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For the first few months of a child’s life, you don’t have to worry about introducing them to new foods — there are only two options, breast milk or baby formula. But as your baby turns older, you will have to introduce them to different foods. And this is where the problem begins. Most parents have trouble getting their children to eat a well-balanced diet. The little ones are ready to gobble down candies, fruit juices, and chocolates, but when asked to eat what’s on their plate, they won’t listen.
If this is something that you experience too, know that you are not alone. A lot of parents have trouble with their children who are picky eaters. You need to know that certain foods can contribute to or turn your child into a picky eater. Read on to learn more about these foods and how you can help your child when they are picky eaters:
Watch Out For These Foods That Contribute To Picky Eating
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There are a few commonly available foods that we often believe are healthy. The truth is, they can do more harm than good. These are foods that you should watch out for:
1. Vegetable Chips
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A lot of foods that are labeled as “healthy” might not be so. An excellent example of this is veggie straws or vegetable chips. Most of them come in packages that are labeled “healthy”, “baked not fried”, “high protein, low carbs”, to name a few. However, when you look at the nutritional table on the packaging, you will notice that they have little to no nutritional value. Most of these items are high in simple starch. They all probably have food coloring added and are a lot more like chips than vegetables.
2. Foods That Contain Fruit Extracts
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Certain foods that claim to contain fruits may also contribute to picky eating. Most often, these foods contain fruit-flavored extracts as opposed to the natural fruit. They’re tasty, and your child probably loves them, but these items too have little to no nutritional value.
3. Fruit Juices
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Fruit juices are another food to watch out for — they contain empty calories and excess sugar. When your child drinks a lot of fruit juice, they tend to make them feel full, due to which they will refrain from eating what they should during their meals.
4. Cookies Or Biscuits
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It’s okay to indulge in cookies once in a while. However, don’t make a habit out of them. Store-bought biscuits primarily contain preservatives, trans fat, refined sugar, and refined flour, all of which scream “unhealthy”. Cookies and biscuits can contribute to picky eating by giving your child a false sense of satiety.
5. Instant Foods
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Instant foods can be a blessing on some days when your hands are tied and you have no time to cook a proper meal. Most of these foods contain added sugar, excess salt, and flavors that are all super appealing to your child. But do not make a habit of this, as it can turn your child into a picky eater. It can leave your child feeling full, and they will avoid eating a proper meal after.
What You Can Do To Help Your Child When They Are Picky Eaters
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Dealing with a child who is a picky eater can be overwhelming and stressful. You want your little one to eat all that they should to be healthy and strong. However, when they have an issue with everything on their plate, it can get worrisome. Here’s what might help your child in such cases:
1. Involve Them In Preparing Food
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Your child is most likely to make a fuss if they were involved in food preparation. Take your child along when you go grocery shopping, and let them choose what vegetables and fruits they would like to have. When in the kitchen, involve them in washing vegetables, mixing ingredients, and any activity deemed safe for kids to engage in. You can also ask them to set the table when it is time to eat.
2. Accompany Healthy Foods With Their Favorite
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It may help to offer more food options for your child, where you give them healthy foods and a portion of what they like. For example, if your child loves to eat mac and cheese, then maybe you can give them a small serving of this alongside some vegetables.
3. Make The Plate Look Fun
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You could try a more fun approach when setting your child’s meal. The whole idea is to introduce play into the plate. So, if your child has to eat vegetables, arrange them creatively to form a smiley face, cat, or birth. You can also get your child colorful plates and cutlery, so their eating experience is a lot more enjoyable.
4. Experiment With Condiments
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Your child might enjoy eating their vegetables if tasty condiments accompany them. The next time you make a salad, use ranch, vinaigrette, or creamy sesame dressing. You can also use ketchup, mayonnaise, or mustard in some dishes. This adds a lot more flavor, and your child will love it.
5. Always Serve Smaller Portions Of Food
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Your child may get overwhelmed with a lot of food on their plate. What you can do instead is serve smaller portions of food. Serving smaller amounts will also ensure that food is not wasted. Your child will be able to eat it entirely and feel good about cleaning their plate.
6. Let Them Decide When To Eat Dessert
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A lot of us enjoy eating desserts after the meal. But let your child choose how they want to have it. When you force them to have dessert in the end, you might be sending them a message that they should save the best for the last, as the healthier food options are not great.
Be patient with your child; there may be instances where you get frustrated with their eating habits, but with consistency, your child will learn to eat healthily. It is also essential for you to practice what you preach. Children learn through imitation, so if you force them to eat healthily but don’t follow the same for yourself, they will fail to adapt to healthy eating habits. Do you have a picky eater at home? How do you manage their eating habits? Let us know in the comments below!
