Patient's question:
Child has a poor appetite and refuses to eat vegetables, what should I do?Doctor's answer:
Hello: First, it's important to determine why the child has a poor appetite. If the lack of appetite is caused by gastrointestinal or systemic diseases, or drug reactions, it's necessary to seek medical treatment as soon as possible. Traditional Chinese medicine can also be used to treat symptoms of poor appetite. For example, if the child has poor digestion or food stagnation, they can take condensed Baohe Pills; if the child has a weak spleen and stomach, reduced appetite, and stomach fullness, they can take Xiangsha Liqun Pills; if the poor appetite is due to irregular diet and damage to the spleen and stomach, and the child experiences reduced appetite, fullness, or stomach pain, they can take Xiangsha Yangwei Pills; if there is food retention and bloating or diarrhea after eating, they can take Jianpi Pills, etc.In addition to medication, to make the child enjoy eating, it's also important to pay attention to methods. Some children have poor appetite, and parents become very anxious. To coax the child to eat, some use toys to distract them during meals, while others let them eat while playing. Excessive indulgence by parents and a lack of understanding of proper feeding methods are also direct causes of poor appetite in children.
So, what should be done? Here are some suggestions:
1. Create a relatively quiet eating environment for the child so that they can eat comfortably and happily. The digestive system is affected by emotions—nervousness can lead to reduced appetite. Therefore, adults should avoid loud laughter or distracting the child by asking them to do this or that during meals.
2. When preparing food for the child, consider not only nutrition but also diversity and ease of digestion. Strive to offer a variety of foods that are delicious, fragrant, and appealing in appearance, so that the child will be eager to eat when they see or smell them. Additionally, the dishes should be cut into small pieces, and the rice should not be cooked too dry to make chewing easier.