We?ve had a lot of questions about children being ?fussy eaters?. It can drive you barmy can?t it!
Here?s some thoughts that have been shared by my patients, friends, family, and those I?ve overheard in various coffee shops:
Try not to get into a battle ? I know it?s hard but getting into a fight makes matters worse. If you feel you are going to shout, get up and walk away, then come back after having taken a few deep breaths, I know this works ;-)
Offer a variety of foods, and when introducing new foods, simply show it to them, let them handle it. Don?t worry if they don? want to eat it. Let them see how you eat it so they learn how and that you like it too ? children can tell if you?re faking it!
Get children involved in preparing and making meals. Those children who are involved are more likely to eat the foods themselves.
Cut up fruits of different colours into shapes and put in a container in the fridge. Let your child decorate the outside with favourite stickers so it?s his/her special pot. My experience and the experience of others is that this helps the fruit go down.
Put lots of colours on the plate.
Try mixing foods together (I know, children will identify microscopic pieces of food and pick them out!) ? for example favourite cereal, plus enjoyed fruit, plus whatever is a suitable ?challenge? food.
Try for all the family eating the same foods.
And last but not least, as a general rule of thumb if a child is happy, well, playing and growing (check height and weight charts), then he/she is probably getting enough nutrition.