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Are meals a sore topic in your family? Does your child reject any food that you put on his/her plate? If your child refuses to eat anything other than chicken nuggets or peanut butter and jelly, you’ve got a fussy eater.
It can be frustrating to get your child to eat anything when they seem to never have an appetite and refuse to budge no matter what tactic you use. As parents, you want the best for your child, but providing adequate nutrition becomes a power play. However, there are things that you can do to avoid mealtime battles. Below, we list 7 tips to help you deal with a picky eater.
1. Make Food Look Pretty
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Kids are fascinated by colors, patterns, and shapes. And that’s probably why you should think of making food fun. Your child might be more interested to eat sandwiches cut in cute shapes and veggies and fruits arranged in the shape of a rainbow. You might have to invest more time in meal prep, but hey, it might be worth the effort. To make your job easier, consider buying a couple of cookie cutters.
2. Don’t Say No To Condiments
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If your child loves ketchup on everything, don’t refuse the idea completely. If a dip or ranch dressing is what it takes for them to eat their greens, then why not! Allow them to try a piece of broccoli with some ketchup on it, and once their palette gets used to the taste, you can slowly let them go off the ketchup.
3. Serve Small Portions
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Giving a big plate of unfamiliar or their least favorite food can be overwhelming to kids. Instead, offer smaller portions. Not only will it increase the chance of your kids trying it, but you will also be wasting less food. What’s the point of serving a big portion only to have it rejected by them?
4. Don’t Force Them To Eat
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In an attempt to make kids healthier and finish everything on their plate, some parents force their kids to eat. They are not allowed to leave the dinner table until they finish everything on their plate. This can cause kids to associate food with bad memories and feelings, leading to long-lasting physical and emotional consequences. It’s a good thing to encourage your child to eat, but make sure you don’t force them.
5. Let Your Child Be A Part Of Meal Prepping
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It might be a good idea to bring your child along with you when you go grocery shopping. Your child will be more interested in food that he helped buy or prepare. You can also involve your child in the food-making process by asking them to wash, cut, or stir the vegetables.
6. Offer Different Foods
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By offering the same food at every meal, your child will easily fall into a rut of pasta, mac and cheese, or peanut butter sandwiches, and refuse to try out new foods. A better approach would be to introduce them to different foods while making sure you don’t overwhelm them with too many items on their plate. Try to pair a new food with a familiar one that they love so that they will be willing to try it.
7. Don’t Give Up On The First Try
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If your child refuses to eat carrots the first time, try offering them again the next day. Your child may be more willing to take a small bite the second time. It could also be because they prefer it steamed or fried. And if your child repeatedly refuses to eat, stop giving them the snacks that they usually get after dinner. This way, they will understand that they simply cannot refuse food and have yummy snacks later.
It’s normal for kids to be picky eaters. Be patient, and realize that they cannot change their eating habits overnight. If you are worried that your child isn’t getting enough nutrients, feel free to talk to a doctor.
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