It’s not unusual to see children being picky with what they’re eating. Whether it’s eating veggies, food that might seem strange to them, or just about any new dish, it can be hard looking for ways of making your child eat something healthy. Parents and those taking care of children will often have issues with children that might cause a low appetite, especially if they need to eat a plethora of different food to get a good amount of nutrients.
Nutrient deficiency and low appetite can often lead to an underweight child that may struggle in “keeping up” with other healthier children. Thus, children must get the essential nutrients that they need. Here’s what you’ll need to know about nutrient deficiency and what you can do to increase your child’s appetite.
Causes of Low Appetite
When it comes to naturally encouraging your children to eat, you’ll need to ask them first their personal preferences regarding food. Most of the time, their personal preference is usually influenced by what they see on television or what other kids are eating. Asking them first or even asking a professional nutritionist is a great way of finding out the cause of your child’s picky behaviour.
It’s important to note that there’s really no one cause of low appetite, and there are many different causes. Here are some that you’ll need to know:
Nutrient Deficiency
One of the main causes of a low appetite is not getting enough nutrients and minerals in the body, which can have drastic effects on the digestion process and metabolism. Zinc is known for being one of the most important nutrients related to the digestion process and metabolism. Normally, appetite is often influenced by metabolism and the production of hydrochloric acid, which is often controlled by zinc.
A deficiency in micronutrients like zinc is often related to the loss of appetite, weight loss, and other related complications related to the digestive tract. You might need to give your child supplements of zinc to get them to eat more.
Health Complications
Other than nutrient deficiency, low appetite is also caused by sickness. Much of the digestive system is affected when a child is sick and won’t have the appetite or the mood to eat. If this is the case, it may take some time for your child’s digestion and appetite to recover. Medication can also affect low appetite, which can complicate the need for increased appetite.
It can become even more challenging to feed a kid that has virtually no appetite. Aside from lacking nutrients, the discomfort of being ill can further complicate things.
Naturally Increasing the Appetite in Children
Luckily, children are usually impulsive and emotional, which makes them quite easy to convince. There are a variety of ways of naturally increasing the appetite in children. Though it might be a bit challenging at first, you can try out these strategies:
Make Eating Fun and Interesting
Children love to eat their favourite food and can easily get excited when they see what they want. You can observe them on what they tend to eat more and incorporate them into meals that they don’t “like.” You can also try out doing a bit of food art by adding a wide array of colours. If they have a nutrient deficiency, you can try adding a bit of veggie and other nutrient-rich food into some of their favourite meals. It’s also important to give them water in between meals.
Still, it’s important to remember that presentation is a great way of getting your child invested in what you just prepared for them. Making your food look appetising through various ways can ensure that they’ll be eating the healthy dishes that you’ve wholeheartedly prepared for them. Fortunately, there are bamboo suction plate cutlery and tableware that are designed for children. If you’re quite keen on having a more organic table set, this is a great way of contributing to the environment while still increasing your child’s appetite.
Stick to a Schedule
The body usually follows a schedule when it comes to essential functions, such as sleeping and eating. Having a schedule is a great way of building up an appetite. In between meals, you can also add a bit of snacktime into the schedule. Still, you might want to avoid junk food and replace it with more healthy and nutritious snacks.
There are many ways of cultivating a healthy eating habit for your child and increasing their appetite. Ultimately, you have to make sure that they are eating a well-balanced and healthy meal. Children are quite emotional, and entertaining them can increase the likelihood of getting on their good side.
