ARE YOU FAMILIAR WITH THE FOUR MOST COMMON FOOD-RELATED ISSUES IN CHILDREN?
It is important for children to eat a healthy diet in order to grow and develop normally, avoid obesity and chronic diseases, and remain healthy as they age.
THE FOUR MOST COMMON FOOD-RELATED ISSUES ARE:
1. FOOD ALLERGIES AND INTOLERANCES
- Do you think your child might have a food allergy or intolerance?
- What’s the difference between a food allergy and a food intolerance?
- What are the causes?
If your child has symptoms after eating certain foods, he or she may have a food allergy.
A food allergy occurs when the body’s immune system sees something in food as harmful and reacts to these allergens by producing symptoms.
Food allergies generally have a quick onset (from a few seconds to an hour) and can include such symptoms as:
- Rash
- Hives
- Itchy mouth, lips, tongue, throat, eyes, skin or other areas of the dermis
- Swollen lips, tongue, eyelids or the overall face
- Difficulty swallowing
- Wheezing or shortness of breath
- Diarrhea, stomach pain and/or abdominal cramps
- Dizziness
- Fainting
- Nausea and/or vomiting
There is a wide range of foods that can cause food allergies, but the most common foods are:
- milk
- eggs
- peanuts and tree nuts
- grains that contain gluten
- shellfish
- fish and soy
Sometimes, children also have allergic reactions to sesame and kiwis.
Does your child have a food intolerance?
A food intolerance, also known as a non-allergic food hypersensitivity, does not affect the immune system. Consequently, food intolerance may be unpleasant, but they are not life threatening.
An intolerance may be caused by a lack of specific enzymes in the body needed to digest a food substance or an anomaly in the body’s capacity to absorb nutrients. A food intolerance occurs when the body is unable to adequately digest a given food or a particular food irritates the digestive system.
Symptoms of food intolerance can include:
- Nausea
- Gas and bloating
- Cramps and abdominal pain
- Diarrhea
- Irritability
- Nervousness or headaches
The most common food intolerance is lactose intolerance, in which case your child’s body is unable to produce the lactase enzyme needed to break down dairy products. If your child consumes dairy products and shows signs and/or symptoms of intolerance, contact your physician or dietician.
Although food intolerance may give the impression that your child is sick, unlike food allergies, intolerance are not life threatening.
2. MY CHILD IS CONSTIPATED. WHAT SHOULD I DO?
Constipation can manifest in a number of ways. Your child may be constipated if he or she:
- Has not had a bowel movement in a few days
- Passes a lot of hard stools
- Shows signs of trying to pass stools (straining; redness of the face)
What can I do to help?
- Be sure that your child drinks enough. Serve a drink with every meal and at least one drink between meals or with snacks.
- Encourage your child to be physically active: play outside, swim, walk and play team sports.
- Establish a consistent routine in order to help your child develop regular bathroom habits (e.g. sitting on the toilet for a few minutes after meals). Hand washing afterward can also be fun!
- Add sources of fibre to your child’s diet. Fibre is found in such items as fruits, vegetables, whole grains and oat flour.
3. IRON DEFICIENCY IN TODDLERS
It is important to make sure that your children have enough iron-rich foods in their diet in order to prevent anemia. When children are anemic, their blood is unable to provide all the oxygen that their bodies need.
Signs and symptoms of anemia include:
- Pale skin
- Chronic fatigue
- Irritability
- Numerous infections
Anemia can also slow your child’s brain development.
WHAT ARE SOME GOOD SOURCES OF IRON?
Animal sources, such as red meat (e.g. beef, lamb and pork), poultry (e.g. chicken, and turkey), meat-based products, shellfish and fatty fishes are among the most-iron rich foods.
If your child does not eat meat, be sure that his or her diet includes fatty fishes, eggs, grain-based foods, lentils, chickpeas, hummus and/or other legumes, as well leafy green vegetables and fruits.
Vitamin C in fruits and vegetables helps the body absorb the iron in eggs, grains, and plant-based foods.
4. PICKY EATERS
If your child is a picky eater, you know that mealtime can be a battle that quickly turns into a nightmare, with a child refusing to eat, throwing a tantrum and acting frustrated.
Fortunately, most children outgrow this problem and learn to eat a variety of foods.
WHAT TO AVOID AT ALL COSTS:
- Never rush a meal: some children eat slowly and pushing toddlers to eat faster can decrease their appetite.
- Never do insist that children finish everything on their plates or pressure toddlers to eat more than they can: they should be encouraged to eat according to their appetite and parents should respect that.
- Never take away a meal and replace it with an entirely different one: children win the battle if you do that. In the long terms, it is preferable to serve a meal for the entire family and accept that your child will prefer certain foods over others. Always try to offer a choice of foods with each meal, preferably foods that you know your child will enjoy.
Tastes change over time. Some children have to be served a new food more than ten times before they feel comfortable eating it.
A FEW TIPS AND TRICKS FOR DEALING WITH PICKY EATERS:
- Eat with your child as often as possible. Toddlers learn by imitating their parents and other people around them.
- Congratulate toddlers when they eat well. They respond positively to praise.
- Make positive comments about food. Parents and caregivers are strong role-models for children. If you make positive comments about food, toddlers will be more likely to try it.
- Make arrangements for toddlers to eat with other children as often as possible. Some children eat better when they are with their own age group.
- Serve small portions. If children finish their portions, congratulate them and offer another portion. Toddlers can feel overwhelmed by large portions and lose their appetite.
- Offer foods that can be eaten with the hands. Toddlers prefer to eat without utensils.
- Involve children in grocery shopping, prepare meals with them and give them the responsibility of setting the table. This will encourage them to develop a positive attitude toward food.
- Involve toddlers in simple kitchen duties and food preparation. Handling new foods without the pressure of eating them will help children become familiar with new foods and make them more likely to try them.
If you feel the need to consult a nutrition specialist for your child’s well-being, feel free to contact the FORCEMEDIC Children’s Clinic at 514-787-1818 in order to schedule an appointment.
BECAUSE WE TAKE YOUR CHILD’S HEALTH TO HEART!
By : MEAGHAN SINGER, NUTRITIONIST
The following are a few links that may help parents ensure that their child is getting the best possible nutrition: