South Asian Children’s Health
- Hardening of the Arteries Starts Early
- Parents: Role Models for Good Health
- Overcoming Cultural Myths
- Nutrition for the First Year of Life
- Feeding Guidelines for the First Year of Life
- The South Asian Food Pyramid for Children (age 1 to 6)
- Feeding Behavior: Establish Good Habits
Hardening of the Arteries Starts Early
Studies have shown that fat starts depositing in the walls of the arteries during childhood and adolescence. Because South Asians develop heart disease an average of five to 10 years earlier than other ethnic groups, this dangerous process may begin very soon after birth.
Back to top
Parents: Role Models for Good Health
As a parent, if you already have risk factors such as diabetes, high cholesterol, high blood pressure, obesity or existing heart disease, there is a good chance that you may pass these same high-risk genes onto your children. It is important that you encourage healthy eating habits and emphasize regular exercise as early as possible to prevent these risk factors from developing. If you smoke, eat a less than ideal diet and/or don’t exercise, it is likely that your children will pick up at least one of these harmful habits.
Back to top
Overcoming Cultural Myths
When a South Asian child is born, parents are immediately bombarded by family members and friends with advice about nutrition and proper feeding habits. Should you breastfeed or give your child formula? When should you start your child on solid foods? Should you feed cold foods to your child if he or she has a cold? The list of questions is endless. We have created this section to help parents understand basic nutritional principles for their children and to encourage healthy eating habits that will last a lifetime. However, all individuals involved in your child’s care (parents, grandparents, caretakers, etc.) need to be properly educated.
Back to top
Nutrition for the First Year of Life
The table below provides nutritional choices for the first year of life. Breastmilk is better than formula for many reasons. It is easier for the baby to digest; mom’s antibodies are passed to the baby through breastmilk, which protects baby from many infections; and it may protect against allergies, asthma, obesity and sudden infant death syndrome. You should not give your baby whole cow’s milk before 12 months of age.
You do not need to start your child on solid foods until 6 months of age. Be sure to introduce one food at a time by giving a new food for four to five days before offering another new food. Try each food at least eight to 10 times over a long period of time before determining that your child does not like it. If you have a family history of food allergies, please discuss with your pediatrician when and how to start your child on solid foods.
Back to top
Feeding Guidelines for the First Year of Life
| Breast Milk or Formula | Dry Infant Cereal with Iron | Fruits and Vegetables | Meats and Protein Foods | Snacks | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Birth to 6 months | Eight to 12 feedings. Do not give baby water. | None | None | None | |
| 6 to 9 months | Three to five nursings or bottle feeds | Start with *single grain, iron fortified cereal, 1 to 2 tbsp mixed with formula or milk. Then gradually increase to 5 to 8 tbsp and start mixed-grain, iron fortified cereal. | *Offer vegetables and fruits one at a time. Puree and strain them or use baby food from jars. Start with 1 to 2 tbsp./one to two times a day and increase to 2 to 4 tbsp./two times a day as needed to satisfy baby. | Start pureed daal (lentils). At 7 to 8 months, start 2 to 3 tbsp of pureed meat, fish, cheese, tofu or other protein food. | |
| 9 to 12 month | Three to four nursings or 16 to 24 oz. of formula. | Whole grains, such as breads, and unsweetened cereals; ¼ to ½ cup mashed potatoes, upmaa, bread or chapati two times per day. | 3 to 4 tbsp mashed, soft, bite-sized pieces of fruit and vegetables each. Introduce more texture in table foods or use stage three jar foods. | 2 to3 tbsp of meat, fish, cheese, tofu or other protein food. | Low in sugar O-shaped cereals such as cheerios, toast and crackers. Later can add cottage cheese and pieces of cooked green beans to above. |
Back to top
The South Asian Food Pyramid for Children (age 1 to 6)
The South Asian Food Pyramid for Children has been created by PAMF pediatricians and nutritionists to help organize South Asian cuisine into categories based on serving size. It has been designed for children 1 to 6 years of age. A table has been provided below the pyramid to help you estimate how much of each major food group you should provide for your children based on age. The food portions are listed as one serving size, so be sure to multiply by the recommended servings for each group.
For example, for a 1 year old, one half of a small banana is considered one serving, but two servings of fruit are recommended per day, so this means one banana would fulfill this requirement. Remember, this is just a rough guideline to help you understand how much food your child needs each day. 
+click for larger image
Acrobat version for printing
Back to top
Feeding Behavior: Establish Good Habits
Many determined South Asian mothers are insistent that their child eats every last bite on his or her plate. Your child should enjoy eating—not fear it. Setting unrealistic goals about how much your child should eat is a very common problem. Use the tables above to help you understand your child’s daily nutritional requirements and establish healthy eating behavior as early as possible. It does not take adult servings of food for your child to grow. Understanding your child’s limits will not only prevent you from overfeeding your child, but it will also alleviate the stress of thinking your child has been underfed. Listed below are a few tips.
- Children like structure and predictability. Establish regular meal and snack times that are adequately spaced out.
- Children like to feel like adults. Have your child sit at the family table as early as possible. Encourage self-feeding as soon as the child is ready.
- Let your child get involved in preparing for meals (for example, washing vegetables or setting the table). This will make eating a more rewarding act for your child.
- Avoid threats or punishment if the child will not eat. This will only create a negative association with eating.
- Avoid distractions when eating such as television.
- You may need to introduce each food 10 times before deciding if it suits your child’s taste.
- Make eating fun. Cut food into different shapes using cookie cutters. Children love to dip, so use peanut butter and various flavorful sauces such as yogurt or chutneys.
Back to top