Nicole Chien on A New Approach to Baby and Childhood Nutrition Using Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) and Herbal Nutrition

I have worked all over the world and one thing never changes; parents are always keen to do the right thing by their newborns and young children in terms of providing them with optimal nutrition so they can grow, develop and ultimately thrive.

Parents from Asian backgrounds have used TCM as the basis of nutrition and healing for thousands of years and they start right at the beginning after a baby is born and throughout childhood. Newborn babies should always be breastfed whenever possible with mum eating optimally as all nutrients are passed through the breast milk from mother to child. After six months when the baby is usually weaned, a special diet is introduced in consultation with a TCM practitioner and especially tailored for each child as their needs can differ.

What is interesting is that this thinking and practice is increasingly being adopted by parents in western countries too partly because of a rise in lactose intolerance in children from all backgrounds and because increasingly food is highly processed and grown with chemicals. As a result parents are looking for new ways to feed and nurture their babies and young children.

In TCM we tend to focus more on nourishing a child’s spleen and stomach, to improve digestive health so the child can absorb as many nutrients as possible. We also focus on building qi (vital energy), nourishing the blood, and enhancing cognitive function.

Underlying this thinking is the real fact that babies and young children have weaker spleens and stomachs than adults, which often impacts their organs, resulting in ailments such as loss of appetite, indigestion and mal absorption. By following good herbal nutrition, we can provide natural and gentle ways of promoting children’s health by improving their digestive health and immunity. 

The most common food recommended for children is a special porridge which can be made with various herbal ingredients, such as red date, goji berries, adenophora root, lotus seeds, codonopsis root and other herbs. Chicken essence and eel essence can also be used to cook the porridge (or congee as we say in Asia) to provide the nutrient-rich meals children need. The porridge is full of important amino acids (the building block of all nutrition), DHA, calcium, and other important nutrients for a child’s growth. 

If you have time, please investigate all the benefits and high nutrition found in the ingredients of this porridge including chicken essence, red dates, gogi berries and adenophora root. You’ll be amazed at the nutritional benefits and your child will grow and thrive as a result.

Also please visit our Taste for Life Website for more information:  

https://tasteforlifeaustralia.com.au/en

By Nicole Chien, Founder of women’s health company Taste for Life, and qualified Western and Chinese herbal nutritionist.

Bio for Nicole Chien.

Nicole Chien is a leading nutritionist with a Bachelor’s Degree of Nutrition from Taiwan and a Masters from Monash University and a mother of two. For over 20 years she has worked in pregnancy, maternal, postpartum and baby & childhood nutrition and also weight management.