Children’s Diet Should Be Balanced

– Dr. Gurudas Bhalchandra Natekar

In today’s advanced age, it is regrettable to say that children and young people have been led astray by their constant exposure to and excessive use of advanced devices such as televisions and mobile phones. These devices have brought about radical changes in their interests and lifestyles. However, children alone are not responsible for this overall situation; their parents are largely responsible, directly or indirectly. We cannot blame the children in this matter; because children imitate the actions and thought patterns of their parents.

Let’s take a simple example from our daily lives. Often, parents enter restricted areas or ‘no entry’ zones while driving in the city, or they drive at high speed without wearing helmets. Naturally, this creates a mindset in young children that nothing bad will happen if they do the same. Later, when these children grow up and start driving vehicles, they imitate their parents, and unfortunately, they get involved in accidents. The point is, children follow their parents’ example and are led down the wrong path. If parents recognize their moral responsibility in this regard and adopt good practices, their children can become well-mannered, and unfortunate incidents in the children’s future lives can be avoided; parents need to be aware of this. Parents must always remember that children’s character is shaped by such small and large incidents.

The upbringing of children, their diet and lifestyle, are primarily managed by the mother, rather than the father, in most cases. Because, in most families, the father is employed while the mother is a homemaker. Instances where the mother is employed and the father manages the household are extremely rare. In this overall social situation, every mother desires that her child be physically robust and healthy. She has the misconception that non-vegetarian food is best for health. With the intention of ensuring her child’s good physical condition, she feeds the child fish, chicken, and mutton right from the beginning. As a result, the children develop a permanent habit of eating fish and chicken-mutton. They cannot do without it. They do not have a preference for vegetarian foods like pulses and vegetables, which are rich in vitamins. They make faces when offered such foods. They even ignore sweet vegetarian dishes because they have developed a craving for spicy and tangy non-vegetarian foods. Consequently, often during festivals or according to family customs, on days like Monday or Thursday when vegetarian food is cooked at home, these children make faces. Some children even go without eating anything on those days, essentially ‘fasting’. Then, the parents have to persuade the children to eat. But, since non-vegetarian food is not available at home on those days, the children either remain hungry or somehow manage by eating chips, biscuits, etc., bought from the shop.

In reality, if children are introduced to vegetarian food from a young age, they continue to eat vegetarian dishes with pleasure in their later life as well. In my honest opinion, parents are falling short somewhere in cultivating such preferences in their children. For this, a change in the parents’ mindset is essential. Generally, parents harbor misconceptions, and that’s why this happens. They mistakenly believe that eating non-vegetarian food is a sign of prestige.

Many factors are responsible for children developing a preference for non-vegetarian food and other similar food items instead of vegetarian options. One of these factors is imitation of other children their age. Children start imitating what their neighbors’ children, relatives’ children, and schoolmates eat. Besides this, children are influenced by television programs, movie scenes, advertisements, and content on mobile phones. I am not saying that children should never be given tasty, spicy, or non-vegetarian food from outside the home. However, there should be a specific limit. They should eat all kinds of nutritious food. Only then will their diet be balanced. Parents should especially ensure that children avoid ordering pizzas and junk food from outside and instead develop a liking for vegetables and pulses rich in various vitamins. If this balance is disturbed, there is a risk of an increase in children’s health problems.

In shaping children’s habits and mindset regarding their diet, the contribution of teachers, along with parents, is crucial. Although it is true that children spend more time with their parents than with their teachers, teachers play a more effective role in this regard than parents. It is a fact that children have more faith in their teachers than in their parents when it comes to knowledge and moral values. Children believe that whatever their teachers say is 100% correct. Sometimes, even if what the teachers have said is incorrect and the parents correct it and provide the true information, children are not ready to believe their parents. The children firmly insist that the teacher is right. Therefore, it is essential for parents to also educate their children about diet and nutrition.
Consuming meat regularly is harmful to health.