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How to Boost Your Kid’s Appetite with Food and Vitamins

Summary

Building up your child's appetite for meal times is often tricky. But with the right tips and practices, it will be easier to boost their appetite, maintain their weight, and keep their health in tip-top shape.

Table of Contents

If you're presently puzzled about your child's behavior during meals, you're not alone. Managing a child's appetite for food is seldom a smooth journey for parents.

You may find them eating less of what's on their plate, and the more you try to bargain, the more they refuse to eat their food.

Experiencing these feeding battles and appetite loss can be difficult for parents. You can't help but be concerned for their energy levels and whether they're receiving enough vitamins to maintain their weight. And though it can be worrying, you wouldn't want to damage your child's relationship with food by forcing them to finish their meals.

So what can you do? First, you need to understand the factors affecting their appetite. And second, you should establish a healthy routine to make meal times enjoyable while introducing more food groups to your child's diet.

Read on to see how you can get started with sound techniques and food and vitamins for kids' appetites.

Understanding your child's appetite

You need to know that it's normal for your kid's appetite levels to fluctuate. Sudden growth spurts, parent feeding practices, and a certain level of independence they acquire as toddlers can all contribute to their relationship with food.

You may even notice that some babies are easier to feed during meals. And this is because they tend to be hungrier due to their bodies' growing needs. Meanwhile, other babies may have developed a curiosity and fondness for certain food items because of their texture and flavor.

On the other hand, children who have become more physically active may prefer playing and running around rather than sitting down to eat.

During these times, convincing them to finish their food gets tough. But these shouldn't prompt you to force them to eat. Instead, you should let your kids learn on their own the natural consequences of not eating their meals.

Allowing your kids to feel hungry on their own helps them better understand the value of food and meal times.

When kids get sick, you may also notice their appetite dip temporarily. They may eat less and prefer smaller meals, but these shouldn't cause too much stress. If they're down with the common colds or feeling constipated, just give your kids enough time to rest and keep them hydrated throughout their recovery.

Still, you must be alert to certain symptoms such as abdominal pain, vomiting, coughing, and rash. When these symptoms come up, you should consult your pediatrician.

To help you have a better grasp on what nutrients to prioritize for kids' meals, you can read our article on how to prevent micronutrient deficiencies. You can also visit our previous post, where we answered the most asked questions by moms when beginning complementary feeding.

Is your kid a picky eater?

Has it become harder to make your child eat other types of food? Your child's appetite may get especially tricky to manage once they reach their picky eating phase. All children go through this stage, usually at the ages two to six.

Children can become fussy with the food they choose to eat, but experts indicate that this is how they practice their newfound independence. But not to worry, kids usually grow out of their picky eating behaviors as they grow older.

In the meantime, you may start building your kid's relationship with food by getting them involved more in preparing meals. These activities could range from shopping for ingredients to tasting new flavors and having them assist you in cooking.

Looking for more tips to help your fussy eater? You may read our previous article, where we share three effective strategies to ease feeding battles.

How to boost their appetite before meals

Your child's appetite levels may vary and make meal times unpredictable. But keeping these three tips in mind can help you maintain some control.

1. Limit snacks between meals

Sweets may seem like every child's weakness. Their eyes instantly twinkle with the sight of an ice cream bowl or chocolate bar held close to their face. So if you want to keep their appetite up for the meal you've prepared, it may be best to avoid sugar-laced food beforehand.

Offering milk and juice packs before meals may also not be advised as these contain extra calories, which make kids feel full during meal times.

2. Offer a variety of nutrient-dense food

Study finds that kids in their picky eating phases tend to have diets low in vegetables, fruits, and whole grains which may affect them as young adults. Making fussy eaters eat anything besides their three favorite foods can be a hefty task, but you must keep trying. Keep asking them to taste different types of food and see where it goes. You may focus on food rich in iron, folic acid, and zinc as research shows they positively improve appetite.

If you wish to learn more about how to plan well-balanced meals for kids, you may visit our previous article written by one of our doctors here at Nurturemed.

3. Have ample time for exercise

If your kid hasn't yet settled for a fixed meal schedule, dedicating time in the day for exercise may be one way to make their hunger more predictable. Having them engaged in physical activity promotes healthier metabolism that burns calories. And, in effect, increases hunger and appetite.

So if you wish to have them excited for dinner, try scheduling a round of exercise an hour or two before.

Appetite stimulants and vitamins for kids

Nutritious meals and healthy routines are your primary tools to strengthen your child's health. But even if you're doing everything right as parents, getting the help of food supplements also helps ensure your kids receive all the nutrients they need.

You may consult their pediatrician to help you find the right supplements and vitamins for kids to gain weight, stimulate their appetite and support their nutrition.

Here are some trusted appetite stimulants and multivitamins that we highly recommend from Nurturemed.

Build Immunity with healthy kidz

Healthy Kidz combines vitamin C and beta-glucan to provide an overall boost to your child's immune defense. As vitamin C enhances immune cell functions, beta-glucan helps reduce the duration and severity of upper respiratory tract infections.

A daily dose of Healthy Kidz' sweet and fruity syrup provides children aged two to twelve the recommended intake of vitamin C they need every day.

Boost Kids' Development with Z-Vita

Kids need zinc to help them achieve optimal development that preserves their appetite. With Z-Vita, kids can receive their daily Zinc requirement along with vitamin B complex that's essential for nerves and muscle growth and lysine, which promotes healing and healthy tissue function.

Give your kids the tools to fight off infection, ensure growth, and support their appetite with Z-Vita's cherry syrup formula.

Gentle Vitamin C with Tropicee Plus

If your kids need a tummy-friendly vitamin C, you may find Tropicee Plus an ideal choice. This supplement combines sodium ascorbate with taurine and lysine to give kids the nutrients they need for healthy development while being less acidic than other vitamin C supplements.

Arm your kid with a tough immune booster that's gentle on their tummy with Tropicee Plus' orange drops and syrup.

Watching kids eat happily during family dinners brings a wave of happiness to parents. But we're here for your support if you have yet to unlock the secret to your child's appetite. You can steer their appetite's unpredictability by building a reliable routine to satisfy their health needs. Follow the tips we've shared and consider Nurturemed's trusted supplements to support their daily nutrition today. — (Nurturemed)