Managing Your Picky Eater

Has your child refused to eat anything other than chicken nuggets for the past week? Has your toddler gone days avoiding anything green on the dinner plate? Many parents of young children have suffered through a picky eating phase. You are not alone if you are worried about your child’s nutrition.

Most children go through picky eating stages. They want to express their independence about everything, and this includes eating. In addition, children start growing more slowly after their first year and need less food, which may cause them to be less interested in eating. Children may also be a little more careful about trying new foods.  They want to inspect the food several times before eating it.  Here are some tips to get through this stage of your child’s life.

Respect your child’s appetite.

If your child is not hungry, don’t force or bribe him or her to eat anything. In addition, don’t make your child clean his or her plate. This might cause your child to view mealtime negatively, as a time of frustration and angst.  Instead, serve small portions of food and allow your child to ask for more if he or she is still hungry.

Keep a routine.

Serve meals and snacks around the same time each day. This gives your child a sense of stability and comfort. Offer water between meals and snacks rather than milk or juice, which can fill up your child and decrease his or her appetite when it’s time for a meal.

Make meals and snacks children-friendly.

You can make eating more child-friendly without becoming a short-order cook. First, make eating comfortable for your child by using cups, plates, utensils, and food servings that fit the size of their hands and mouths. Next, turn down any noise that may distract them, including music, television, and loud talking. This will help your child focus on the food in front of them. Last, make the food appealing by using fun shapes and bright colors.  Almost anything can be made into a fun shape with a cookie cutter. Children, as well as adults, eat with their eyes first.

Involve your child in shopping and cooking.

Ask your child to help you pick out vegetables, fruit, and other healthy items when at the grocery store. When preparing food, ask your child to help with the preparation, such as washing vegetables or stirring a pot of soup. This is a fun way to get your child to try new foods.