Hints and tips for fussy eaters
If you are worried about your child receiving adequate nutrients from their diet, you are not alone! Many parents find mealtimes difficult, especially when their children are fussy eaters. From determining what to feed your child to actually getting your child to eat what you have given them, can be quite an exhausting process! There are several small, easy actions that you can take to help mealtimes run more smoothly.
- Try and eat regular healthy meals together as a family.
- Don't make a fuss at mealtimes! This may cause your child to rebel even more and cause tension at the dinner table.
- Encourage your child to help prepare the meals. Take them shopping and ask them to help you choose nutritious foods that they want to eat. Then decide on a recipe together and get your child involved in the preparation.
- Snacks are important, but too many will have an effect on your child's appetite for their main meals. If your child feels hungry in between meals, give them nutritious snacks such as fruit, vegetable sticks and dip or humous, cheese cubes or a small pot of yogurt.
- Listen to your child when they tell you that they don't like a particular type of food. It may just be that they don't like the way it has been cooked in that particular dish or the way it has been presented
- Give your child small portions of food to begin with. If they are presented with a mountain of food on their plate at the beginning of the meal, this may put them off eating it.
- Don't offer alternative foods as rewards. By doing this you will also be reinforcing the idea that certain foods are more desirable than others.
- If you have something different on your plate, offer a small bite to your child to try.
- Only offer one new food at a time and serve the new food with familiar ones.
- Food fads are often short-lived. Offer the rejected foods every few weeks but don't force your child to have it. In time, your child may agree to give them a go!
- If your child is particularly fussy and you are concerned they may not be getting all the nutrients they need from their diet, a supplement could be something to consider.
