The truth about picky eaters

MANILA, Philippines - There comes a dreaded time in every mother’s life when their once-sweet toddlers become difficult at the dinner table. All children go through that stage when their interest in food suddenly wane and meal times become a test of will and strategy between mother and child.

Known as the “picky eating stage,” it’s that time when children seem to refuse more food than they eat including food that were once “favorites.”

Dr. Jossie Rogacion, an expert in child nutrition from UP-PGH, sheds light and traces the roots of this perennial problem to a gap in the earlier stage of infant feeding.

Complementary feeding, or giving babies additional food on top of breast milk, is an important phase in children’s development.  Complementary feeding should start at around six months of age.

By introducing children to a wide variety of tastes and textures, they will have a greater variety of food to “reject” when the picky eating stage sets in.

Parents can also try the “Magic 10” technique. Studies have shown that children need to try something at least 10 times before he gets used to it. Thus, parents should not immediately give up trying to feed their child carrots just because he rejected it a couple of times. 

Because of the mealtime struggle, parents are tempted to give in to their little ones in the interest of ensuring that they at least “have something in their stomachs,” an attitude which further lead to their children becoming more picky and eventually paving the way for poor nutritional choices as they grow up.

“Parents should not only focus on what the child eats during this difficult stage but also give equal importance to behavior,” notes Dr. Rogacion. Parents have to be observant and mindful of the signs to seize the opportunity and respond to their babies’ needs. Here are some of the signs that your child is ready to add solid in their diet: child is able to sit and hold his head; he gets excited when he sees food or someone eating; and he opens his mouth often.

Dr. Rogacion, a working mom herself, gave some practical guides to follow when starting to feed solids to children:

• Start with easily digested food like cereals, squash and root crops like potatoes and carrots.

• Transition should be gradual, starting with thin consistencies steadily adding texture up until the child is able to eat minced table food.

• Introduce one type of food at a time or what is called ‘single ingredient food’ to help babies adjust and at the same time give parents a period to observe and identify any allergic reactions. Preparing combination food can come later.

• Don’t be afraid to add oil in your child’s diet at the sevent or eigth month. Babies have very high fat requirements and oil is a ‘concentrated form of energy’ that is good for them.

Dr. Rogacion stressed five criteria to follow in complementary feeding. “It should be timely, age appropriate, adequate, safe and properly administered. Start feeding your child at the right time with fresh, good food prepared with lots of patience and love.”