How to improve appetite for children who don’t eat

During the child’s growth period, diet is crucial for their physical development. If a child has a small appetite and poor eating habits, it may lead to developmental delays or even malnutrition. Improving a child’s appetite requires attention to various factors, especially the supplementation of calcium, vitamins, and zinc elements, as a lack of zinc can directly affect the child’s taste sensitivity and oral health, making food tasteless and suppressing appetite. To address zinc deficiency, medical supplementation can be used, such as oral zinc sulfate, for a period of several months as directed by a physician. Additionally, dietary supplementation is equally critical, as early breastfeeding can provide sufficient zinc. As the child grows to six months and beyond, timely introduction of zinc-rich foods like lean meat, liver, fish, and egg yolks is recommended, while correcting any picky eating habits and excessive snacking. When a child shows reluctance to eat, aside from considering behavioral habits, zinc deficiency should be evaluated through testing serum zinc levels to confirm intervention if levels are below the normal range (75mg/L). Zinc, as an essential trace element, plays a vital role in human metabolism, involving energy, protein, nucleic acid, and hormone metabolism. Zinc deficiency not only affects growth, development, and immunity, but also directly interferes with the digestive system, leading to decreased taste sensitivity and appetite. Faced with feeding challenges, parents need not overly worry or blame the child for being picky. Seeking timely medical advice, conducting professional assessments of nutritional status, and supplementing as needed are the correct approaches to promote a child’s healthy growth using scientific methods.