The following menu for baby meals is prepared by nutritionists in accordance with nutritional criteria, easy to follow and suitable for children aged 2 years and over.
Why should the menu for children to eat at 2 years old
After 19 months of age, most babies already have at least 16 baby teeth. According to Dr. Nguyen Thi Thu Hau, Head of Nutrition Department of Children's Hospital 2, this is the time when children can start eating pureed rice. By the age of 2, children usually have 20 baby teeth. This is also the time when mothers should start feeding their babies regularly and regularly.
Children as young as 18 months can begin to get used to pureed rice
Many children at this age suffer from anorexia and are afraid to eat rice. The reason is that mothers do not know how to build a menu for their children. Children often eat pureed rice with soup is very boring. The chewing movement in the jaw muscles is therefore not fully functional. Therefore, it is extremely necessary to make a menu for your baby to eat.
Criteria to build a menu for children 2 years old
Energy
Children 2 years old tend to be very active to explore the world. Therefore, the first criterion in making the menu is to ensure necessary energy. Every day children need to eat 2 soft meals. In addition, there are at least 2 extra meals with porridge or soup, pho ... In addition, children also need to drink from 500-600 ml of milk in this age group every day. Children also grow very quickly during this period, so mothers need to pay attention to gradually increase the amount of food.
Full of nutrients
When making a menu for your baby to eat, mothers need to choose foods with all the necessary nutrients. The four main groups of nutrients include carbohydrates, proteins, fats, vitamins and minerals . In which:
Starch sugar: is the starch found in rice, pho, bread, porridge, potatoes, cereals ...
Protein in meat, fish, eggs, milk, seafood, green beans, black beans, red beans ...
Fat is found in meat, fish, animal fat (30%) and in butter, vegetable oil (70%). Mothers should use cooking oils specially formulated for children. Including content of Vitamin A, D, E, K, as well as essential fats such as omega 3,6,9, EPA ... The above nutrients are calculated according to the standard formula for the daily needs of the child. So just use according to the manufacturer's instructions.
Essential vitamins and minerals are distributed in vegetables, fruits, fruits, meat, fish, mollusks, beans ... Calcium in milk is also very important to the child's development. In addition, mothers need to use iodized salt to prevent goiter and intellectual disability.
Fatty foods are essential for a child's overall development
Diversity of dishes and processing
Many mothers want to save time and give children one dish in many meals. Some mothers even feed their children a dish of rice or meat for a few days. This is a very harmful mistake that makes children more susceptible to anorexia and malnutrition.
Experts believe that the menu of 2-year-old children to eat rice needs to be varied. Baby 2 years old can eat rice with most common foods. So mom should change the main dishes from fish, meat, eel, shrimp, crab, squid, mushroom, eggs ... Avoid repeating dishes too much. Also, mothers should not indulge children by offering a favorite food such as eggs or meat.
Children 2 years old can eat most of the common foods in the meal
With the same food, mothers can choose many different ways of processing such as steaming, boiling, stir-frying, warehouse, frying ... This helps the child to change the food and not be bored. This is also a way for you to train your child to be open in eating. As a result, children not only develop comprehensively but also easily integrate with friends in the future.
The menu for children to eat rice according to the recommendations of the National Institute of Nutrition
Sample menu of the National Institute of Nutrition for children 2-3 years old
The suggestions for changing dishes for the above menu are more diverse
Cow's milk or soy can be substituted with cereal powder for 2-year-olds.
Bread can be replaced with sandwiches, sandwiches.
Meat porridge, beef noodle soup can be changed to fish porridge, chicken noodle soup.
Add dishes from fish such as fried fish tilapia, fish balls, fish eggs.
Besides pork (pork), the mother should give the child more beef, chicken, frog ...
The fruits should be varied according to the season. Pay attention to choose soft, easy-to-seed fruits like litchi, longan, sapodilla, avocado, and grapes.
Tips to help your baby eat better
To make your baby more excited with each meal, moms learn how to present the food more eye-catching. Also, arrange a time for the whole family to share meals with your baby. Children often imitate adults. When witnessing parents, grandparents eating happily and enthusiastically, the baby will also automatically follow.
You absolutely must not force your child to eat at all costs
Plan a regular meal time each day for your child. This helps children build on-time eating habits that are very beneficial for the future. In addition, eating on time also helps the child's digestive system work more effectively.
Do not try to force your child to eat at all costs. There are days when your baby will feel uncomfortable and do not want to eat more. Mom should put away the food and wait when the baby is hungry, give the baby a moderate amount. Do not let your baby eat too full at this time to avoid affecting the next meal. Applying the above tips, you will soon find your children happy and enjoy eating every day.
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