Children’s nutrition: Tips for picky eaters Part 1

When you get home from a long day at work, the last thing you want to do is fight with your child over carrots at the dinner table. That is why some mothers easily fall into the trap of cooking canned goods, noodles, or just ordering from a fast food. This means keeping you out of an “eat vegetables” fight.

The good news is, getting a picky eater to eat nutritious meal does not have to be a power struggle and mealtime battles. Here are some tactics/tips on how to tempt little taste buds and minimize mealtime hassles:

Make it fun

Serve a variety of brightly-colored foods to increase interest. Cut the food into different shapes and sizes and serve with toppings. Try putting nutritious, familiar favorites on top of new and less-desirable food to broaden your children’s interest in consuming their meal. Kids think that immersing food in a tasty dip, like peanut butter, is pure fun.

Respect your child’s appetite, or lack of one

Children know when they’re full, so let them stop. And if your child isn’t hungry, don’t force a meal or snack. Likewise, don’t bribe or force your child to eat certain foods. This might only ignite—or reinforce—a power struggle over food. Serve small portions to avoid overwhelming your kids and give them the opportunity to independently ask for more.

Be patient with new foods

oung children often touch or smell new foods, and may even put tiny bits in their mouths and then take them back out again. Introduce new foods one at a time and in small amounts. Instead of an entire meal of unfamiliar foods, for example, offer standard meal or favorites along with something new. At each meal, always serve new food with your child’s favorite foods to increase acceptance.

Schedule snack time and stick to it

 Most kids like routine. If your kids know they will only get food at certain times, they’ll eat what they get when they get it. Provide juice or milk with the food and offer water between meals and snacks.

Keep posted for more of these helpful tips next week. (Source: http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/childrens-health/HQ01107)

The Freeman with the Ramon Aboitiz Foundation Inc. is running weekly features on Early Childhood Care and Development to emphasize the importance of Early Childhood Care and Development (ECCD) and to increase public support for ECCD. For comments or suggestions, e-mail [email protected].