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SALT LAKE CITY — The world of health and medicine can be confusing to many parents. But Nurse Suzy is here to help clarify some of the issues that are important to you and your family.
This week's question deals raising a picky eater.
Question:
Other than the occasional chicken nugget, my 1-year-old son won't eat meat. I've gotten good food ideas from some vegan friends, but I'm wondering if I need to add some extras to keep his diet balanced.
Answer:
The protein we get from meat is important for healthy growth. According to KidsHealth.com, "Protein builds up, maintains, and replaces the tissues in your body. ... Your muscles, your organs, and your immune system are made up mostly of protein."
If your child doesn't like meat, there are many alternatives that will provide protein to his diet. Here are a few excellent choices: peanut butter, beans, nuts, cheese, milk, yogurt, ice cream and eggs.
In general, however, I think it's OK that your son doesn't like to eat meat. I feel our society has become too crazy over what our children should eat and when. We're told when our children should start eating solid foods, what foods they should eat and not eat, and how we must restrict the intake of foods we believe are not good for them. Controlling a child's diet as a whole is not doable in today's environment. This is how we get children to hate food.
There are many books out there about diets for children, or how to begin to introduce food to your child, but I often question if these authors actually have children themselves. For many centuries we have raised children with no guidebooks on how or when to feed them, and most of the time children have survived and thrived. Children will eat what they want to eat and be fine. Some children even eat dirt and do well.
Let's be reasonable when we worry about our children's diets. Some children will want solid foods earlier than experts would recommend; that is OK. Some children will want only macaroni and cheese for weeks on end; that is OK.
A well-balanced diet, of course, is the best. But some children do not like the taste or texture of some foods. In some cases, I believe children somehow know the foods that make them feel sick and do not want to eat them again for that reason. One of my children was allergic to milk, and he decided on his own to put KOOL-Aid in his breakfast cereal every morning. He is 24 years old now and doing fine.
Let's be reasonable when we worry about our children's diets. Some children will want solid foods earlier than experts would recommend; that is OK. Some children will want only macaroni and cheese for weeks on end; that is OK. Some children will eat very little, but do eat when they are hungry; that is OK. Do not force food upon your child. He or she will be OK.
That said, parents do need to be cautious about allergies to food. We should also be careful not to allow too much sugar, too much fat, or too much over-indulging of our children's diet. Use reasonable judgment. Let your child see food as it is: food.
Suzanne Carlile, "Nurse Suzy," has been a nurse since 1982. Her main focus is critical care and nursing education. She holds a master's degree in nursing, is a Certified Emergency Nurse, and a member of NNSDO Intermountain West Chapter.
