Yes, I have a second gripe about health centres. On top of the wonderful advice about getting my daughter watching TV every day, there was also some nutritional advice.
I was explaining how my daughter doesn’t like milk. I said I was concerned that when she gave up the bottle completely she wouldn’t drink any milk at all. The health nurse was great. She said she doesn’t need milk except for calcium anymore so it’s quite okay for her not to drink any milk. So long as she has enough water and calcium-rich foods. She then wrote down how much calcium is in yoghurt, cheese, custard etc. She said all these foods were suitable replacements.
That sounds pretty reasonable to me, until she added to that ice-cream. Yeah, great! I’ll just give my daughter ice-cream every day instead of milk. A great, healthy alternative option. Not! I really wonder at the nutritional advice these health centres provide.
Iv’e had a whine before about what these health centres are suggesting babies and toddlers should eat, but surely the health nurses should be the champions of encouraging healthy eating? Instead, they’re making unhealthy recommendations. I would have thought with childhood obesity such a problem that there would be even greater focus on this very issue? Is it any wonder some children have such appalling diets handed to them on greasy, fat-filled plates?
I know this is only one small suggestion that’s a bit questionable, but it’s part of a much bigger issue. This is just one of many similar experiences I, and so many others, have had. It really makes me so angry to think about how these situations affect children. Especially when little ones, who rely entirely on adults for guidance, don’t yet know what’s good or bad for their growing bodies. These poor little mites are often set up for struggles they didn’t choose, and they may have to deal with being overweight or developing unhealthy habits for the rest of their lives, simply because of the kinds of foods or eating patterns they were exposed to as babies. It’s heartbreaking because this is completely preventable with better awareness and responsibility.
In this so-called day of education every parent should be provided with sound advice on what is good for your baby or toddler, nutritionally. Instead, ridiculous pamphlets suggesting cakes and pies and other rubbish as meal options are provided. The health centre should be the perfect opportunity to provide parents with good nutritional advice. It seems such a shame that it’s not happening. As parents, we want the best for our children in every aspect of their lives. And that includes their health and nutrition. It’s important to remember that the food choices we make for our babies and toddlers can have long-lasting effects on their overall well-being.