What type of food to eat for baby boy

Different Theories and If They're True

Diet to Conceive a Boy: Different Theories and If They're True

Medically reviewed by Katherine Marengo LDN, R.D., Nutrition — By Scott Frothingham on September 30, 2020

Do you have your heart set on having a boy? Looking for a way to stack the odds in your favor? Heard that changing your diet may help?

There’s no proven evidence for a special diet to conceive a boy — or, for that matter, to conceive a girl. According to the Mayo Clinic, “There’s not much the average couple can do to affect a baby’s sex.”

But there are some proponents who believe otherwise. Here, we take a look at the theories and their evidence — or lack thereof.

“Sex” and “gender” are evolving terms. In this article, biological sex refers to a baby’s X and Y chromosomes, with XX determining female and XY determining male.

Although there’s no clinical proof that changing your diet can help you conceive a boy, there are many supporters of traditional and natural remedies that feel it can. One of the most popular suggestions supported by anecdotal information is to make your body more alkaline.

This unproven remedy suggests that people with a more alkaline (high pH) “environment” are more likely to conceive a boy. This method recommends:

increasing intake of fresh fruits and vegetables
increasing intake of foods that contain potassium, such as bananas, salmon, avocados
increasing foods with high alkalinity, such as citrus fruits, root vegetables, nuts
avoiding dairy products

While there’s no evidence backing this theory, there’s rarely any harm in adding fresh fruits and veggies to your diet!

If you want to conceive a girl, on the other hand, this theory suggests increasing your body’s acidity.

A 2008 study of 740 women concluded there was a higher probability of having a male baby when the mother increased her calorie intake and ate breakfast cereals. Researchers hypothesized that this may be because higher blood glucose levels favor having a boy.

However, the United Kingdom’s National Health Service (NHS) suggests the conclusions of this study include inaccuracies that make it “ill advised” to suggest that increasing a woman’s caloric intake and eating breakfast cereals could increase chances of having a boy.

Different folks have different opinions about having a boy or girl. For some parents, it’s about balancing out their family with boy children and girl children. According to a 2011 Gallup poll, the most popular reasons for wanting a boy include:

men can relate to males better and have more in common (23 percent)
boys can carry on the family name (20 percent)
boys are easier to raise (17 percent)

With reproductive technologies like in vitro fertilization (IVF), you might have high-tech options such as sperm sorting and preimplantation genetic screening to improve your chances of having a boy. Sex selection done this way is much more common now than it was just a few years ago, when Chrissy Teigen and John Legend did it.

However, this practice has a wide range of ethical, religious, legal, and social implications and is considered controversial. If you’re doing IVF and have this option, keep in mind that it’s not necessarily a purely medical decision.

Planning on getting pregnant? You might have heard that certain diets can impact fertility.

There have been studies about the relationship of diet to fertility, but they lack the details to be of real use to people trying to conceive. For example, there’s positive fertility impact of vitamins and minerals such as folic acid, omega-fatty acid, and vitamin B12, but it’s not always clear how much of these supplements to take.

It’s good for both men and women to eat a healthy diet whether they’re trying to get pregnant or not. Prenatal vitamins (with vitamin B12 and folic acid) are already routinely recommended for people trying to conceive.

This desire to have a baby of a specific sex is often met with suggestions that haven’t been clinically proven, such as changing your diet one way to increase your chance of having a girl or another way to have a boy. However, there’s no scientific evidence that this works.

If you’re focused on having a boy, talk to your doctor about your hopes. They may have a suggestion or two and, importantly, they’ll have advice and recommendations on helping you have a healthy, happy baby, whether it turns out to be a boy or a girl.

Last medically reviewed on September 30, 2020

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Eat less for a girl, more for a boy? (2008).
nhs.uk/news/pregnancy-and-child/eat-less-for-a-girl-more-for-a-boy/
Livingston G. (2013). The odds that you will give birth to a boy or girl depend on where in the world you live.
pewresearch.org/fact-tank/2013/09/24/the-odds-that-you-will-give-birth-to-a-boy-or-girl-depend-on-where-in-the-world-you-live/
Mathews F, et al. (2008). You are what your mother eats: Evidence for maternal preconception diet influencing foetal sex in humans.
researchgate.net/publication/5421539_You_Are_What_Your_Mother_Eats_Evidence_for_Maternal_Preconception_Diet_Influencing_Foetal_Sex_in_Humans
Newport F. (2011). Americans prefer boys to girls, just as they did in 1941.
news.gallup.com/poll/148187/americans-prefer-boys-girls-1941.aspx
Tobah YB. (2019). Can you choose your baby's sex?
mayoclinic.org/healthy-lifestyle/getting-pregnant/expert-answers/babys-sex/faq-20058219

Our experts continually monitor the health and wellness space, and we update our articles when new information becomes available.

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Sep 30, 2020

Written By

Scott Frothingham

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Jessica Jondle

Medically Reviewed By

Katherine Marengo, LDN, RD

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Medically reviewed by Katherine Marengo LDN, R. D., Nutrition — By Scott Frothingham on September 30, 2020

Foods To Eat To Conceive A Boy

Many couples wonder whether they can determine the sex of their baby before conception. If you’re longing for a son, you might be looking for ways to improve your chances of having a baby boy.

In this article, we’ll focus on whether diet can influence the sex of your baby. There are, of course, other considerations, too, such as the timing and position of sex.

Be sure to read our in-depth article How To Conceive A Boy | 6 Expert Tips to Have A Baby Boy for more information.

What are the chances of having a boy?

People often think that because there are two possibilities – having either a boy or a girl – they have a 50% chance of having a boy. In reality, it’s more complicated than that. The sex ratio is 105 male births for every 100 female births, so statistically, 51% of babies are boys.

How to conceive a boy

Sex determination comes down to which sperm fertilizes the egg. If the sperm carries a Y chromosome, the baby will be male. If the sperm has an X chromosome, the baby will be female.

Male-producing sperm move faster but run out of energy sooner, and this is why you should have sex close to the time of ovulation if you’re hoping for a boy.

Female-producing sperm can lurk for days waiting for an egg to appear; they move more slowly but have energy for longer.

Apart from timing sex to coincide with ovulation, is there anything else you can do to increase your chances of having a boy?

Foods to eat when trying to conceive a boy

If you’re desperate for a son, you might be wondering whether you can determine your baby’s sex by changing your diet before conception.

One theory you might have heard is that an alkaline body is more likely to conceive a boy. As a result, some people change their diet to eat more alkaline foods when trying for a baby.

There are plenty of people who will say it worked for them, but there is little scientific proof to back up this theory. Keep reading to find out which foods are considered more alkaline. While there’s little evidence to back it up, there’s no harm in adding fresh fruits and veggies to your diet.

Alkaline foods for conceiving a boy

If you’re interested in increasing your intake of high alkaline foods, you should:

Increase your intake of fresh fruits

There’s no harm in trying this. Increasing your daily intake of fresh fruits and vegetables will benefit your health. Try to eat a mix of fruits and vegetables each day. A popular way to do this is to ‘eat a rainbow’ and make sure you’re eating fresh fruits and veggies in a combination of colors every day. Leafy greens are essential to health, so include a good mix of these in your weekly shop.

Increase your intake of high-potassium foods

High potassium foods might increase your chances of conceiving a boy. Potassium is an essential nutrient that plays a crucial role in your health. Bananas, salmon, and avocado are all foods that contain potassium. Other foods that contain potassium include dried fruits, legumes, potatoes, winter squash, and broccoli.

Increase your intake of high alkaline foods

High alkaline foods are good for your health; increasing the amount of these foods in your diet could improve your health. High alkaline foods include citrus fruits, root vegetables and nuts. Leafy greens, such as Swiss chard, spinach, and kale are also excellent alkaline foods. You should aim to eat a serving of leafy greens every day.

Reduce your intake of dairy products

‘Boy’ sperm are said to do better in an alkaline environment, although this is not scientifically proved. For this reason, some people choose to avoid acidic foods such as dairy products when they are trying for a boy.

The science of dietary changes to conceive a boy

It is an old wives’ tale that the food you eat before conception can determine the sex of your child. Now, at last, science is catching up. Although some claims have been disproved, others are true.

Research for the Universities of Exeter and Oxford found that a baby’s sex is connected to the mother’s diet. The study found a link between high-calorie intake around the time of conception and the birth of boys.

The study followed 740 first-time pregnant mothers who did not know the sex of their babies. They were asked about their eating habits before and during the early stages of pregnancy. They were then split into three groups, based on their calorie intake per day around the time of conception. Women who consumed the most calories were more likely to have sons. For example, 56% of the women in the highest calorie group had sons, compared with 45% in the lowest calorie group.

The women in the higher calorie group consumed more calories and also consumed a wider range of nutrients, including potassium, calcium, and sodium. Researchers also found a strong link between eating breakfast cereals and producing sons.

What foods should I eat to conceive a boy?

According to the scientific research mentioned above, you should eat breakfast cereals and a make sure your diet is rich in healthy nutrients, such as potassium and calcium.

Fresh fruit and vegetables

You should focus on eating a healthy, balanced diet with plenty of fresh vegetables and leafy greens if you want to conceive a boy. A diet rich in nutrients will help prepare your body for pregnancy. Try to eat a variety of vegetables and fruits throughout the week. Cooking from scratch is an easy way to include more fresh vegetables in your diet.

Leafy greens

Make a habit of including leafy greens with your evening meal. This could be in the form of wilted spinach in a curry, a side of kale alongside your mashed potatoes or some pak choi in your stir fry.

Breakfast cereals

According to research, women who regularly ate breakfast cereal had a higher chance of giving birth to baby boys. You might want to include a bowl of cereal in your daily routine if you’re keen to welcome a son.

Skipping breakfast is a bad habit shared by many young professionals. Adding breakfast into your day is an easy way to increase your calorie intake and, according to the research, improve your chances of having a bouncing baby boy.

Best foods to eat to conceive a boy

Struggling for inspiration? Take a look at this list of foods to enjoy while trying for a son. You don’t need to eat everything on the list, but including some of these options will help you have a balanced healthy diet rich in alkaline foods:

Avocado smash

Avocado is an alkaline food that tastes wonderful with breakfast. Smash up some avocado and add some salt and perhaps a squeeze of lime. You could serve it with fresh vegetable crudites for a snack or on the side of a big breakfast.

Banana

Since the science backs it up, you can’t go wrong with a banana. This is an ideal snack to keep handy when you’re hoping to conceive a baby boy. You could chop up a banana to add to a spicy curry or add slices to your morning bowl of porridge.

Winter vegetable soup

Root vegetables are alkaline foods, and a winter vegetable soup is a perfect way to enjoy a variety of them. Winter squash, potatoes, carrots, and other root vegetables will taste delicious in a steaming bowl of winter vegetable soup. Add some lentils for extra goodness and don’t forget to include some chopped cabbage or kale to boost your leafy greens intake.

Vegetable stir fry

A stir fry is another easy way to include mixed vegetables in your diet. Throw some mushrooms, peppers, mange-touts, bean sprouts, and other vegetables into a wok and heat with some oil. Add a satay sauce and some cashew nuts to give this meal a delicious flavor. Don’t forget to include leafy greens like pak choi in your stir fry. A sprinkle of sesame seeds will top it off nicely.

Supplements to conceive a baby boy

Taking daily supplements could help your body prepare to conceive a baby boy. For example, evening primrose oil improves the quality of cervical mucus, making it easier for sperm to reach the egg. Boy sperm move more quickly, so a smoother journey to the egg could help them get there faster.

When trying to conceive a baby, it is essential to take a folic acid supplement. Folic acid is vital during the early stages of pregnancy, so you should start taking it in advance to ensure you have enough of this essential vitamin.

Foods for a man to eat to conceive a boy

It’s not all about what the woman does; the male partner can influence the sex of the child, too.

Can the father’s diet around conception determine the sex of the baby? Many people swear by maternal dietary changes around conception for helping them conceive sons, but there are few stories about the impact of paternal diet. Science tells us that a healthy lifestyle improves sperm production, but can it determine the sex of your baby?

Although little is known about the impact of paternal diet on the sex of the baby, it won’t hurt to eat well when trying for a baby. Taking care of yourself and eating well can be beneficial for you and your sperm production.

Here are some foods to consider adding to your diet when trying for a baby:

Foods high in zinc

Zinc has been found to improve male fertility by increasing semen volume. Foods high in zinc include oysters, beef, dairy, nuts, and whole grains.

A variety of fresh fruit and vegetables

Eating a variety of fresh fruit and vegetables can increase sperm count and improve sperm quality.

Nuts and seeds

Nuts and seeds can improve the quality of sperm. Nuts and seeds contain Omega-3 fatty acids, which can help to improve sperm quality.

Other things men can do

It’s not all about the food you eat; there are other things men can do to conceive a boy:

Wear loose underwear

Looser underwear is said to improve your chances of conceiving a boy. This is because tight underwear increases the temperature in the scrotum and reduces the number of sperm produced.

Female sperm (X chromosome sperm) are more resilient and are said to have a better chance of surviving the higher temperatures. Opt for loose, airy boxer shorts if you’re hoping for a son.

Make sure she orgasms

If the woman orgasms, this could improve your chances of conceiving a boy. Some claim that an alkaline solution is secreted into the vagina during a female orgasm. This alkaline solution is said to improve the chances of male-producing sperm surviving. Therefore, to time it perfectly, she should orgasm before you do, so the alkaline secretion is there before the semen.

How to have a baby boy 100%

There is no way to guarantee you have a boy through diet alone. The only way to be sure you have a boy is to have scientists select an embryo for you, based on sex; this method is illegal in some countries.

Some believe you can influence the sex of your baby by paying attention to the time of ovulation. Male-producing sperm swim faster and tire sooner, so sex needs to happen around the time of ovulation for boy sperm to be successful.

It’s also said that deep penetration can help y-carrying sperm to reach their destination faster. Depositing the sperm as close to the cervix as possible can also improve the chance of a ‘male’ sperm fertilizing the egg. Positions that encourage deep penetration include doggy-style and standing. It also helps if the woman orgasms.

The most important thing to remember when trying to conceive a boy

The most important thing is to have a healthy baby. You might be desperate to welcome a baby of a particular sex, but it’s important to bear in mind that you cannot simply pick a baby’s gender.

Although there is no harm in trying the above suggestions in the hope of improving your chances of welcoming a baby boy, it’s essential to realize that there are no guarantees.

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As the child grows older, he becomes more independent. This is expressed in his eating habits and food choices. Certain food preferences have formed, he wants to choose more himself, decide what he will eat.

The child's energy and nutrient requirements per kilogram of body weight are still very high, which, on the other hand, means careful menu planning to get everything you need from food.

From soft drinks, potato chips, sweets, buns and cakes, the child receives a lot of empty energy, which is enough or too much to meet the energy needs, but at the same time, he remains without other foods (fruits and vegetables, bread, milk , fish, etc. ), which are needed to obtain proteins, fatty acids, vitamins and minerals necessary for life.
Dietary recommendations for children over 2 years of age are similar to adults, but because children have lower energy requirements, the recommended amount of food also decreases proportionately.

Meals

Children should have 3 main meals and 1-2 snacks per day.

What kind of food and how many times to give at home depends on the time the child spends in the child care facility. The body needs to be regularly provided with the necessary amount of energy, so it is important to stick to daily meals.

Breakfast is the most important meal of the day - it supplies the body with energy so that the child can start playing or learning. If the child goes to kindergarten, weekday breakfasts must be adapted according to whether the child eats breakfast in the garden and what time he eats it. Breakfast does not need to be eaten immediately after waking up, but it is useful to have breakfast within an hour.

Snacks should be minimally processed (eg fresh or dry fruits and berries, vegetables, unflavored yogurt and cottage cheese, bread, juice, oatmeal, sandwiches). Sweets, crackers, cookies, soft drinks, juice drinks, ice cream, etc. are not suitable as snacks. Even one candy or cookie between meals can ruin a child's appetite for the whole day. Do not give your child food as a prize or consolation, or if the child is bored.

Lunch and dinner can be heavy, especially lunch . Soups and a slice of bread with soup go very well, as well as a dessert using a minimum amount of sugar, or even a small second. The younger the child, the more you need to use stewing-boiling in cooking his food. Great for a variety of casseroles. Since children want to see what ingredients food is made of, teaching a child to eat mixed dishes from infancy can hide vegetables in them that children do not really like. For dinner, a dense vegetable salad is suitable, in which you can add an egg, cheese, fish, meat, homemade cheese, or something else. If the child eats properly in the garden, the food offered at home should not be very energy intensive.

Dinner should be a specific time when the family eats together and where they can talk about the day's events and be together (rather than watching TV or a computer screen at the same time). Here you can discuss the menu for the next day, as well as prepare for the weekend.

Like adults, all children are different. Every child has favorite foods, as well as those that they do not like at all. Knowing the preferences of children, the child can slowly teach him to eat those foods that he usually does not eat. To do this, you can hang on the refrigerator a list of products that the child must consume during the day. In this case, it is convenient to track the choice of products and teach the child healthy eating.

A child should be taught to eat right and healthy from an early age. Habits formed in childhood often influence the choices we make later in life. Some children are quite selective in terms of what he eats and what not; It is important that you, as a parent, be an example to your child and encourage and support healthy eating habits.
Young children in their food preferences are guided by two main factors - whether they are familiar with food and the taste of food (sweetness). Therefore, new products must be introduced carefully and in small quantities, leading by example. Getting used to new foods takes time. If you do it carefully and in a playful way, the children will be very interested.
The more natural flowers will be presented on the plate, the more beautiful and appetizing the dish will be, the more it will contain various essential nutrients.
When eating, the child's mood and environment are important (for example, whether the TV is playing or there are guests), as well as whether the child is hungry.
For eating, it is imperative to set aside time to enjoy food. When eating together with the family, the child will eat faster, the example of parents is important from early childhood. Enjoy each other's company while eating.
Appearance and correct food temperature are important for a child. The child will eat with great appetite if he sees what ingredients the food was prepared from. Try different foods and cook them in different ways to ensure food variety and availability of different nutrients.
Teach your child to choose foods from different food groups so that he understands what a variety of food is. Give your child the opportunity to choose their own food from suitable foods: this or that fruit, various grains, various vegetables, etc. Teach children to eat plenty of vegetables from an early age.
Offer water instead of juice to quench your thirst.
A child should never be scared about food. Food is not a means of punishment or reward. Do not force the child to eat, rather attract. If you force a child to eat, it greatly affects the psyche and behavior of the child and can leave a negative imprint on his entire subsequent life.

The most important child nutrition keywords:

example
joint meal
availability of suitable food
explanatory work
time
choice and decision making

An example is one of the factors that will begin to shape the nutrition of a young child. The younger the child, the more influence on his choice of food is the example of parents and siblings. As the child matures, friends and the environment become more influential.
A child's eating habits are shaped by what food choices are available to the family (including the child) (both financially and based on the parents' knowledge), how meals are organized at home, etc.
Many children aged 4-7 go to kindergarten, and often spend time at home only in the evenings or on weekends. These meals should form a conscious choice. Children can discuss with children and direct their nutritional wishes.

Children grow in periods, which means that there may be times when the child eats too little, and there are times when he eats more.

It is useful to ensure that food intake and energy expenditure are balanced.
If the child is very active, he should eat more.
If the child seems to be eating too little or too much, keep a food diary - for about a week, write down everything that and how much the child ate and drank.
It often turns out that the problem is not in the quantity eaten, but in the choice of food. After all, you can get as much energy from a couple of candy cookies as from a good portion of soup.
It is unwise to immediately grab a jar of vitamins and minerals, you should reconsider nutrition - sufficient, balanced and varied nutrition will provide the necessary substances.
The only exception is vitamin D, which all children should receive as a dietary supplement.
If a child has access to a varied and balanced diet, he grows and develops according to his age, there is no cause for concern. If parents still feel that the child may not be getting all the necessary nutrients in sufficient quantities, from time to time blood tests can be done by a doctor to check the health.

Candy or biscuits should never be given to children as a consolation, reward or dispersal of boredom - on a subconscious level, this may affect his eating habits in the future. Avoid bringing sweets (candy, cookies) home and keep them in a conspicuous place. Instead, put peeled-cut fruits and vegetables on the table.
To satisfy the desire to eat something sweet, nuts and dried fruits and berries are suitable, but one should not be too zealous with them either. Nuts can only be given to young children in a ground or highly chopped form, as well as to both young children and older children so that children do not have an allergic reaction to them.
Clean water should always be available to quench thirst. You can drink up to two glasses of juice per week. If necessary, dilute the juice yourself, do not buy nectars, juice drinks and syrups in the store, not to mention soft drinks.
Although vitamin-enriched water is thought to help you get enough vitamins, one 750 ml bottle actually contains approximately 40 grams of sugar, which is the daily dose of sweets for an adult.
A varied, balanced and regular diet (including cereals, fruits and vegetables, and other food groups) ensures sufficient intake of vitamins, minerals and macronutrients, as well as energy and reduces the desire to eat something sweet.

It is very likely that an obese child will grow into an obese adult.
Increasingly, overweight and obesity are already occurring in young children.
This risk can be reduced through informed food choices and sufficient exercise.
With food you need to get as much energy as it is consumed. Therefore, foods rich in energy, but poor in vitamins and minerals (for example, sweets, cookies, buns, cakes, soft drinks, potato chips, etc.) should be eaten as little as possible.
Food choices should be as varied as possible, including whole grains, vegetables and fruits, as well as berries, unsweetened dairy products, fresh fish, poultry, meat and eggs, nuts and seeds.
The child must be physically active (in the house and in the yard) for at least 60 minutes a day, even more is better.
To check whether the child is growing and gaining weight normally, you can look at the growth and weight curve of infants and children, and in case of underweight or overweight, it is imperative to consult a family doctor or pediatrician for further instructions. You can not limit the nutrition of the child, guided by their own ideas.

Kindergarten children often eat out three times a week - breakfast, lunch and dinner.

According to how much time the child spends in kindergarten, how many times and what he eats, it is necessary to form the child's home meals. The body needs to be regularly provided with the necessary amount of energy, so it is important to stick to daily meals.

Keep up to date with the kindergarten's weekly menu, create different options for homemade dinners or weekend lunches. Also ask teachers if the child ate in the garden and how much he ate from what was offered, take this data into account when serving homemade dinner.

The more flavors and foods you introduce to your child from an early age, the easier it will be for them to get used to food in kindergarten.

In Estonia, food regulations have been developed in pre-school child care institutions, which are regulated by an order of the Minister of Social Affairs.

Too many meals offered to children often include too much salt or sugar. Children's meals may appeal to children (often due to their high fat, sugar and/or salt content), but their nutritional value is often very low. Instead of children's meals, it is better to choose a regular dish or soup and ask for it to be prepared with as little salt as possible.

Fast foods also tend to be high in energy (and high in fat, sugar and/or salt). For example, from one small cheeseburger, small fries and 250 ml of cola, a child can get about 650 kcal, which is about 40% of the daily energy requirement of a 7-year-old child with an average activity. Salt in this choice contains a little more than is acceptable per day (children aged 2-9 years can receive no more than 4 grams of salt from all sources per day). A soft drink contains just over 25 grams of sugar, which is also more than half of the maximum allowable daily amount of sugars. If you absolutely want to offer such food to a child, this is possible no more than twice a year, and then if the daily diet is in order.

Depending on the age of the children invited to the birthday, when choosing food for the festive table, recommendations for their age can be guided.
The food offered at the birthday party must be prepared from minimally processed raw materials. The less sweets, soft drinks, potato chips and other similar foods on the festive table, the better. If there is a rich and convenient selection of fruits and vegetables on the festive table, and the children have something to do, the children will not even remember that such food exists.
First of all, it is great for children (especially if the birthday is not at home, but in a playroom) sliced vegetables, such as carrots, paprika, cucumber and cauliflower with homemade dip sauce made from unseasoned yogurt.
You can offer fruit on a skewer (melon, pear, watermelon, grapes).
If desired, you can prepare more dense dishes (salads, homemade pizza, etc.), but they must be prepared from minimally processed raw materials.
If you offer baked goods, try to find low sugar options (raw sugar, agave syrup, etc. are not good alternatives).
If there are only a few children's birthdays in which the child participates in a year, on this day you can "sin" a little and offer the children a little more food to their taste, for example, meatballs, sausages, oven-cooked french fries, popcorn without salt. But this is again provided that on other days the choice of food corresponds to the recommendations.

Always read the label on food packaging! This will help you make a more informed choice.
The allowable amount of supplements for children is usually less than for adults (the maximum amount is based on adult body weight). Therefore, be careful with colored sweets, drinks, cookies with a long shelf life, desserts and sausages, products containing synthetic sweeteners.
If the child is old enough to participate in the grocery shopping, let the child choose between suitable foods: one or another fruit, various cereal products, various vegetables, etc.
Avoid the shelves with sweets, biscuits, soft drinks, etc., so that the child does not have a desire to buy sweets.
If a child in a grocery store always asks for candy, etc., then it is better to go there without the child or take the child to the store when he grows up and understands what and when is bought in the store.
Always go to the store on a full stomach, with a shopping list, and avoid impulse purchases.

The less time preschoolers spend watching television and gadgets, the better.

The use of gadgets and watching TV is not recommended while eating, as it diverts attention from eating as a process. In turn, this forms the wrong eating habits in children.

While eating, all attention should be paid to the process of eating.

The principle of a healthy lifestyle is that the amount of energy received from food and the amount of energy expended are in balance.
All children should be as active as possible from an early age. Parents themselves should orient their children to the movement, be an example to them.
The child must be physically active (in the house and in the yard) for at least 60 minutes a day, even more is better.
Mobility habits formed in childhood are the basis for adult mobility habits.
If the child is more active (for example, goes to some training), his need for energy is higher due to the energy expended. The additional energy requirement cannot be covered by the energy obtained from sweets and fast food; nuts and seeds can be added to the menu.

Before eating and preparing food, you and your baby should always be thoroughly washed to prevent possible germs that cause disease from getting into the stomach. If food is interrupted (for example, due to a trip to the toilet), hands should be washed again before continuing to eat.
Dental care should be started from infancy. Children of early age brush their teeth with clean water and a soft brush. Toothpaste should be used only when the child can spit it out. Teeth should be brushed in the morning and evening. After eating, you can rinse your mouth with clean water.
In terms of teeth, there should be no more than 5 food contacts per day (3 main meals, 1-2 snacks), with a gap of at least 3 hours between meals.

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Diet for a child aged 4

Your baby is already 4 months old. He has noticeably grown up, become more active, is interested in objects that fall into his field of vision, carefully examines and reaches for them. The emotional reactions of the child have become much richer: he joyfully smiles at all the people whom he often sees more and more often, makes various sounds.

Are you still breastfeeding your baby or have you switched to formula or formula feeding? The child is actively growing, and only with breast milk or infant formula, he can no longer always get all the necessary nutrients. And that means it's time to think about complementary foods.

The optimal time to start its administration is between 4 and 6 months, whether the baby is receiving breast milk or formula. This is the time when children respond best to new foods. Up to 4 months, the child is not yet ready to perceive and digest any other food. And with the late introduction of complementary foods - after 6 months, children already have significant deficiencies of individual nutrients and, first of all, micronutrients (minerals, vitamins, long-chain polyunsaturated fatty acids, etc. ). In addition, toddlers at this age often refuse new foods, they have delayed development of chewing skills for thick foods, and inadequate eating habits are formed. It is important to know that, no matter how strange it may seem at first glance, with a delayed appointment of complementary foods, allergic reactions more often occur on them.

When is it advisable to introduce complementary foods as early as 4 months, and when can you wait until 5.5 or even 6 months? To resolve this issue, be sure to consult a pediatrician.

The optimal time to start introducing complementary foods to a healthy baby is between 5 and 5.5 months of age.

The World Health Organization recommends that breastfeeding babies be introduced to complementary foods from 6 months of age. From the point of view of domestic pediatricians, which is based on the big

practical experience and scientific research, this is possible only in cases where the child was born at term, without malnutrition (because in these cases the mineral reserves are very small), he is healthy, grows and develops well. In addition, the mother should also be healthy, eat well and use either specialized enriched foods for pregnant and lactating women, or vitamin and mineral complexes in courses. Such restrictions are associated with the depletion of iron stores even in a completely healthy child by 5-5.5 months of age and a significant increase in the risk of anemia in the absence of complementary foods rich or fortified with iron. There are other deficits as well.

The first food product can be vegetable puree or porridge, fruit puree is better to give the baby later - after delicious sweet fruits, children usually eat vegetable puree and cereals worse, often refuse them altogether.

Where is the best place to start? In cases where the child has a tendency to constipation or he puts on weight too quickly, preference should be given to vegetables. With a high probability of developing anemia, unstable stools and small weight gains - from baby cereals enriched with micronutrients. And if you started introducing complementary foods with cereals, then the second product will be vegetables and vice versa.

If the first complementary foods are introduced at 6 months, it must be baby porridge enriched with iron and other minerals and vitamins, the intake of which with breast milk is no longer enough.

Another important complementary food product is mashed meat. It contains iron, which is easily absorbed. And adding meat to vegetables improves the absorption of iron from them. It is advisable to introduce meat puree to a child at the age of 6 months. Only the daily use of children's enriched porridge and meat puree can satisfy the needs of babies in iron, zinc and other micronutrients.

But it is better to introduce juices later, when the child already receives the main complementary foods - vegetables, cereals, meat and fruits. After all, complementary foods are needed so that the baby receives all the substances necessary for growth and development, and there are very few in their juices, including vitamins and minerals.

Juices should not be given between feedings, but after the child has eaten porridge or vegetables with meat puree, as well as for an afternoon snack. The habit of drinking juice between meals leads to frequent snacking in the future, a love of sweets is instilled, children have more tooth decay and an increased risk of obesity.

With the start of the introduction of complementary foods, the child is gradually transferred to a 5-time feeding regimen.

Complementary feeding rules:

Preference should be given to baby products of industrial production, they are made from environmentally friendly raw materials, have a guaranteed composition and degree of grinding
Complementary foods should be offered to the baby by spoon at the start of feeding, before breastfeeding (formula feeding)
the volume of the product increases gradually, starting with ½ - 1 spoon, and in 7 - 10 days we bring it to the age norm, subsequent products within the same group (cereals from other cereals or new vegetables) can be introduced faster, in 5 - 7 days
start introduction with monocomponent products
it is undesirable to give a new product in the afternoon, it is important to follow how the child reacts to it
do not introduce new products in the event of acute illnesses, and before and immediately after prophylactic vaccination (should abstain for several days)

When introducing a new type of complementary food, first try one product, gradually increasing its amount, and then gradually "dilute" this product with a new one. For example, vegetable complementary foods can be started with a teaspoon of zucchini puree. During the week, give the baby only this product, gradually increasing its volume. After a week, add a teaspoon of mashed broccoli or cauliflower to the zucchini puree and continue to increase the total volume every day. Vegetable puree from three types of vegetables will be optimal. The portion should correspond to the age norm. Over time, you can replace the introduced vegetables with others faster.

After the introduction of one vegetable (bringing its volume to the required amount), you can proceed to the intake of porridge, and diversify the vegetable diet later.

If the child did not like the dish, for example, broccoli, do not give up on your plan and continue to offer this vegetable in a small amount - 1-2 spoons daily, you can not even once, but 2-3 times before meals, and after 7 - 10, and sometimes 15 days, the baby will get used to the new taste. This diversifies the diet, will help to form the right taste habits in the baby.

Spoon-feed with patience and care. Forced feeding is unacceptable!

In the diet of healthy children, porridge is usually introduced after vegetables (with the exception of healthy breastfed children, when complementary foods are introduced from 6 months). It is better to start with dairy-free gluten-free cereals - buckwheat, corn, rice. At the same time, it is important to use porridge for baby food of industrial production, which contains a complex of vitamins and minerals. In addition, it is already ready for use, you just need to dilute it with breast milk or the mixture that the baby receives.

Children with food allergies are introduced complementary foods at 5-5.5 months. The rules for the introduction of products are the same as for healthy children, in all cases it is introduced slowly and begins with hypoallergenic products. Be sure to take into account individual tolerance. The difference is only in the correction of the diet, taking into account the identified allergens. From meat products, preference should first be given to mashed turkey and rabbit.

Diets for different age periods

explain how to make a diet, it is better on several examples that will help to navigate the menu for your child.

From 5 months, the volume of one feeding is on average 200 ml.

Option 1.

I feeding
6 hours

Breast milk or VHI*

200 ml

II feeding
10 hours

Dairy-free porridge**
Supplementation with breast milk or VHI*

150 g
50 ml

III feeding
14 hours

Vegetable puree
Meat puree Vegetable oil
Supplementing with breast milk or VHI*

150 g
5 - 30 g
1 tsp
30 ml

IV feeding
18 hours

Fruit puree
Breast milk or VHI*

60 g
140 ml

V feeding
22 hours

Breast milk or VHI*

200 ml

* - Children's dairy mixture (VHI)
** - diluted with breast milk or VHI

Option 2.

9000

9000 9000 9027 more baby 6 months, if complementary foods were introduced from 4 - 5 months:

I feeding 6 hours	Breast milk or VHI*	200 ml
II feeding 10 hours	Dairy-free porridge** Fruit puree	150 g 20 g
III feeding 14 hours	Vegetable puree Meat puree Vegetable oil Fruit juice	150 g 5 - 30 g 1 tsp 60 ml
IV feeding 18 hours	Fruit puree Breast milk or VHI*	40 g 140 ml
V feeding 22 hours	Breast milk or VHI*	200 ml

* - children's dairy mixture
** - diluted with breast milk or VHI

Option 3.

9000 9000 9000

An approximate daily diet for a baby at 6.5 months on breastfeeding, if complementary foods began to be administered from 6 months:

	I feeding 6 hours	Breast milk
II feeding 10 hours	Dairy-free porridge** Breast milk supplement	100 g
III feeding 14 hours	Vegetable puree Meat puree Vegetable oil Breast milk supplement	100 g 5 - 30 g 1 tsp
IV feeding 18 hours	Breast milk
V feeding 22 hours	Breast milk