Kiwi fruits are great for boosting your immunity

My sons aged 7 and 11 are fussy eaters. They don't eat any fruit, only apples. They both have asthma. How can I ensure that they get the important nutrients from fruits? They don't like fruit juice also. Should I give them vitamin tonics? Any tips on how to get them to start liking fruits?
— Tanvi Patel

Our tastes and preferences are forever evolving. Your children have reached an age where they are trying to form independent opinions, tastes and preferences. If they're not even willing to try other fruits, it's probably more of a psychological block rather than a matter taste.

It's important that they learn the deferential taste of each fruit and then decide which one's they love, like or dislike.

To train their mind to start liking fruits, take it one fruit at a time. Make them try just one bite of one fruit, just one bite but daily for a week. Educate them about the nutritional benefits with some fun facts about the fruit. For example, a pomegranate can hold more than a 1,000 seeds and kiwi fruits are great for boosting your immunity and will prevent you from getting that nasty cold and cough. Tell them about the importance of getting all the essential nutrients to help them grow into stronger, taller boys. They're old enough to reason with and understand. And they'll respect you for it. At this age, children like making their own decisions rather than being told what to do. Let them decide which fruit they will sample every week and ask them to rank every fruit they've tried by giving it points. It's a fun way to introduce new foods to their palate. Also, do remember it's far healthier to eat a fruit than drinking it as a juice.

Don't fret but also don't give up. Your persistence will pay back.

I have irregular periods. What kind of foods can help? I don't like papaya very much, will it help?.
—NS

Pedalling on an irregular menstrual cycle is a sign that your body is not as healthy as it may look. It's a symptom of an underlying hormonal imbalance. And in most cases, the root of this problem is excess body fat. Irregular periods are just the manifestation of the hidden cause. If you want to cure the problem once and for all, attack the excess fat. Don't rely on superficial temporary solutions like eating papaya or having birth control pills.

Make a change in your lifestyle. Make smarter, healthier choices. Start monitoring your diet and eat right. Make exercise a part of your routine. Walk, swim, jog, dance; or indulge in any form of cardio at least 4 to 5 times a week.

Develop a healthy sleeping pattern. This may surprise you, but sleep deprivation causes weight gain and increase in stress. Both of which will mess up your menstrual cycle. For correcting your nutritional deficiencies, visit a nutritionist and get a meal plan that's right for you. Do consult with your gynaecologist if the problem persists.

Pooja Makhija
Consulting nutritionist and clinical dietitian

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Mail your queries at: dnahealthpage@gmail.com; you can contact Pooja at: pooja@nourishgenie.com