4 Tips on How to Feed Picky Eaters

Is your child a picky eater? Does he only want to stick to food he likes like chicken fingers, burgers, and other fast food greasy items? Children, especially toddlers, are known to be picky when it comes to feeding. You are a lucky Mum if they eat the tiny bite-sized carrots that you prepared for them but most of the times they will either push them off their plates, throw them to the floor or play with them. For school age, children are at the peak of becoming picky eaters especially when they have the freedom to eat what they want at school cafeterias or outside the home, in general. Experts agree that proper diet training should begin as early as possible, particularly during the school age.

1. Healthy eating begins at home.

Parents should set examples about healthy eating and children should be educated about nutrients as well. The more they are oblivious to what they eat, the more they are likely to binge on junk food instead of taking in a proper diet. Meals should be eaten together and parents should encourage that breakfast, lunch, snack and dinner should be strictly followed. Experts also agree that it is better to keep a meal routine so that children are encouraged to eat at the table, spend time with the family, have conversations and more importantly, eat a proper nutritious meal that has been home cooked. Breakfast should also be emphasized as the most important meal of the day and this will even encourage children to enjoy the idea of eating nutritious meals. Best case scenario is that they join you onboard the Eat Healthy Campaign and actually enjoy it.

For toddlers, serve bite-sized portions of their food and as much as possible do not overwhelm them with a ridiculous amount of servings. Instead, serve just the right amount and wait until they ask for more.

2. Set a good example when it comes to healthy eating.

Parents should encourage their offspring to eat nutritious food by setting good examples of maintain a healthy diet. If the child sees their mother or father eating unhealthy then they will follow the same bad habits. Besides, it is better to teach by showing rather than just imposing a rule that you do not even follow as a parent. For example, there are people who do not eat vegetables and as parents it becomes difficult for them to force their children to eat a balanced diet with lots of green vegetables. Children tend to follow what they see especially in their parents because they rely on role models to show them things to do.

3. Prepare packed healthy lunches.

By packing healthy and well-balanced lunches you can prevent your kids from falling off the wagon and opting for poor healthy choices at school. Make them aesthetically appealing as well. Some Mums make bento boxes with animal shaped food or fun shaped veggies. This encourages them to eat their food rather than serve them green lumps of veggies.

4. Involve your kids in preparing meals.

Cooking and preparing meals can be a great opportunity to spend time with your children. By involving them how meals are prepared, their interest to what meal will be served will entice them to eat their food on the table. They will also have a sense of pride for being able to accomplish something as pleasing as preparing a meal.

The golden rule is to keep offering them nutritious food no matter how many times they say no. Offer choices such as “vegetables or fruit” rather than ask them “What do you want to eat?” If you give them the freedom to choose whatever they want then they will grow to form bad eating habits. Worst, they will deviate further and further away from learning to embrace healthier choices when it comes to meals.

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