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No one can be fully prepared for the challenges and intricacies of parenthood.

Like all moms and dads, particularly first-time parents, actress-model Isabelle Daza had to learn parenting lessons on the fly as her firstborn Baltie progresses from one stage to another.

Same with all parents, nutrition was on top of Isabelle's main challenges and concerns as a mom.

“I always thought I would be the mom whose kid loved vegetables but turns out that's not the case. Baltie throws everything green on the floor! He can be a picky eater depending on his mood,” Isabelle told GMA Lifestyle.

Photo by: Isabelle Daza

To counter this, Isabelle has to come up with creative ways to make sure that Baltie gets enough nutrition in his everyday diet.

“He does love making pizza with me, though. Just so I can put vegetables, I try to sneak carrots in his Bolognese pasta,” shared Isabelle, who is currently based in Hong Kong together with French husband, Adrien Semblat, and their kids Baltie and Valentin.

Photo by: Isabelle Daza

Isabelle gave a rundown on what she typically serves Baltie during the day.

“In the morning, he always has fruits like avocado, yogurt, and bread with butter. I try my best not to give him processed sugar every day but it's hard to avoid,” she said.

“Lunchtime, it's usually pasta with some hidden vegetables and, at night, we do protein, carb mixes like chicken soup and rice or salmon with noodles.”

Another thing that he loves is putting a dash of cocoa in his milk to make it look like a cappuccino. He calls it his 'milkccino.' Then at night, he has a glass of milk before bedtime.”

Photo by: Isabelle Daza

It's a never-ending experiment as Baltie's food preferences also change as he grows older.

“I try not to put too much pressure on him. I don't like doing the rewards system, either, like saying 'if you eat this pasta, you can get ice cream,'” said Isabelle.

“I have learned from Janet Lansbury and many other books that you are actually punishing children by rewarding them. It seems like a solution but it will only last for a very short term and ultimately can be damaging to their decision making.

“They won't be motivated to do anything without a reward in the future.”

Isabelle, however, understands the struggles and what works for one parent may not necessarily work for another.

The best way, according to Isabelle, is for parents to serve as an example early on by eating healthily as well for their kids to emulate.

It wouldn't hurt also to seek advice from fellow moms and dads, and concerned experts for guidance.

Photo by: Isabelle Daza

“I constantly read articles. I also consult my pediatrician to ensure that I provide Baltie the best nutrition to support his brain development,” said Isabelle, who is an advocate of childhood nutrition as part of her role as Promil Gold Four ambassador.

“Also, being an early childhood educator I learned that 90% of the brain is developed by the time a child enters kindergarten, so I make sure that I give him superior nutrition to maximize his brain development.

“Then I trust my gut feel also. I love the book called 'Bringing up Bebe.' I have read multiple parenting books, and this was the best of them all.”

Isabelle further gave GMA Lifestyle a peek of her parenting style based on what she learned from experts and experiences.

“At home, the environment I am trying to create is a place where he feels it is safe to express his feelings. For example, I let him cry whenever he wakes up in a bad mood because crying is a healthy way to release and balance emotions,” she said.

“I try to make sure that when Baltie asks questions I give him a specific answer as well as throw him a question so he can think critically.”

She continued, “He is very curious and asks the best questions like [referring to Noah's Ark bible story] 'Mama, did Noah put dolphins and whales in the ark? Because they are sea animals and they can swim in the flood.' That blew my mind!

“As I mentioned, 90% of the brain is already developed by the time a child enters kindergarten, which is why it is so important not to miss that window. I owe it to experts for equipping me with the knowledge to help me in my journey as a mom.”

Tips to encourage kids to eat healthier

Start introducing healthy food habits to your kids with these tips.

Be a role model. Eating healthy should start from the parents themselves for their kids to emulate.

Get creative. Add vegetables to their favorite food without them knowing. For example, add mashed broccoli with spaghetti sauce or mix other vegetables with mashed potato.

Ditch fast food meals. Access to fast food items is now easier because of the delivery apps available. Try instead to cook more home meals with an emphasis on healthy ingredients to cut down on sugar and extra calories common in fast food meals.

Stock up on healthy alternatives. Store more fruits, vegetables, water, and other healthy beverages (natural fruit juices) at home. Cut down or remove unhealthy snacks totally like chips, soft drinks, and sweets.

Educate. Teach kids the importance of eating healthy with the help of storybooks or entertaining shows. There are a number of animated videos on YouTube about the topic, with many presented in sing-along format to make it attractive for toddlers.

Ask children's help. To make it fun, ask kids to join in the kitchen to help with the preparation of ingredients and cooking of the food.

For more lifestyle content, head out to GMA's Lifestyle page.

Take a look at Isabelle and Adrien's beautiful family in this gallery.