🌿 Folk Prescriptions

Snacks and Supplementary Meals for Babies
After five months, babies begin to show interest in foods beyond breast milk and formula. At this stage, seeing others eat makes babies move their mouths. Parents sometimes give small cakes or biscuits to babies. Seeing how much babies enjoy them brings joy to parents. After age two, children’s activity level increases significantly, leading to greater energy expenditure. To replenish energy, adding sugars is advisable—thus, babies’ preference for sweet foods is natural. Snacks serve as supplements to main meals, providing energy lost during activity and bringing enjoyment to life. However, babies have small stomachs, so they eat little at a time, feel full quickly, and become hungry fast. When playing outside, they tire easily and get thirsty—so timely feeding and hydration are essential. Children under three should eat four to five meals daily. Three-meal-only diets are insufficient. Children aged three to six attending kindergarten should also have a midday snack. The principle: younger children need smaller portions.
Today’s market offers diverse snack options, each serving different purposes:
Milk and dairy products are highly nutritious and easy to digest—ideal for babies. Babies love small bottles of milk drinks mainly due to their tangy-sweet taste, light flavor, and small volume (only about 2 grams of powdered milk per bottle), with minimal AD. Occasional consumption is fine.
When choosing yogurt for children, opt for pure yogurt made entirely from milk, without added water. True milk should contain at least 2.9 grams of protein per 100 ml. Below 2.5 grams, it cannot be called “milk” or “dairy.”
Many popular dairy products sold today aren’t real milk—they’re better labeled as “drinks.” These contain less than 1 gram of protein per 100 ml. Their packaging prominently displays “milk” in large letters, followed by “drink” in small print—misleading consumers.
Snacks can still be selected, depending on age:
• Some nuts have high protein and fat content; some dried fruits concentrate minerals and dietary fiber. Avoid giving these to children under three. If desired, modify shape or processing—e.g., use walnut paste instead of raw walnuts, boiled peanuts instead of fried ones—but never in excess.
• Fish slices and beef jerky are tough on teeth and unsuitable for children under three. Opt for meat powder or chicken powder instead. Some mothers let two-year-olds chew entire packs of fish slices—harmful to development.
Some mothers say: “I gave my child shrimp!” Fresh shrimp is indeed nutritious and expensive, but there’s no need to seek premium varieties. Shrimp’s nutrients can be replaced by eggs and other meats—nothing special.
• Cheese is an excellent food—high in protein and fat, very concentrated. A small amount delivers high nutritional value and is easy to digest. Keep some on hand for children.
• Eating one or two chocolates isn’t harmful—it’s high in calories. Excessive intake reduces appetite for main meals. Especially for overweight children, too much sugar turns into fat stored in the body.
• Generally, children should ensure balanced nutrition at main meals, with snacks as supplementary or between-meal treats. Nutritional balance matters—e.g., one bottle of lactic acid drink plus ten small cookies. Never offer four or five small jelly candies as snacks—no nutritional value. A bag of puff snacks is worse than a pack of plain yogurt.
• For children under three, extra care is needed with snacks: cut food small and soft. Teach children to eat a variety of foods from an early age. Don’t always give what they like—expose them to diverse foods to gain various nutrients. Pay attention to portion size.