Dietary needs of Children During the Pandemic:
The second wave of Covid-19 has distressed the nation like never before. The number of active cases and deaths are making people relentless and the importance of a healthy immune system has risen many folds. In these difficult times, it’s important to take care of yourself and your family by providing proper nutrition, and adequate fluids. But nutrition is not the same for everybody, so providing food during COVID-19 can be a confusing and stressful situation. In this article, we will be mentioning the dietary requirements of children for building a healthy immune system. Read on to understand what you should include and remove from your children’s Covid-19 food menu.
What to eat:
- A diverse mix of fruits, especially orange and yellow coloured fruits are great immunity boosters.
- Vegetables, especially dark green leafy vegetables are super-foods to boost your immunity.
- Don’t forget to include plenty of grains and proteins in your children diet. Beans, nuts, seeds, meat, chicken, fish and eggs are great sources of proteins.
- Make sure your child is well hydrated throughout the day. Give fluids like bel sherbet, Aam Panna, Nimbu Pani, buttermilk, coconut water to ensure that enough fluids are being consumed.
- Give plenty of healthy snacks to keep them going. Good options are fruits, makhana, nut butters with fruits slices or salad sticks, paneer tikkas, corn on the cob, etc. instead of processed and packaged food.
- Freshly home-cooked meal is preferred over food that has been ordered in. It’s more nutritious and better for overall Heath.
What to avoid:
- Avoid processed and packaged food as they contain a high amount of fat, salt and sugar.
- Avoid soda drinks and packaged fruit juices.
Conclusion
Last but not the least, keep a healthy mind along with a healthy body is important. Spend quality time with your children and limit the use of television, especially while eating. A positive thought process while eating food helps secrete the right enzymes and digestive agents which are essential for proper digestion. Along with that, practise necessary precautions like hand washing, wearing a mask and staying home.
For expert advice, you can contact Kanupriya Khanna, a Senior Consultant Nutritionist & Dietitian holding more than 17 years of experience in child nutrition. Because of her sheer involvement in making a difference in people’s life by inculcating healthy food habits and lifestyle, Kanupriya Khanna is ranked as one of the best dietitians in Delhi. (Dietary needs of Children During the Pandemic:)
Also Read: Most Common Food Allergies Among Children
