This is a Presentation about how Ayurveda herbs and Home Remedies help to combat Fussy Eating habits in children and relieves the problem of Childhood Anorexia. This was presented at Himalaya Drug Co workshop at Chandigarh by Dr Sonica Krishan on 28 August 2012.

2. Most common factors :
• Child’s disinterest in the daily, pushy meals.
• Eating food means to him to be wasting that precious time.
• Child is being over-worked on the dining table.
• The food lacks eye-appeal.
• The amount of food on his plate is scaring him.
• He has his own mental worries or fears.
• The reason could be constipation.
Dr . So n i c a
Kr i s h a n

3. Ayurveda Herbs & Home remedies
• Squeeze some fresh lemon in a glass of water. Add salt (preferably
black salt) and sugar to taste. Make the child drink it before the
meals.
• Sprinkle a few drops of lemon juice onto a small
piece of freshly cut ginger. Make the child chew
or simply suck on it, 5 to 10 minutes before
food. This is a wonderful Natural appetizer.
• A glass of buttermilk with a pinch
each of the powders of freshly
roasted and ground cumin seeds,
dry coriander and black salt, when
taken before the meals tend to
stimulate the appetite.
Dr . So n i c a
Kr i s h a n

4. Ayurveda Herbs & Home remedies
• For babies and small children, you could prepare this decoction.
Take equal quantities (a pinch to one-fourth teaspoon) each of
freshly ground black pepper, asafoetida, dried mint powder,
thyme and seeds of larger cardamom. Boil in water till one fourth
remains. Give it lukewarm to the child with some mishri or honey
added to it two times in a day.
• Fresh juices of Pomegranate
also act as appetite booster!
Dr . So n i c a
Kr i s h a n

5. Natural diet & lifestyle
• Ghee (Clarified Butter) needs to be included in the child’s diet.
• It is recommended to give the child a
mixture of overnight soaked nuts. This
adds to his nutrition requirement.
• Munakka and Anjeer help to save him
from constipation.
• Gulkand (Rose jelly) and Aamla murabba
are tasty supplements for kids and help to
keep their digestion boosted.
• Maintaining a healthy gap of minimum of 2 hours between food.
• Keep a check on the child’s routine of physical exertion and
optimum sleep. Dr. Sonica Krishan

6. Natural diet & lifestyle
• Watch for the signs of Childhood Anorexia - Specific decrease in
his pattern of appetite, feels lethargic, drowsy and listless most of
the time; loss of weight, seems anemic and has less immunity.
• De-worm the child naturally - You
may roast together some thyme
(Ajwain) and jaggery. Children can
easily take this sweet candy in a
dose of approx. 1-teaspoon twice
for a few days.
Dr. Sonica Krishan

7. Practical approach
• Try and keep a relaxed attitude.
• Allow the child a break from the
meal session once in a while.
• Let him take his own sweet time.
• Smaller child can be fed in a
‘story telling’ manner.
Dr . So n i c a
Kr i s h a n

8. Practical approach
• You should never try to plead, beg or threaten the child relating
to his meals.
• If none of the efforts
seem to work, then
doctor’s
intervention could
be required.
• Only encourage your
child to finish his meal,
and do not create a fuss.
Dr . So n i c a
Kr i s h a n