Taller de Alimentación y Nutrición

Summary

In this video, the team at Filos Kids—Marcela (psychologist), Daniela (speech therapist), and Valentina (physiotherapist)—discuss the importance of nutrition and its role in early childhood development. They emphasize that mealtime is not just about eating but about building emotional connections and fostering family bonds. The video offers practical strategies for encouraging healthy eating habits, such as involving children in meal planning, making mealtime fun, and ensuring a variety of foods are presented. The experts stress the importance of consistency, patience, and love in helping children develop a positive relationship with food.

Takeaways

• 😀 Encourage family involvement in food-related activities like shopping and meal preparation to help children develop a positive relationship with food.
• 😀 Avoid pressuring children to eat certain foods; instead, create a calm environment where they can explore new foods at their own pace.
• 😀 Be a role model by eating a variety of foods in front of your child, especially those they may be hesitant to try.
• 😀 Help children understand the nutritional benefits of foods, like how carrots support better vision and proteins build muscles.
• 😀 Create consistent mealtime routines to provide structure and security for your child.
• 😀 Keep mealtime free from distractions like screens to foster interaction and attention to eating.
• 😀 Use creative, fun activities, such as cooking together or making chef hats, to engage children in the meal process.
• 😀 Present a variety of foods regularly to help your child become more accepting of different flavors and textures.
• 😀 Introduce an 'acceptable' food in every meal that the child enjoys, while gently introducing new foods alongside it.
• 😀 Perseverance is key—make mealtimes a consistent, loving, and enjoyable experience for your child to encourage healthy habits.
• 😀 Engage children in food choices by letting them help create grocery lists or choose ingredients for their meals.

Q & A

Why is mealtime considered an important family activity beyond just eating food?

Mealtime is a key opportunity for emotional bonding, sharing affection, and fostering communication within the family. It helps strengthen the emotional connections between family members and supports the development of positive relationships with food during early childhood.

What should parents do if their child is reluctant to eat certain foods?

Parents should avoid pressuring the child, as this can lead to resistance. Instead, they should encourage the child to try the food calmly, using sensory experiences like touching and tasting, and model eating those foods themselves to set a positive example.

How can parents help their children understand their emotions during mealtime?

Parents should verbally communicate the child’s feelings rather than allowing them to associate emotions with food. This helps the child recognize and express their emotions in a healthy way, without relying on food as a coping mechanism.

Why is it important for parents to set routines and schedules for meals?

Establishing regular meal times helps create consistency, provides structure, and encourages a calm and focused eating environment. This also minimizes distractions, like screens, allowing the family to engage with each other and enjoy mealtime together.

What does it mean to have a 'safe food' in a child’s meal plan, and why is it important?

A 'safe food' is an item that the child already enjoys and is comfortable eating. It’s important because it provides a reliable option during mealtime, especially when introducing new foods, and helps avoid mealtime frustration while encouraging the child to try new ingredients.

What role does involving children in food-related tasks (like shopping or cooking) play in their eating habits?

Involving children in shopping or cooking helps them feel more engaged and invested in the food they eat. This can increase their willingness to try new foods, as they have a sense of ownership and excitement about the meal preparation process.

How can parents create a fun and interactive food experience for their children?

Parents can engage children by organizing activities like making chef hats and aprons, preparing simple recipes together, or crafting personalized placemats. These fun activities encourage the child to associate mealtime with enjoyment, not just nutrition.

Why is it important for parents to model healthy eating behaviors for their children?

Children often imitate their parents’ actions, so when parents eat a variety of healthy foods and display positive eating habits, they set a strong example for their children. This encourages children to follow suit and adopt similar behaviors themselves.

What are some strategies to introduce new foods to children who are picky eaters?

Parents can introduce new foods gradually while ensuring that a familiar 'safe food' is included in the meal. They can also use strategies like creating a weekly meal plan where the child has input or presenting fun facts about the benefits of the food to generate interest.

What is the relationship between proper nutrition and physical development in early childhood?

Adequate nutrition is essential for the proper growth and development of muscles, bones, and the nervous system. Without proper nutrients like protein, calcium, and vitamins, a child’s physical and cognitive development may be hindered, affecting their motor skills and overall health.