5 foods to limit for children's dinner.

Children who consume drinks containing caffeine, fried foods, sugar, chocolate, candy, or dried fruit may experience digestive problems and disrupt their sleep.

Dr. Lam Boi Hy, a specialist in Pediatrics at Tam Anh General Hospital in Ho Chi Minh City, said that many children who come to the hospital for examination may experience bloating, indigestion, and insomnia due to mistakes in their diet. Below are some foods that children should limit or stop consuming before dinner to protect their health.

Caffeinated drinks

Drinks like iced tea, milk tea, coffee, and energy drinks contain caffeine—a stimulant that can make it difficult to sleep. If children consume these drinks and show signs of irritability, restlessness, and difficulty sleeping, parents should give them more water to help dilute the caffeine in their bodies.

Sugary drinks

Drinks like soda, fruit juice, sugary juices, and soft drinks should not be given to children before bedtime. Sugary foods are bad for teeth and increase blood sugar levels. Milk also contains sugar. Doctor Boi Hy advises parents to give children milk 1-2 hours before bedtime for optimal nutrient absorption.

Fried food

Fried chicken, fries, fried sausages... are favorite foods for many young children. Parents can let their children eat them a few times a week, but avoid giving them at bedtime. These foods are often cooked in a lot of oil, making them take longer to digest, causing bloating, discomfort, and insomnia.

Chocolate, candy

Chocolate contains a small amount of caffeine mixed with butter, milk, sugar, and a few other additives. Chocolate can affect sleep because it contains a lot of the amino acid tyrosine, which can stimulate increased alertness and make the body more awake. In addition, cocoa also contains a small amount of caffeine.

Fresh and dried fruits

Dried fruit contains a lot of natural sugar and calories. Because the drying process removes the water from fresh fruit, leaving sugar and calories in a small package. Parents should limit their children's consumption of this food due to its high glucose and fructose content.

Additionally, children eating too much fresh fruit before bedtime can also experience digestive problems; it's best to include fresh fruit in meals during the day or a few hours before bedtime.

Tue Diem

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