Good practices for children by UNICEF
Content Inspired by UNICEF
Summary
- Good to know!
- Some key points from UNICEF’s advice
Good to know!
- How a child discovers food and flavours will influence their relationship with food throughout their life. It is therefore essential to lay a good foundation as soon as possible.
- During the first six months of the baby, milk (breast or infant) is the only food and/or drink necessary for the development of the child.
- As soon as your health professional (pediatrician, doctor, PMI, etc.) gives you the green light, usually from six months, food diversification can begin. This is the time to start laying the foundation for a healthy and peaceful relationship with food.
Some key points from UNICEF’s advice
Drink water!
- In addition to milk (breast or infant), which can be consumed up to two years and even beyond water is the only drink essential to the child’s organism.
Without sugar(s)
- Avoid giving very sweet foods (sugar, honey, etc.) or sweetening your dishes before the age of two. A child who takes the habit of tasting sweet very early will tend to look for this taste in the way he eats.
Long live variety
- Vary the flavours as much as possible by introducing different fruits and vegetables as soon as possible, without forgetting aromatic herbs (mint, coriander, parsley, etc.) and sweet spices (vanilla, cinnamon, turmeric, etc.). A child who gets used to a wide range of tastes at a very young age will naturally later tend to choose more varied and balanced options.
Parents First
- Lead by example: involve your child in market shopping, food preparation, table dressing… Be inspired by your own food choices, avoiding snacking or choosing ultra-processed products, and focusing on varied and colorful meals that you enjoy with your family.
Good reflexes
- Teach them to recognize the feeling of hunger, and to understand why we eat: for pleasure, but especially to allow the body and the mind to grow healthy.
Forbidden to prohibit!
- Establish a positive relationship with food: do not use food as rewards, prohibit it, demonize it or use it as a threat or punishment.
It’s party time…
- Place a frame for very sweet foods (sodas, sweets…) and ultra-processed foods: these are occasional foods, not everyday items.
Well on his plate
- Forget about the injunctions! A child has the innate ability to adapt his consumption to his energy needs, trust him, do not force him to finish his plate.
Full serving
- Help him understand the size of an ideal serving on the plate: the size of his closed fist for starchy foods (pasta, rice…), the size of a palm for protein (meat, fish…), the pulp of his thumb for added fats (the knob of butter on pasta, for example).
In the morning
- Give preference to a healthy and balanced breakfast (see recipes sheet) that will lay the foundations of the day, and will prevent sudden tiredness.
Less screens
- Limit screens – the UN recommends limiting viewing to a maximum of one hour per day between the ages of 2 to 4 years old, and avoid doing screens and meals at the same time.
Go out more!
- Be active, –and creative. A child over 2 years of age should do at least 60 minutes of physical activity a day, whether it is games, walks or simply a spontaneous dance with his parents.