FOOD WARS

Dear readers.

First of all, we congratulate you on your awareness and interest in our new series of articles. This week, we will discuss cooking techniques for healthy eating in children and the critical importance of keeping their sugar levels balanced. The importance of fruits and vegetables in nutrition is undeniable, regardless of age. Unfortunately, it’s a sad reality that we often fail to control our children’s eating habits. But remember, ‘a tree is best bent while it is young,’ and habits acquired today illuminate the path to tomorrow. Raw fruits and vegetables are especially necessary and healthier for children’s development. However, success lies in the details. How? Steaming and microwave cooking meals allows you to preserve more vitamins compared to boiling. With this cooking method, your children receive a higher biological value from the nutrients they consume. This should be your healthy cooking method. Children’s metabolisms work quite differently from adults. They need more energy than we do, and therefore their sugar cravings are higher. This is where we need to be very careful. As conscious parents, we should add healthy snacks to our children’s diets between main meals; These should include dried vegetables or fresh fruits. Last week, I received many questions from you regarding infant nutrition. First of all, I would like to state that since babies’ stomachs are smaller than ours, feeding them frequently but in small portions is a good feeding routine. Leaving long gaps between meals causes fluctuating blood sugar levels, leading to irritability and hyperactivity in babies. Furthermore, the first step in preventing our children from becoming obese is to allow them to regulate their own hunger. Babies are born with a natural ability to understand when they are getting enough food. Ignoring this ability and forcing them to eat more will invite obesity in your child. You must accept that your baby won’t eat too much. Perhaps they will feel hungry a few hours later and want to eat something else. At that moment, you can offer many alternatives. For example, you can combine a high-quality and filling protein source like cheese with a whole-grain sandwich and wonderful goji berries. Or you can provide your child with a very delicious meal with a bowl of yogurt with flax seeds and fruit slices. Rich in healthy fiber, omega-3 fatty acids, and vitamins and minerals, these foods are both filling and very beneficial.

WEEKLY AWARENESS NOTE

Don’t forget that unhealthy snacks like biscuits, chips, and ready-made, artificially colored drinks are a insidious danger waiting at your doorstep that you must avoid between meals. Because this is a dead end. Children who taste processed foods once will eventually reject the nutrients they should be eating due to the chemical traps. Forget about getting your child to eat the foods on your planned meal plan as main meals; you’ll struggle even to get them to eat anything at all. Parents are the ones who shape a child’s healthy life, for better or worse. The direction you give today will determine whether it brings you pride or sorrow in the future.

Uğur Uğural