Healthy Wednesday - A fussy eater

A fussy eater? Is there anything to be afraid of?

Problems related to eating may be physical (difficulties with biting, chewing and swallowing food), medical, i.e. related to various diseases, and mental dysfunctions. Parents very often call their children fussy eaters because they did not eat their dinner completely, they gave up on one particular product, after training, they only snacked on something small, and breakfast in the morning was a small bowl of cereal in milk. Is the son or daughter really a fussy eater then? Could the above-mentioned examples of nutrient restriction be a cause for concern?

Often, the reason for not eating main meals is having different snacks between them. We are talking not only about these "unhealthy" sweets and colorful drinks, but also about those "healthy" in the form of fruit, nuts, or homemade pastries. Remember that each of these products has its own calories, and the stomach will finally want to rest without any break in food intake. Thus, young players do not feel hungry and do not need to eat lunch or dinner. This is not a reason to worry, but rather to think and try to work out a nutrition model consisting of three main meals (breakfast, lunch, dinner) and two smaller meals (2nd breakfast, snack / afternoon tea). This regularity will certainly contribute not only to the improvement of the quality of the diet, but also the performance of the young organism during school activities or football training.

In one of the previous articles, the subject of the body's immunity was discussed in the context of, inter alia, diet. Both too low fluid intake and improper supply of energy from the diet, or disturbed proportions of nutrients (proteins, fats, carbohydrates) can weaken the human body, cause inflammation, and as a consequence, many diseases can develop. In the case of a young organism such as a child and its increased demand for energy and nutrients, there is a greater risk of weakening the body. It should also be taken into account that the fall-winter season, which is characterized by a decrease in immunity, is approaching rapidly. Physical effort in the form of trainings, matches and football tournaments can additionally burden the body of a young player, so especially during this period, we should pay attention to how our child nourishes. If a player develops apathy, weariness, nervousness and irritation, and as a result, an aversion to food and, what is worse, weight loss, pale skin and general weakness, it is worth taking a closer look at this problem. Very often these symptoms occur as a result of many stressful situations (family problems, quarrel with a friend, test at school, league match at the weekend) and then the child eats very rarely and in small amounts. In addition to talking, trying to find and solve the problem, nutritional tips can help in this difficult time and prevent weight loss or malnutrition. Even for small meals, you can add an egg, a spoonful of butter, olive oil or cream, which will increase the caloric content of the dish. If our player is not allergic to nuts, a good solution is to add peanut butter to, for example, porridge, bread or pancake. If the child does not want the main meal, try to convince him or her to drink a smoothie based on milk or natural yogurt, with the addition of banana, spinach, honey and the aforementioned peanut butter or a spoonful of olive oil.

Returning to kindergarten or school after such a long break brings joy among many children, because they will finally meet their friends and favorite teachers. Of course, you can also notice the anxiety related to the return to the former reality and the sheer volume of obligations arising from the beginning of the school year. Parents are concerned that their children spend most of the day outside the home and do not have such control over their nutrition. It happens that home-made sandwiches or snacks are not eaten, and the school lunch just today did not appeal to the child. In addition, extracurricular activities, and when it comes to sports training, the problem is even more acute. Therefore, let's not put additional pressure on the child by constantly asking if he or she ate lunch at school, why not eat all the sandwiches, let's not force him to eat a meal, because the effect may be opposite. Let's talk to the children about what they ate throughout the day, how their time was spent outside the home, how they feel, whether they had the strength to exercise during training.

Dietician Justyna Piskorz