Constantly changing dishes to make children willing to eat
In recent days, Ms. Nguyen Minh Hoa (Giang Vo ward, Hanoi) has almost had to rack her brains, painfully thinking about the menu for her 4-year-old son. If in the past her child could eat a whole bowl of rice with meat and vegetables, in hot sunny days, he only eats a few spoons and then skips.
The weather is hot, so my child is very lazy to eat. Some days I prepare rice as usual, but my child only eats a few bites and then throws it away, only demanding to drink water. I have to constantly change the menu, sometimes cooking fish porridge, sometimes making chicken vermicelli, vermicelli, vegetable soup to make it easier for my child to eat," Ms. Minh Hoa shared.
Similarly, Mr. Dinh Van Dai (Phu Tho) said that his family prioritizes dishes with a lot of water and skips frying during the summer days.
In winter, my child likes fried chicken and braised meat, but the hot weather makes him eat much less. My husband and I also have to encourage our child to eat because we are afraid that he will lack nutrients in the hot season," said Mr. Dinh Van Dai.
Many parents said that instead of forcing children to eat a lot in one meal, they divide the portion into several meals a day, and at the same time add more fruits and refreshing dishes to stimulate taste.
Reasons why children eat poorly on hot sunny days
Assoc. Prof. Dr. BS Bui Thi Nhung - Vice President of the Vietnam Nutrition and Diet Association, Head of the Nutrition Department of Sun Hospital - said that hot weather can greatly affect the eating and exercise needs of young children.
When the ambient temperature rises, children easily feel tired and uncomfortable, thereby reducing appetite compared to cooler weather times. At the same time, when exercising, children are also prone to dehydration and electrolyte loss through sweat," nutrition expert Bui Thi Nhung said.
Experts recommend that parents should prioritize soft, easy-to-digest dishes, and limit fatty foods because they easily cause a feeling of greasiness.
In addition, hot weather also reduces children's opportunities to exercise outdoors. According to nutritionist Bui Thi Nhung, in the current weather conditions, children can hardly participate in outdoor activities for long periods, instead mainly exercising indoors or in areas with air conditioning and gyms.
In spring or winter, children have more opportunities to go outside to exercise. But on hot sunny days, exercise is often more limited," Assoc. Prof. Dr. BS Bui Thi Nhung said.
Nutrition experts recommend that parents should not worry too much if children eat less in a few hot sunny days. It is important to ensure that children are adequately hydrated, maintain a diverse diet and monitor abnormal signs to take them to the doctor when necessary.
