Everyone knows games are beneficial for children to improve their physical and mental health. However, they should have the right diet to engage in them energetically and mindfully. From a balanced breakfast to dinner, age-appropriate nutrition should be ensured at every stage of a child's development daily. For instance, children must have a full, nutritious breakfast before running to the field in the morning to play. Breakfast is the most important meal of the day. Dishes like puttu and kadala curry, idli and sambar, and dosa with chutney are all balanced options.
How to have lunch?
They should not skip lunch just because they had a good breakfast. Having a proper lunch with homemade curries is very important. The right way to go about it is to make it as diverse as possible, including curries like avial, thoran, sambar, and fish curry in small portions. Vegetables contain essential nutrients and antioxidants that support growth.
Evening meals
That said, if a child has had a good breakfast and lunch, they can make an 'excuse' for dinner, though it doesn't mean they can skip it altogether. It means they can have a lighter meal, which isn't too late. Rice gruel and lentils, or chapati and curry, make for good evening meals. Avoid heavy dishes like parota or biryani for dinner. They should also have something nutritious between lunch and dinner, in the form of a healthy snack. Skip bakery items like puffs, cutlets, or samosas, and opt for fruits, vegetable salads, or local snacks like kozhukatta or ilayappam.Teach children that it's important to eat food properly so it can be digested and absorbed by the body. They should learn to savour the taste, smell, and flavour of the food, and eat mindfully, chewing it well. Also, ensure that they avoid mindless eating while watching TV or engaging in other distractions.
