life. Rewards for good behavior might include reading a book together, playing a game or taking a trip to a favorite spot
You can help your child develop good habits by making mealtime pleasant and relaxed. Mealtime can be a time to enjoy a variety of things and to learn about food.
A child who is overly tired at mealtime, however, may be irritable and refuse food. Mealtime also may be less enjoyable if meals are hurried and family members rush off to watch TV or do other things, or if family members use the occasion to air their disagreements.
