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5 tips to be healthy and healthy food options #63PercentMoreProtein

by - June 07, 2024

 

For a parent, everything from conception, to giving birth and nurturing a child is a long and tedious process and we are constantly striving to fulfil this job responsibly.

As a healthcare professional and a mother of two, the biggest expectation that I have from myself is their health and providing them with healthy and healthy food options.

5 tips to raise a child with healthy and healthy food options:

1. All work and no play makes Jack a dull boy.

 In this cutthroat world, it is natural that we get sucked into the portal of competition and comparison. To excel or in fact, survive this world, we as parents enrol our kids in multiple activities, leaving no time for them to engage in unstructured play. While extra-curricular activities go a long way in building the personality of a child, it shouldn't become a chore either. It's imperative to concentrate on one passion and nurture it, rather than trying to don multiple hats and being average in all of them.



Academics play an integral role in shaping the future of a child, but it's not everything. As parents, we should never underestimate the power of play. While playing outdoors is important for physical and mental development, unstructured play boosts creativity and imagination. Instead of buying board games, we should expose them to more stuff like building blocks, dominos, etc.

2. Food thy medicine and medicine thy food.


As I have grown older, I have started to realise this epic quote of Hippocrates more and more. Health and healthy food are complementary. Our diet determines our physical and mental well-being.



A wholesome diet is the key to good health. We are what we eat. So, if we are into empty calories, then our body would also be hollow from within. In this world of quick fixes, fancy-looking snacks and the ever-increasing culture of eating out, we are more prone to get derailed from the tracks of nutrition. However, this shouldn't deter us from giving healthy food to our kids. 


There isn't a stage of life when we can neglect our diet and hence our health, but the growing years are particularly more crucial in shaping the individual.


Role of proteins: Proteins provide the building materials for our body and also have a direct role in immunity. For children, incorporating the required amount of proteins might get a bit challenging daily. Ask me. As a mother of 2 underweight vegetarian kids, I am always ransacking my brain on how to innovate my protein-feeding game. I try switching the pulses and legumes every day and always knead my dough in dal so that they have protein-enriched chapatis and parathas.



Also, I add Complan in their milk which makes the taste great. Complan has 34 vital nutrients, including 100% milk protein, vitamins and minerals. It is clinically proven to support  2x faster growth. It contains 63% more protein than other nutrition drinks. Complan supports memory and concentration.



Plus, my kids love the taste and hence gulp down the milk within minutes! It’s a win-win! Health and healthy food go hand in hand!


Role of carbohydrates: The diet of a child should have an adequate amount of whole grains and a minimum of refined carbs. They need a lot of energy and their diet should have a lot of roughage too, for smooth bowel movement. Too much sugary stuff also should be avoided.


Role of fats: Our target should be giving healthy fats to our kids. Ghee, nuts, whole milk, avocado, peanut butter, coconut, etc and not bad fats like frozen french fries and chips.



Fresh fruits and vegetables. I am sure kids love fruits. But it can be a bit tricky to feed them a variety of vegetables. I usually put a handful in the dal they like and then mash everything into their parathas. Roughage and micronutrients present in fruits and vegetables are crucial for their health.




3. Role of supplements


Diet sometimes is not sufficient for certain micronutrients and there arises the need for supplements. Even though we reside in one of the sunniest countries in the world, we still may need Vitamin D supplementation. For growing children, Vitamin D and Calcium supplementation is crucial for their skeletal development. (1) Ask my orthopaedic husband, he gets patients regularly, suffering from rickets, just because of Vitamin D deficiency. Check with your paediatrician for more information



4. Nurturing environment


A flower can bloom only if it gets a favourable environment. Children are just like flowers. They need the right amount of love, care and support in place of water, sunlight and manure. The best gift that we can give our child is a happy environment. Kids do not need material things to grow into cheerful individuals. Expensive toys do bring gratification, but that is temporary. What we can invest in is a calm, happy and stress-free home to grow up. Kids pick up from their parents. If you are a composed person, they surely would be too.



5. The power of optimism and gratitude

Life is not easy and we should teach our kids that; whenever they are faced with any obstacle they should be positive. It’s imperative to imbibe in them that there is always light at the end of the tunnel. There is no greater magic in this world than optimism and hope. We should start teaching them gratitude from a very early age. 


Quoting an excerpt that has stayed with me since I had read it. Once a homeless girl puts a wish for a doll as a Christmas gift from the church. On Christmas, she receives a pair of crutches and she bursts into tears. Her father consoles her that she should be grateful to the Lord that she doesn’t need the crutches. The power of gratitude!


Summing up, it takes a village to raise a child happy, healthy and healthy food is an integral part of it. We all are doing the best we can.



Disclaimer: The views expressed in the blog content are independent

and unbiased views of solely the blogger. This is a part of the public awareness initiative supported by Complan.


This post was created for the Blogaberry Creative (Monthly) Challenge.

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24 comments

  1. "Encouraging kids to engage in unstructured play boosts creativity and imagination.

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  2. Extracurricular activities are important, but shouldn't overshadow the need for playtime.

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  3. A balanced diet with whole grains and healthy fats is crucial for children's growth.

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  4. Incorporating hidden veggies and whole grains can make meals more nutritious for kids.

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  5. Protein-rich foods like legumes and pulses are essential for a child’s development.

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  6. Complan is a great way to ensure kids get the necessary proteins and nutrients.

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  7. Fresh fruits and vegetables provide vital roughage and micronutrients for children.

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  8. Smart substitutions like Greek yogurt and nut butter can make meals healthier.

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  9. Vitamin D and calcium supplements are important for kids’ bone health.

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  10. Manisha Pandey13 June 2024 at 18:40

    Healthy eating habits established early on support long-term physical and mental well-being.

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  11. Proteins and other nutrients are essential and form the building blocks for the health and development of children. Unfortunately for some strange reason, kids usually detest anything healthy, especially milk. Complan is a good way to get them onto a healthy diet. Sandy N Vyjay

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  12. Bedabrata Chakraborty16 June 2024 at 19:12

    Thanks for the practical tips on staying healthy and choosing nutritious foods. Your insights on Complan make me want to thank my Mom. Looking forward to more wellness advice from your blog!

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  13. One of the best post about the healthy food options with proper nutrition. It's very important to eat healthy food which not only gives us the physical boost but also enhances our mental stamina and intelligence too.

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  14. These are some great tips for a wholesome improvement in health, specially for kids. A nutrient rich diet is a must and we should not ignore this basic rule.

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  15. I was a complan girl when I was a little girl. And now I am in the phase to introduce complan again to my child... to make him a complan boy. Complan along with healthy diet will be the best choice for a growing child.

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  16. Glad to see a complan post . Feels nostalgic. Being a doctor yourself , you know the best tips to be healthy & how to inculcate the healthy lifestyle & foods in your kids regimen. These tips will be helpful to all parents.

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  17. Good tips. Proteins are truly the building blocks. And I would drink chocolate-flavoured Complan as a child. I think I can still have it.

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  18. Great job on the blog post, Mandira! Your 5 tips for staying healthy, including the healthy food options you shared, are really helpful. I love how you've emphasized getting 63% more protein—such a crucial aspect of a balanced diet. Keep up the fantastic work!

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  19. Healthy food choices and eating habits are easier to cultivate in childhood. With the help of balanced nutrition, they can stay energetic, alert and grow up right. Complan definitely helps in that.

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  20. These are excellent tips. Complan has always been outstanding.

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  21. Hansa Kajaria Mummatalks25 June 2024 at 21:15

    I also believe and agree with you that an all round nutrition for kids is very very important. A well balanced diet of due Protines and vitamins is a must to meet their high energy levels

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  22. Proteins are very essential for the growth, development and repair of the body. Children have growing bodies, hence they require more proteins than adults.
    Complan is a good choice.

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  23. Excellent parenting tips, especially the point about including play and study in a balanced way. It is so important to let children have fun learning and playing. Great article!

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  24. I totally agree. We are what we eat. Children can be picky but it is important to have the right nutrition. It is good to see Complan still going strong.

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