Today our guest blogger is Dr. Jupitor Chakma.
There is a saying: “habit is a second nature” and habits can be developed by doing it repeatedly. Hence the role of the mother in developing taste for different foods (especially vegetables and fresh fruits for healthy eating habits in children) is very important and should not be ignored.
Mothers can help their children develop the taste for veggies and fruits from early childhood. Babies can develop taste for veggies and fruits if the mother eats veggies and fruits during breastfeeding and by giving their baby these fruits after weaning (weaning is starting to give solid foods to the baby at the end of exclusively breast-feeding, which should be about 6-8 moths of age).
We all are aware that eating vegetables and fruits (preferably from childhood) can reduce risk of obesity (a body mass index or BMI of more than 30 is obesity) or overweight (a body mass index or BMI of 25-30 is considered overweight) as well as risk some serious diseases such as cancer, but unfortunately many children, adolescents and adults do not eat enough fruits and vegetables.
The best way to make sure children eat vegetables and fruits is to help develop taste for these foods and mothers can help in developing taste in their children and teach them to eat healthy from childhood, which will certainly continue in their adulthood.
It is important to offer vegetables and fruits every day after weaning, which will help in developing healthy food habits. Parents (especially mothers) should eat fresh fruits and vegetables regularly, as we all know children imitate their mother and they will eat what their mother eats. They may not follow verbal instructions to eat veggies and fruits, but they will certainly eat veggies and fruits if they see their mother eating fruits and vegetables.
Recent research suggests that eating habits during pregnancy can influence the eating habits of the offspring. The researcher’s postulate that flavors from the mother’s diet is transmitted to the growing fetus via the amniotic fluid during pregnancy and through milk during breastfeeding. That is why if a mother eats fruits and vegetables regularly during pregnancy and during breastfeeding the child is most likely to develop taste for these foods and eat these foods regularly.
So, it is advisable for the mothers to develop habits of eating fruits and vegetables regularly which will help their children develop a good and healthy eating habit. A good and healthy eating habit is the foundation for a healthy life. For a healthy life of your children, all mothers should themselves eat healthy, which is eating lots of fresh vegetables (green leafy vegetables) and lots of fresh locally grown fruits.
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A doctor and enthusiastic health blogger, who is eager to learn more about blogging. Dr. Jupitor Chakma, writes regularly on his Health Blog and Online Health Website. Visit these blogs for regular updates and to read more articles by this writer.
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Its nice to know that you liked the writings of this blog.
Have a great day.
If you let your kid eat junk until they’re 5, it’s going to be much harder to try to change their cravings. It’s amazing cravings can set in so early.
I love the idea of breastfeeding and eating a plant based diet during pregnancy.
What about making some sweet green smoothies with avocados, greens and lots of sweet fruits? 😛
What do you think about doing some cleansing before conception?
Hi Vince,
Welcome!
Cleansing before conception sounds like a good thing, at least it is in my book. Gotta love those green smoothies. I’ve never added avocados to my smoothie, but will give it a try. 🙂
Right you are, only mother can develop tests and habit, after all she knows better her child’s likes and dislikes and only she can understand him/her what is right and what is not.
Good eating habits should be developed right from childhood.
Hi Dr. Jupitor,
Thank you for your guest post!
In the first trimester of my pregnancy, I could not stand the smell of bananas. Can you believe to this day, my 5 year old daughter does not like bananas and can’t stand the smell of them. She starts gagging if I am eating a banana in her presence. I find that very amazing and quite puzzling.
I love bananas, just during the early stages of the pregnancy, I could not stand the smell of them, they made me sick.
On another note, my daughter does eat some of what I eat, but she is a very picky eater. I hope she gets out of the picky eater stage.
Great information and thanks for sharing!
Evelyn
This is because the growing fetus get what the mother eat. If mother dislikes a food during pregnancy, the child also most likely dislike it and vice-versa.
But some children still reluctant to eat vegie and fruits no matter how their parents persuaded them. Children naturally attracted to fast food because those food taste better to them.
Yes I understand. Exceptions are there everywhere and this is also exception. I think this is few few in percentage.
I think this would really be helpful in nurturing the kids to become healthy and veggie lovers. It would be hard to convince them to eat veggies if they’re already accustomed to the taste of fast foods, meats, and other deliciously unhealthy foods.
Yes, if a child develop healthy eating habits, he/she is likely to continue lifelong.
Idea is “catch then young”.
Habits can take place as early as infants, so I can see how this could become part of their nature.
“Black Seo Guy “Signing Off”
Yes habits can develop from infancy and it can become part of life.