This is a Solution for Children who Don't like Rice
Rice is a great source of energy and carbohydrates for everyone, including children. However, there are not a few children who don't like rice, you know. This is quite a headache for mothers. Then, how to deal with children who are not fond of rice?
In Indonesia, rice is a staple food that is usually consumed every day. The notion of "not really eating if you haven't eaten rice" has been etched in the minds of many Indonesians. As a result, many parents worry when their children don't like to eat rice.
Tips for Overcoming Children Don't Like Rice
Rice contains carbohydrates and fiber. So, besides being a source of energy, rice is also beneficial for digestive health. In addition, rice also contains various vitamins and minerals, such as vitamins B1 and B6, magnesium, phosphorus, selenium, and manganese, which are good for your health.
Although it has important nutrients that children need, not all children are happy when they have to eat rice. However, this doesn't mean that your little one really doesn't like rice, it could just be because he is bored.
So, therefore, the following tips can be tried by Moms to overcome a baby who doesn't like rice:
Variation in processing rice
When your little one is served rice and then rejects it, don't be in a hurry to think that he doesn't like rice, Bun. It could be that your little one is just saturated with the rice that Mother gives.
If this is the case, you should be more varied when processing rice, for example making rice into whi rice or yellow rice. You can also use other natural food dyes to color the rice, for example, beet juice for red and egg yolk for yellow.
In addition, you can form rice into balls or various cute shapes, so that your little one will want to eat it.
Add flavor
The original taste of rice tends to be bland. To increase your little one's appetite for rice, you can also add the taste of rice, for example by replacing water for cooking rice with broth or coconut milk.
In addition, if you want to add fragrant aroma to the rice, you can add a little lime juice or add pandan leaves and garlic when cooking the rice.
Create a pleasant dining atmosphere
It is important to create a pleasant dining atmosphere. Don't turn your child's mealtime into a moment of contention between mother and baby.
Before giving your little one rice, pay attention to whether he is really hungry or not. If you're not hungry, whether it's rice or whatever food you cook, you don't necessarily want to touch it.
If your little one is hungry, try to eat with your child, because who knows eating together can encourage your little one to eat more.
Sources of Carbohydrates Apart from Rice
If you have applied the tips above, but your little one still doesn't want to eat rice, don't worry too much, Bun. Children do not like rice is not a problem that must be exaggerated.
In order for your little one to keep getting energy, carbohydrates, and other nutrients, you can give him some of these foods:
1. Potatoes
Just like rice, potatoes are also rich in carbohydrates. Not only that, this plant, which has the Latin name Solanum tuberosum, also stores other nutrients, such as fiber, potassium, vitamin C, vitamin B6, and folic acid. To process it, you can make potatoes into cakes, fries, add to vegetables, or into baked potatoes.
2. Corn
Corn is a vegetable that is rich in carbohydrates and can be a substitute for rice. Apart from being a source of energy and carbohydrates, corn can also be a source of fiber, vitamin C, magnesium, and sodium.
The sweet taste of corn can also arouse children's appetites to eat. Mothers can process corn into corn soup, corn milk cheese, and pudding.
3. Oatmeal
Oatmeal is a type of whole grain that contains many important nutrients, ranging from carbohydrates, fiber, protein, healthy fats, to various vitamins and minerals, such as vitamins B1, B2, B3, B5, B9, calcium, magnesium, folate, phosphorus, potassium, iron, and manganese.
If your child is not fond of rice, oatmeal can be an excellent choice as a substitute for energy and carbohydrate sources. Oatmeal can be processed into porridge with various toppings, for example, fresh fruit, honey, nuts, or fresh vegetables, meat, and eggs.
4. Sweet potato and cassava
Tubers such as yams and cassava have long been consumed as substitutes for rice. Both sweet potatoes and cassava contain carbohydrates, fiber, and protein, so they can be good substitutes for rice. You can serve sweet potatoes and cassava to your baby by boiling, steaming, or roasting them.
Children have difficulty eating and don't like rice can indeed make parents dizzy. However, don't let this problem make you let your little one eat the food that she wants but is not nutritious, such as donuts or chips, with the aim of "as long as the child eats".
Mothers need to rack their brains to find ways to keep their little one's nutritional needs met, even though they don't want to eat rice. Remember, don't force your child to eat, yes, because this can actually traumatize him and make him unwilling to eat even more.
Stay patient in dealing with it. Naturally, really, if children like to be picky about food. This is because he wants to explore his taste buds to taste the various flavors of food.
If the child not only doesn't like rice but also always refuses other foods, especially if the child doesn't gain weight or even decreases, then Mother will take action. Immediately consult a doctor to get the right treatment.
In Indonesia, rice is a staple food that is usually consumed every day. The notion of "not really eating if you haven't eaten rice" has been etched in the minds of many Indonesians. As a result, many parents worry when their children don't like to eat rice.
Tips for Overcoming Children Don't Like Rice
Rice contains carbohydrates and fiber. So, besides being a source of energy, rice is also beneficial for digestive health. In addition, rice also contains various vitamins and minerals, such as vitamins B1 and B6, magnesium, phosphorus, selenium, and manganese, which are good for your health.
Although it has important nutrients that children need, not all children are happy when they have to eat rice. However, this doesn't mean that your little one really doesn't like rice, it could just be because he is bored.
So, therefore, the following tips can be tried by Moms to overcome a baby who doesn't like rice:
Variation in processing rice
When your little one is served rice and then rejects it, don't be in a hurry to think that he doesn't like rice, Bun. It could be that your little one is just saturated with the rice that Mother gives.
If this is the case, you should be more varied when processing rice, for example making rice into whi rice or yellow rice. You can also use other natural food dyes to color the rice, for example, beet juice for red and egg yolk for yellow.
In addition, you can form rice into balls or various cute shapes, so that your little one will want to eat it.
Add flavor
The original taste of rice tends to be bland. To increase your little one's appetite for rice, you can also add the taste of rice, for example by replacing water for cooking rice with broth or coconut milk.
In addition, if you want to add fragrant aroma to the rice, you can add a little lime juice or add pandan leaves and garlic when cooking the rice.
Create a pleasant dining atmosphere
It is important to create a pleasant dining atmosphere. Don't turn your child's mealtime into a moment of contention between mother and baby.
Before giving your little one rice, pay attention to whether he is really hungry or not. If you're not hungry, whether it's rice or whatever food you cook, you don't necessarily want to touch it.
If your little one is hungry, try to eat with your child, because who knows eating together can encourage your little one to eat more.
Sources of Carbohydrates Apart from Rice
If you have applied the tips above, but your little one still doesn't want to eat rice, don't worry too much, Bun. Children do not like rice is not a problem that must be exaggerated.
In order for your little one to keep getting energy, carbohydrates, and other nutrients, you can give him some of these foods:
1. Potatoes
Just like rice, potatoes are also rich in carbohydrates. Not only that, this plant, which has the Latin name Solanum tuberosum, also stores other nutrients, such as fiber, potassium, vitamin C, vitamin B6, and folic acid. To process it, you can make potatoes into cakes, fries, add to vegetables, or into baked potatoes.
2. Corn
Corn is a vegetable that is rich in carbohydrates and can be a substitute for rice. Apart from being a source of energy and carbohydrates, corn can also be a source of fiber, vitamin C, magnesium, and sodium.
The sweet taste of corn can also arouse children's appetites to eat. Mothers can process corn into corn soup, corn milk cheese, and pudding.
3. Oatmeal
Oatmeal is a type of whole grain that contains many important nutrients, ranging from carbohydrates, fiber, protein, healthy fats, to various vitamins and minerals, such as vitamins B1, B2, B3, B5, B9, calcium, magnesium, folate, phosphorus, potassium, iron, and manganese.
If your child is not fond of rice, oatmeal can be an excellent choice as a substitute for energy and carbohydrate sources. Oatmeal can be processed into porridge with various toppings, for example, fresh fruit, honey, nuts, or fresh vegetables, meat, and eggs.
4. Sweet potato and cassava
Tubers such as yams and cassava have long been consumed as substitutes for rice. Both sweet potatoes and cassava contain carbohydrates, fiber, and protein, so they can be good substitutes for rice. You can serve sweet potatoes and cassava to your baby by boiling, steaming, or roasting them.
Children have difficulty eating and don't like rice can indeed make parents dizzy. However, don't let this problem make you let your little one eat the food that she wants but is not nutritious, such as donuts or chips, with the aim of "as long as the child eats".
Mothers need to rack their brains to find ways to keep their little one's nutritional needs met, even though they don't want to eat rice. Remember, don't force your child to eat, yes, because this can actually traumatize him and make him unwilling to eat even more.
Stay patient in dealing with it. Naturally, really, if children like to be picky about food. This is because he wants to explore his taste buds to taste the various flavors of food.
If the child not only doesn't like rice but also always refuses other foods, especially if the child doesn't gain weight or even decreases, then Mother will take action. Immediately consult a doctor to get the right treatment.
