As part of our training in medicine we still devote a great deal of time learning about diseases, infections, and effective treatments. Fortunately, there has been a welcome trend for many years, as doctors and patients realize the enormous benefits of concentrating on prevention and health maintenance. We learn how the body works and what it needs to accomplish its incredible functions, especially in an ever-changing environment. We investigate and analyze large evidence-based studies on how to stay healthy and strong, and time and time again these studies find statistically proven benefits in eating the right foods.
The relationship between how we nourish our bodies and our overall health is very clear.
Having cared for kids for 38 years, 28 as a pediatrician, I can tell you there are so many other factors that make pediatric nutrition more complex. Each age and each stage brings new nutritional needs as well as new attitudes and preferences for textures and taste! And the interplay between the intensity and demands of a toddler and the patience and will-power of a new parent can be more than even a superhero could handle!
Each parent has their own values or beliefs when it comes to nutrition. And since I help 20 different families each day, I have had about 150,000 different discussions in my career about healthy eating! And each one as a result is very unique!
A child starts having real feelings and demands before you might think. The 4 month old is laughing with you and the energy is wonderful, pure and real. The 9 month old is already yelling at you, and screaming with sincere passion. They already are developing true preferences. We all hear of the “terrible two’s” or “threenagers”! These are terms acknowledging the intensity of toddlers. Food preferences or desires, when it comes to taste and texture are certainly formed at a very young age.
One of my themes is to be “proud” of everything you offer your young child. When kids are young, they certainly can’t distinguish between a “special treat” or a once in a while sweet. And why would they? For many young children, once they see a certain sweet flavor or enjoy a french fry or cookie or ice cream, they start to prefer that taste, and start to limit acceptance of other healthy foods.
Kids can get picky very quickly. And then eating often becomes a battle. We don’t want mealtimes to become a time of stress or anxiety for kids or parents. When kids are older, I leave it up to parents how often they offer a dessert or treat, but I encourage parents to wait as long as they can before offering foods they don’t think are healthy.
Obesity is a major problem in the United States, and we see a lot of teens with type 2 diabetes, high cholesterol, high blood pressure and low self-esteem. While obesity is indeed multi-factorial and a complex issue, it certainly doesn’t help if the child gets a sweet tooth, or gets used to eating empty calories, processed foods, or sugar filled cereals or drinks.
There are certain themes most agree on - to avoid soda, sugary beverages, fast foods, fried foods, and excess sweets and treats. There are also many controversies or differences of opinions when it comes to red meats, carbs in general, and buying organic, and I really believe each parent has a right to decide the nuances of nutrition in their family.
Some families allow for bacon, hot dogs and sausages, which I personally feel taste quite wonderful on the tongue, but are certainly not great for our bodies.
I don’t think my role is to scold families for allowing a small treat after dinner if that feels right as long as other nutritional needs are being met. But knowing kids for over 38 years now, I do warn new parents that often it’s give an inch, take a mile. I have seen the one cookie turn to seven, and during the summer, many are getting more than one treat per day, because “how could I say no when the ice cream truck showed up”!
Its makes no sense that school events at 9 in the morning feature doughnuts and cake. I am really not sure how this happened in our health-conscious culture, but foods that are definitely so bad for us are everywhere!
Over our time together, I have the luxury of getting to know my families so we can individualize our plan given a variety of factors. As a team, we can emphasize some important pillars of nutrition to your child, and do our best to convince them to accept a healthy balanced diet. The exact components of that diet changes, and is a complex discussion, so I offer individualized nutritional consults as a pediatrician all the time with families.
During our scheduled visits, I paint broad strokes, and emphasize the need for vegetables, fruits, healthy grains, complex carbs, proteins, natural fats, and mineral and vitamins. I do find most kids aren’t getting enough of those greens, and I encourage fun ways to sneak them in, or make finding the rainbow more fun. For many parents, they are aware the child might not be getting enough of these crucial vitamins and minerals, so many are looking for that one multivitamin, or supplement that can allow them to feel better. Many feel uncomfortable on a daily basis, as they know that their child is not accepting our attempts to get in enough veggies, or calcium and vitamin D sources each day.
The picky eater can certainly be a humongous obstacle to nutrition, and we can’t force feed our kids, but we certainly can play our cards, and control what we buy and bring in the house. It is very difficult to have a toddler resist a snack drawer, and choose the broccoli, knowing that the chips or cookies are an option only inches away.
I welcome the opportunity to discuss your child’s nutritional needs. If you are worried, just message us for a nutritional consult and don’t wait for the yearly preventative well child check up, as this topic deserves its own dedicated visit. We will review a food diary, review the growth charts and percentiles, and discuss what nutrients might be lacking, and strategies and approaches, or supplements, to ensure a healthy well-balanced diet, or at least a game plan to keep trying!
