Ensure correct nutrition to your school going child, say experts
LUCKNOW : Sipping just a glass of milk in the morning won’t make your child healthy or intelligent. On the contrary, he might suffer from acidity or constipation or both, said experts on the second day of UP-PEDICON2018, the 39th state conference of the Indian Academy of Paediatrics on Saturday.
“A glass of milk has nutrition but not all that is required by a child to face lessons, play outdoors and sustain the pressure in school. By the time the recess takes place, hunger begins to haunt him,” said Dr Ashutosh Verma, coordinator of the scientific sessions in the conference.
The doctor said milk was good at night as it helped the digestive system.
He said about 90% mothers gave a glass of milk with some biscuits to their kids in the morning.
“Even the lunch box has bread or sometimes biscuits. Porridge is a good nutrient that can be served in the morning while the lunchbox needs other nutritious items,” said Dr Verma.
Foodstuff made of gram, wheat or any other such element could be given in the lunchbox to make the child healthy, he said, adding foods with protein and carbohydrates were good for all age groups. “Allow the child to spend 30 to 40 minutes on eating meals. This habit has to be developed in children by parents,” said Dr Verma.
Dr Dinesh Chandra Pandey said that once a week, children and their entire family should have a light meal such as khichadi.
“It helps improve the digestive system as it has rice and pulses and even vegetables can be mixed in it. It offers complete nutrition,” said Dr Pandey.
Prof AA Mahdi, vice chancel-
THE DOCTOR SAID MILK WAS GOOD AT NIGHT AS IT HELPED THE DIGESTIVE SYSTEM
lor of Era University, said that correct food habits helped develop the brain properly. “The intelligence quotient of the child has a relation to the food that he eats,” said Prof Mahdi.
Doctors advised parents to keep a watch on their children and observe how active they were.
“Activity is a signal that the child is fit,” they said.