Here - Health Promotion Agency

Feeding your child
• Fruit and vegetables contain
sugar, but in a form that doesn’t
damage teeth. However, the sugar
in dried fruit and fruit juice can
cause decay if consumed frequently.
• Encourage your children to
choose breakfast cereals that
aren’t sugar-coated.
•
If you flavour milk with
milkshake flavourings, only offer
it at mealtimes.
• Beware of other forms of sugars
on labels – sucrose, glucose,
honey, dextrose, maltose syrup,
or concentrated fruit juice.
•
Diet forms of desserts may not
contain these sugars, but they are
too low in fat for a young child,
so are not suitable.
• Do not add sugar to milk.
•
Jaggery can cause the same
damage to teeth as sugar. Limit
foods containing this, like Indian
sweetmeats.
• Many foods and drinks contain
artificial sweetners. Care should be
taken to insure that your child
does not get more of these than is
recommended (see note on page 73).
Salt There is no need to add salt
(sodium chloride) to your child’s food
because there is enough naturally
present in foods. Too much salt can
lead to a liking for salty foods and
contribute towards high blood
pressure in later life. The whole
family will benefit if you gradually
reduce the amount of salt in your
cooking. Keep salt off the table and
limit the amount of salty foods
(crisps, savoury snacks, bombay mix,
bacon, ham and other salted meats)
your child has. Avoid salt substitutes
as these are just as harmful.
CUTLERY, CHOPSTICKS
OR FINGERS?
Be prepared for messy mealtimes
with children. It will take time for
your child to learn how to behave
when eating. You and the rest of the
family will set an example, so try to
eat and enjoy your food together.
Some families prefer to eat with
their fingers, while others use
chopsticks or cutlery. Whatever tool
is preferred, be patient. Your child
will need time to get used to them.
By about one year of age, babies
should be trying to feed themselves.
Some babies are very independent
and want no help, even if most of
the food does not reach their
mouths. Others prefer help, but are
happy to fiddle with a spoon whilst
being fed. Whichever the case,
encourage your child to feed him or
herself, either with a spoon or by
offering suitable finger foods.
HOW MUCH FOOD DO
TODDLERS NEED?
Children’s appetites vary
enormously, so common sense
is a good guide on how big a
portion should be. Be guided
by your children – do not force
them to eat when they no longer
wish to, but do not refuse to give
more if they are hungry.
As long as your child eats a range
of foods, and your health visitor
is happy with his or her progress,
try not to be concerned about
the amount your child eats.
‘A lot of it is habit. I mean, if
your children have never had
sugar on their cereal in the
morning, then they don’t
expect it. But then you mustn’t
have it either. The thing is that
I like sweet things myself. In
fact, at the moment, the more
tired I get the more I want to
eat biscuits and that sort of
thing. But if I eat them, the
children eat them. The only
answer is not to buy them in
the first place.’
‘Everybody knows that sweets
aren’t good. But they love
them. And the fact is, it’s a
pleasure to treat them.’
Babies up to six months old
should have less than 1g of salt
a day. For children aged one to
three, the maximum amount is
2g of salt a day, and for children
aged four to six, the maximum
is 3g of salt a day. Find out
more about salt, its effects on
health, daily limits and how to
cut down at www.salt.gov.uk
FINGER FOODS FOR
SNACKS OR WITH
MEALS
•
slices
•
Bananas or peeled apple
Chapatti or pitta bread
fingers
• Breadsticks
• Wholemeal toast fingers
with cheese spread
Cooked pasta twirls
• Cooked vegetables, e.g.
carrot or green beans
• Raw vegetables, e.g.
cucumber
Cubes of cheese
•
Thin-cut sandwiches cut
into small pieces
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