Nutrition
Rockabye Baby
Sleep is one of the most misunderstood aspects of parenthood. Many parents think that for the first few weeks, their baby will just feed and sleep. While this is true for some lucky parents, there will always be the newborn or infant who is simply more tense, fretful, and alert than others. This was certainly true of my son, and if this is your baby too, take heart. Establishing a regular sleep pattern requires patience and the consistent application of good sleep practices, which tie in with infant nutrition.
If you are a first-time mom-to-be, there are some particularly useful books to help you prepare mentally and emotionally. The Contented Little Baby Book, by no-nonsense British supernanny Gina Ford, establishes very strict guidelines for when a baby should sleep and feed. It also explains how establishing routines helps the mom breastfeed
more effectively.
Seasonal Strategies for Holidays
This month, children get a free pass. Instead, I’m putting pressure on parents, particularly on the topic of weight gain over the holidays. Multiple holiday parties and brunches can easily add five pounds to an average sized man, as my husband found out the hard way. Living in China means Spring Festival adds on another month of feasting. Unless you manage these annual accumulations, it will add up over the years. So, to limit holiday weight gain, consider using some moves from my personal playbook.
A Green Veggie Guide
If you’ve ever walked into a Chinese food market and found yourself wondering, “What is that delicious-looking vegetable?” then this feature is for you. When arriving in China, foreigners are often pleasantly surprised that China is a treasure trove of the loveliest leafy greens. These healthy vegetables are also the easiest items to prepare. Radishes can be eaten raw, and cooking most green vegetables requires only some boiling and a drizzle of olive oil with a pinch of salt. Have fun exploring your local market and discovering new flavors in your kitchen.
Tummy Woes
Moving to a new country is hard on almost anyone. Our family moved from sunny Singapore to China seven years ago, and I can still remember the stress of getting rid of things, organizing movers, and sorting personal items amidst goodbyes.
What I forgot at that time was that I was not just moving the family; I was transplanting my own internal ecosystem along with me. Coiled up inside each of us is seven to ten meters of digestive tubing. It provides a home for about 500 species of bacteria and yeast that make up your digestive flora. This microbial colony came along for the move without knowing that it was about to be exposed to new foods, new challenges, and, thanks to China’s unique cuisine, a good dousing of oil and hot peppers.
Pre-Pregnancy Prep
Good pregnancy nutrition is really a continuum that begins with both father and mother long before conception of their baby. Ensuring that you are both eating well before pregnancy sets the stage for a healthy conception and supports the critical first weeks when the foundations of your child’s body are being formd. By the time most women realize they are pregnant, the fetus’ heart has already started beating.
Healthy Habits
I often advise parents that what occurs at the family table lays the foundation of their kids’ future eating habits. What they eat and see (or do not see) at the table has a strong influence on how they will eat when away from home as young adults and thereafter. However, eating as a family can be fraught with challenges, such as timing clashes and differences in individual tastes. These differences can lead to tension and conflict, such that family members sometimes choose to eat separately rather than deal with mealtime stress.
In our household, it is impossible for my three-year-old to wait for his father to come home for dinner. It is simply the reality of working and commuting in Beijing. So I snack on nuts or have a helping of salad with my son at the table to keep his dinner conversation going. This keeps the social meal context alive much better than me sitting in front of him hawking over what goes uneaten on the plate. Taking the pressure off encourages self-feeding and, importantly, shifts the focus from the food on the plate to the overall meal experience. This turns the meal into a chance to talk about the day or even make up silly stories about robots and talking cars, or whatever is on his mind. Weekend meals, however, have become quite sacred and we strive to have slow meals together as a family.
Image Conscious
Presenting a balanced picture of nutrition to kids is no easy task. On one hand, we see the advertising industry’s idea of “beautiful” people: those who are thin, rich and cool. On the other hand, we are bombarded with advertisements for junk foods that do anything but make us beautiful. Surrounded by these “beautiful” people, we begin to feel insecure about our own body image. That feeling transfers very readily onto our children, so it comes as no surprise that kids, especially girls, can develop a fear of being “fat” by age 10. Meanwhile, boys may idealize an unrealistically muscular physique.
Junior Chefs
Cooking with kids is one of the most positive and healthy parenting experiences you can have this summer. There's plenty of fresh produce around and lots of days to fill during the summer break. Kids who learn to cook in a positive environment can change what they like to eat and even what they crave. There is no better time to instill healthy eating habits and an appreciation for wholesome food than during childhood and pre-adolescent years.
Nutrition Hacks
There are lots of things you can do to ensure you eat more nutritiously; in fact, the list is potentially endless. Here are some simple suggestions that are actually worth putting into practice.
Baby Food
Making your own baby food is not only more nutritious and economical,it's also better for the environment. Homemade baby food is full of nutrients, especially vitamins A and B. Commercial foods require the use of very high heat under pressure during the bottling process. This destroys many of the vitamins and some of the minerals. No fancy equipment is required to make your own baby food. All you need is a steamer, a blender and covered ice trays to store the results of your hard work. Visit www.wholesomebabyfood.com for tips and recipes.
Bridging the Divide
How do you feel about your ayi feeding egg yolks to your7-month-old ? Does she always over salt the stir-fry vegetables and drown them in oil? Did she just promise to give your child ice cream for finishing a meal?
Does imagining such situations lead to a little anxiety and agitation? These scenarios exemplify the wide gap between expats and Chinese domestic helpers in the understanding of food and nutrition practices.
The differences can occur on many levels, from communication to beliefs about the causes of illness and healing. But the thing that concerns me is how cultural beliefs and personal values regarding food and nutrition can often collide, particularly when it comes to a child's nutrition.
There is no sure-fire way of resolving all conflicts. There are, however, some useful tips that can help you bridge the gap.
