Many nutrition experts have pointed out that during the Lunar New Year, the rate of children suffering from digestive disorders such as stomachache, diarrhea, fever, poisoning... is always high. Therefore, parents must pay close attention to their children's nutrition during these days.
Foods parents should choose
- Parents should try to keep their children's daily routines regular, not too different from normal, and not let their children miss meals. Children should have 3 main meals and 2 snacks a day.
If you don't have time to prepare food for your child's meal, give your child snacks such as flan, milk and dairy products, fruits that suit your child's needs, etc., or you can give your child food before going out or visiting relatives.
- Feed children age-appropriate foods that are easy to absorb and ensure a balance of the 4 food groups in each meal, which are: starch group (rice, congee, pho, vermicelli, noodles, bread...), protein group (meat, fish, eggs, milk and dairy products...), fat group (oil, grease, butter...) and vitamin and mineral group (vegetables, fruits...).
In particular, you should pay attention to adding enough green vegetables to your family's Tet meals or you can replace them with ripe fruits in case it is not convenient to prepare.
- Make sure your child's food is freshly cooked to avoid the risk of food poisoning and increase appetite.
- Try to change the dishes, diversify the food and the way it is prepared for children.
- Choose foods without dyes or colorants.
- Choose food from reputable companies that are properly packaged or bagged, ensure hygiene when sold and have an expiration date.
- Avoid giving children too much sweets, sweet drinks, etc. Using foods rich in sugar such as cakes, candies, soft drinks, etc. is completely unhealthy, and can increase the risk of weight gain in overweight and obese children. For some other children, it can make them lose their appetite if eaten close to the main meal, which can cause digestive disorders leading to weight loss and malnutrition after Tet.
- Limit foods with small seeds (melon seeds, pumpkin seeds...) because they can easily cause children to choke on them, which can be life-threatening.
- Make sure your child drinks enough water and gets enough sleep.
What should parents prepare for children on Tet holiday?
- Healthy, varied, good for health foods.
- Ensure food hygiene and safety, and keep children's and parents' hands clean when caring for children.
- In addition to food, parents should also prepare some common medicines (if the family is traveling or returning to the countryside):
Paracetamol fever reducer: use when the child has a fever ≥ 38.5 degrees Celsius, dosage is 10-15mg/kg of the child's weight, every 4-6 hours. If the child has a high, continuous fever, or is accompanied by signs such as frequent coughing, wheezing, rapid breathing, cyanosis, convulsions, lethargy, loss of appetite... then parents must take the child to a medical facility immediately.
Oresol rehydration solution packet: Used to replenish water and electrolytes when children vomit a lot or have diarrhea many times.
