Mealtime has become a battle in trying to get young children to eat a variety of healthy foods for millions of families around the world. A study commissioned among parents by Abbott across metros to understand fussy eating behavior in India, revealed that in Mumbai 86% of mothers have children they consider to be fussy eaters. Over 59% of these mothers worry about their children’s nutritional requirements. 37% of the mothers expressed that their children were susceptible to cold & cough frequently, and 41% believed that fussy eating impacted their children’s overall performance at school.
To address the mealtime challenges faced by mothers, Abbott, a global leader in science-based nutritional products, has launched ‘Abbott SureMoms’, a parents education and engagement initiative. It is a multi touch-point initiative the first of its kind undertaken by any health care company in India. Parents can also call the toll-free number 1800-22-0046 from anywhere in India to seek personalized expert nutri-counselling. A website with comprehensive information on nutrition and health, including access to the six steps to raise healthy eaters, aspects of fussy eating, managing fussy eating and the importance of balanced nutrition will be available soon. Abbott will also work with leading schools, nutritionists and pediatricians to create awareness on the importance of right nutrition and help parents encourage healthy eating habits amongst their children.
International Pediatric Nutrition Expert and Nutritional Consultant from Fort Carson, Colorado, USA, Kim Milano, has partnered with Abbott for this initiative, by authoring educational tools on nutrition and feeding that are easy for parents and caregivers to understand.
This six step program is designed to help parents with their child’s feeding struggle, provide advice that help make mealtimes less stressful and encourage kids to try a variety of healthy foods. It is also recommended to consult your pediatrician to understand more on feeding difficulties.
Studies show fussy eating can lead to serious physical consequences, including growth complications, increases in chronic illness and increased risk of developing an eating disorder later in life. , , , ,
“Just like learning to walk, children need help learning to eat well,” said Ms. Milano. “Establishing set meal and snack times, eating as a family, and selecting and consistently offering new healthy foods can help your children learn to enjoy them. It is also advised to consult your pediatrician to understand more on feeding difficulties.”
“We understand that parents are concerned about their children’s nutrition requirements and are trying hard to help their children develop healthy eating habits,” said Mr. Rehan Khan, managing director, Abbott Nutrition, India. “That’s why we developed ‘Abbott SureMoms’ program to help parents with information and guidance to make informed decisions.”
Six Steps to Happier Mealtimes
- Endorsed by Ms. Milano, these steps have been developed to help raise children with healthy eating habits.
- Manage Mealtime: Establish set meal and snack times.
- Learn to Understand Your Child’s Hunger Signals: When setting meal times, pay attention to the child’s signs of being full or hungry.
- Choose Healthy Foods: Make sure the right foods are present, including whole grain cereals, pulses, fruits, vegetables, milk and milk products.
- Create the “Family Table”: as soon as the child begins eating solid foods.
- Learn Your Feeding Style: Parents should identify their feeding style and use responsive feeding practices.
- Consistently Offer New Foods: Offer food he or she doesn’t eat or hasn’t tried before, at least once a day.