Chinese New Year Feasting & Your Child’s Gut Health

As the Year of the Rabbit approaches, parents are not only preparing for house visits, but also wondering what they can do to keep their children from getting upset tummies from binge eating snacks and sweets while not ruining their holiday mood.

But what might the Chinese New Year feasting be doing to your child's digestive system?

The enormity of food that will be eaten in a relatively short period of time may put a lot more stress on a child's digestive system. This stress is caused by digesting more food in a shorter period of time or struggling to digest fat and sugar-rich foods. As a result, it might affect the child's gut microbiome, causing stomach pain or changes in bowel habits.

But wait, there's more. Your child may drink less water if they are too preoccupied with their cousins, or if their stomach is too bloated from feasting and snacking. This could then cause constipation in your child.

So, what can parents do to avoid this while still enjoying the Chinese New Year?

Include a variety of veggies in their diet

Eating a variety of vegetables is the best way for the children to improve their gut health because it encourages the growth of gut bacterial diversity while also increasing their dietary fiber intake. In addition, this may prevent them from cramming in snacks between meals.

Go for a walk in the garden after meals

A brisk walk can help speed up the passage of food through the digestive system, reducing bloating and gas.

Make sure you little ones drink enough water

Staying hydrated is an important part of digestion. When your children are well hydrated, their bodies draw less water from the colon, keeping the stools soft and easy to pass.

Supplement with KID IT milk to promote intestinal transit or bowel movement

If your child is prone to constipation or is already constipated, include 3 servings of Novamil KID IT to support their gut health to support their gut health, and also help to meet the daily nutrient needs. SMARTGUT360°, the advanced formulation, relieves constipation by increasing stool water content, stimulating intestinal movement, easing digestion, and preventing hard stool.