April 4, 2013 – Wyeth AQIVA launched “Food Talk”, an event that helped educate mothers about the threat of the Diet Shift, and provided them with empowering solutions for them to conquer this phase. Wyeth Nutrition’s AQIVA recognizes this problem, and has partnered with moms to help them secure their children’s health and nutrition, especially during the Diet Shift phase.
AQIVA FOOD TALK
The AQIVA Food Talk was hosted by Delamar. To answer the question – “How Do you Cope with Diet Shift?“, Child and health experts, Dr. Bernadette Benitez, a Developmental and Behavioral Pediatrics Specialist, Ms. Luz Callanta, Nutrition Expert and Lecturer together with the AQIVA celebrity mom ambassador Mikee Cojuangco-Jaworski shed light on the top questions regarding the cause, threats, and ways of dealing with the Diet Shift.
AQIVA Food Talk
The mom-to-mom discussions on parenting concerns and health tips for their children were led by celebrity mom and TV host Mikee Cojuangco-Jaworski.
AQIVA Food Talk
On her own experience with her children on Diet Shift, Mikee shared, “I have three boys, and my youngest, Renzo, is four years old. I noticed that Renzo is starting to prefer unhealthy food staples such as French fries and ice cream. I know people expect me to know how to teach Renzo to eat healthy because I’ve already experienced this with my other two boys. But the truth is, it’s not easy. It’s always a different challenge with each kid when it comes to mealtimes.”
How Do you Cope with Diet Shift?
Let me share what I have learned in the AQIVA food talk on how do we cope with Diet Shift.
According to Dr. Benitez, it is normal for a child to go through a Diet Shift, as experimenting with new food, and developing tastes for new food, are all part of growing up. When the child gets exposed to more types of unhealthy food, and would start to prefer these over other food that are ideal for his age the problem begins. This usually heightens at age 4. Diet shift is for real. We don’t fight it. This is the stage when the child maybe at risk to nutritional deficiencies. The best things to do is to supplement and give proper nutrients. Turn off the TV and keep away the toys during meal time so that the child can focus on the meal. Keep on introducing and exposing to different foods.
“Proper nutrition is needed, especially during the child’s growth and development years. This is when he needs most of the vitamins and nutrients, at the right levels. Unfortunately, this is the same time that the threat of the Diet Shift strikes, and gaps in nutrition may occur. It is essential at this stage to supplement at-risk nutrients in the child’s diet and nutrition,” says Ms. Callanta. She explains also about malnutrition that they are refer to over-nourished and under nutrition Do not worry if your child took longer on the table because it will promote and develop their eating habits.
Mikee shared that to cope with Diet Shift, she keep on trying on introducing foods to her sons and if they don’t like it she do not force them to eat. She also promote fun eating with her family.
AQIVA Food Talk with Dellamar, Mikee and Chef Jacky Laudico
During the event, Chef Jacky Laudico of Bistro Filipino- the AQIVA celebrity chef shared the fun eating ways as she showcased her techniques in preparing meals for children. She always plays around with three main elements–color, shape and texture. The best way to make children try healthy dishes is to make them interested in it. The food’s visual appeal helps in getting their attention, and eventually they would be willing to taste the healthy snack. This is indeed very true because I experience it with my little boy.
AQIVA Food talk: Creating fun healthy meals
AQIVA Food Talk: Creating Fun Healthy meals for kids
AQIVA Food Talk: Creating Fun Healthy Meals for kids
She helped in teaching guests how to prepare their healthy meals that kids will enjoy. Guests even had a hands-on experience in preparing one of her kid-friendly dishes.
In the food photos above, you can use simple food shaping tools and include fruits and vegetables. The Lollipops here are made up of Sweet Potato (Camote) and simply add some little sprinkle candies. Instead of white sugar, brown sugar is the better healthy choice. Wheat bread is also good because they are high in fiber.
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AQIVA: Promoting Fun Ways to Healthy Eating
“Aqiva proudly takes on the advocacy of raising healthy children through healthy eating habits and proper nutrition. We want to help moms instill the importance and value of healthy eating in their children, and at the same time, we want children to enjoy their healthy meals–to actually like what they eat,” said AQIVA Senior Product Manager Carlo de la Paz.
AQIVA helps supplement nutrients which may be at-risk or inadequate in a child’s diet. Formulated with A.Q.I. (Adequate, Quality and Important) Nutrients, AQIVA is packed with 40 ingredients including 25 essential nutrients, scientifically designed to support the child’s nutrition as parents teach them healthy eating habits, especially during the Diet Shift phase.
AQIVA’s mission does not only stop in providing nutritional supplementation to children, but also extends to creating awareness and spreading information on teaching mothers how to help their child learn healthy eating habits, to fight the Diet Shift.
“Mothers need to be creative when it comes to their children’s nutrition. There should be no shortcuts and they should not only focus on making meal times healthy but also fun and enjoyable to the kids,” shared Dr. Benitez.
Mikee added, “I make sure that I supplement the at-risk nutrients Renzo needs. I don’t want to sneak around concealing vegetables in his food. Instead, I want him to enjoy his healthy meals by using fruits and vegetables to create fun and appealing meal experiences.”
AQIVA powdered milk drink
AQIVA Food Talk (from L to R – Carlo De La Paz, Chef Laudico, Mikee Conjuanco- Jaworski, Dr. Benitez, Ms. Callante)
Overall, I am thankful that I was invited in this event where I learned techniques to cope with Diet Shift. I think most moms experience this kind of stage. Now I have certain solutions for my little boy who is currently experiencing Diet Shift. I like the idea of creating fun healthy ways in preparing foods for the kids. In Addition it reminds me to be more patient in monitoring and keeping my child with proper nutrition. I have learned that in this stage children are starting to develop their eating habits.
Do you want to learn more on how to cope with Diet Shift and balanced your child’s unhealthy diet, please visit and like http://www.facebook.com/AqivaPH.
This is a very helpful event for mothers since kids shifting diets can really bother their health.
Yes very helpful and moms can apply some techniques here for Diet Shift
Mikee Cojuanco is also an excellent ambassador for kids as she is an exemplary athlete and mom.
Mikee is very simple and she shared her real mommy experience about Diet shift with her four year-old son.
great advocacy event! It’s important to educate how moms can cope with kids who are picky eaters. Kids, nowadays, get exposed to more types of unhealthy food like junk foods, and would start to prefer these over other food that are ideal for his age. Picky eating can be ended by better equipping and educating parents and guardians on the issue.
Yes that is why I really attended this event so I can learn other ways or techniques to cope with Diet Shift that my little boy is experiencing right now.
What habits kids develop at this stage of development can stay with them for their whole life! This is quite a challenge for parents, as per personal experience.
Diet Shift is a true challenge for parents. It is a phase where we as parents extend our patience to monitor our child’s health for his good development and proper nutrition.
Ensuring the optimum health of kids is a real challenge for parents. It is a good thing that there are many products available that can help them do their job of taking care of children well.
I always think that optimum health for my family especially with my kids and thankful to have products like this.
I experience that diet shift now that my son is turning 5 y.o . He likes to drink soda and some junk food . Good thign , I still gives him a glass of milk everyday.
Same here I am still offering a glass of milk 2-3 times a day to my four-year old son.
My toddler is beginning to show signs of being a picky eater himself and reading this post can help me a lot in getting his diet on the right track. Thanks for this.
As parents we always fins ways for the health of our children.
Quite an interesting article! My son is 1 year and 3 months old but prefers cerelac. He actually screams when we try to give him rice – even when we used the blender for it to mimic the consistency of the cereal. If we manage to let him eat even just a spoonful, he vomits everything he ate! Sigh.
This can be a challenge – not just diet shift. Thanks for the info, though. 🙂
Way to go Mommy Joy I have been there when my son is about 1 year-old and what I did is to show him how I eat the fruits and veggies. With rice at the wet market we requested to grind it and we mix it with regular meals when cooking like Sinigang na baboy and isda. Aqiva is for four years old and up- I am thankful that my son (4 years old now) liked it when I replace his milk brand 8 months ago.
I’d be glad to recommend this to my cousin for her 2-year-old child.
Hi,
According to the label, AQIVA is for four years old and up.
It has been quite a while since I last saw Mikee on TV or in any event.
For the diet shift, I think that consulting with a nutritionist before embarking on the change will be best.
So right Rochkirstin. I learned so much from the nutrition and pediatrics expert who’s been panelist in the Aqiva food talk.
Diet shift sometimes becomes an agony for us parents due to food preferences as well and when they get introduced to different food tastes, then they become picky.
So true sometimes I felt it is an agony and the only solution is to find ways and be patient in introducing healthy foods to our kids.
The vain of many mothers, how to cope up with their kids Diet shift. good thing, Wyeth introduces a healthy diet to addressed the issue.
Good thing that they have been supportive to moms and it is not just about milk because they shared cool and I think effective ways to cope with Diet Shift.
AQIVA’s advocacy is really helpful for children especially kids these days only love sweets and candies.
I have a 4 year old and it is such a struggle to get her to eat! I don’t think I have enough energy to create those fun meals….LOL!
If you want your kids to eat healthy, you really have to make an effort to train them while they are still young. Me and my younger siblings have very different eating habits. I grew up eating fish while he grew up eating Jollibee. Supplements may be a good alternative to healthy eating but it’s still the parents’ responsibility to teach their kids to eat the proper kinds of food because you can’t rely on milk forever.
Exactly! It is the responsibility of the parents to lead in teaching their child to eat proper food with good nutrition.
very nice brand of milk, Wyeth Philippines is really looking after the health and nutrition of young children.
I still don’t have a baby but if ever i have one, i would be considering this milk.
I love how the food was creatively prepared. This will help kids to enjoy their meals! 🙂
Yes. Sometimes I tried to be artistic in preparing meals and my son really loved it. 🙂
It’s really tricky to get the child’s attention during mealtime. Parents should unleash their creativity when preparing meals! 🙂
It would be tough, but worth every effort. 🙂
Yes Lily it is always worth the effort especially if you see your child healthy and happy.
I learned a lot during that event and now I can a make a few sandwiches that my kids would enjoy eating 🙂
Same here Mommy Peh and I will apply what I’ve learned from the AQIVA food talk. 🙂
I’m also having problems feeding my 2 year old. Although it’s time-consuming, making meals fun by combining shapes and colors might be effective.
Thanks a lot for sharing! This is very helpful. Will serve as our guides on jow to deal with diet shift.