Q. A mother brought her 4 years old girl stating that she does not eat well and has no appetite. According to the mother, the child has to be forced to eat else she can remain hungry throughout the day. She eats only one chapatti and dal for lunch and rice and dal for dinner along with milk for breakfast and in afternoon. Mother wants some “tonic” to improve her appetite.
On further inquiring, it is found, that the child predominantly eats biscuits, wafers, kurkure and chocolates throughout the day. Whenever such food item is offered to her, she has the appetite to eat them and never refuses those.
On examination, her weight is 16kg which is appropriate for her age suggesting that she is getting enough calories in her diet.