Does your child push the veggies to the side of his or her plate or try to sneakily feed them to the dog? If so, you may have a picky eater on your hands.
It may seem easier to resort to serving less healthy foods and avoid serving fruits and vegetables at meals. This only encourages your child to develop unhealthy eating habits.
Your child’s picky eating is temporary. If you do not make it a big deal, it will usually end before school age. Try the following tips to help you deal with your child’s picky eating behavior in a positive way.
Picky eater tips
- Avoid power struggles. You cannot force your child to do anything, especially eat. Power struggles could result in your child not eating what you want him or her to just to win the power struggle, not because your child does or does not like the food.
- Personal shopper and chef. Bring your child to the grocery store with you and let him or her feel like he or she is part of the meal-making process. Shop for healthy foods. While you are shopping, talk about the foods and the meal you are going to prepare. When you get home, have your child help you with preparing and cooking the meal. Your child can add ingredients, scrub veggies, or help stir. He or she is more likely to taste the meal if your child has had a big hand in the planning and preparation.
- Role model. Children learn by what they see you do. Eat the healthy foods you are asking your child to eat when you are with your child.
- Offer choices. Let your child feel a sense of empowerment in what he or she gets to eat. Rather than ask, “Do you want broccoli for dinner?” ask, “Which would you like for dinner, broccoli or cauliflower?” Or for a snack, for example, let your child choose between two healthy foods such as cut-up fruit with Greek yogurt dip, or string cheese.
- Sit down and talk. Share a meal together with minimal distractions. Turn off the television and your phone and give your full attention to your family and mealtime conversation. Do not focus on what your child is eating or not eating; focus on spending time together and having conversation. Talk about fun and happy things. If meals are times for family arguments, your child may learn unhealthy attitudes toward food.
Picky eating is typical for many children. It is simply another step in the process of growing up and becoming independent. As long as your child is healthy, growing normally and has plenty of energy, your child is most likely getting the nutrients he or she need.
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Posted In Parenting
