Have a Picky Eater? Try these true and tried techniques

Have a picky eater? Here are some suggestions below to guide you through the Picky Eating Frenzy: 

 

Picky Eating Issues	Common Coping Ideas
Refuses to Eat	§ NEVER force your child to eat, as your child’s appetite changes every day. Also, kids are going through many growth phases. Some days they may feel tired or cranky due to aches, pains or lack of proper sleep. § Keep the pattern of eating meals ongoing. Set up a plate for them every time the family eats, even if they refuse to eat. My child’s paediatrician told us to offer our ‘picky eater’ a meal for three times and then retry after 2 hours again.
Not Tolerant to new foods	§ Start off by including a small portion of the new food item on their plate every day. Don’t get discouraged if they don’t eat for a few days. They will try it eventually. § Offer the same food item to all the children and/or eat them yourself to show that you like it as well.
Won’t eat Vegetables	§ Hide ‘em and feed ‘em: is my new motto. I offer vegetables by pureeing them and then include them in the cooked meal. For example, I use crushed onions as a base for ground beef or use vegetables for soup base in the form of a broth. § Another option is to make it attractive or make edible food art by using fruits and vegetables to decorate a food item (i.e. make a happy face using blueberries on a pancake). § Offer vegetables sticks with their favorite dips such as hummus, ranch, cream cheese, cheddar cheese sauce, etc. § Sometimes, kids don’t know what vegetables are and why we eat them (nutritional value). Talk to your children, as your buy vegetables by pointing out their colors, shapes, unique flavors or their nutritional benefits.
Likes to eat one type of food only	§ Kids are happy with comfortable and regular food items. So don’t get frustrated when they refuse to eat anything other their favorite cereal. Offer new nutritious items with their regulars. § When the family sits down for dinner, don’t make ‘specialized’ meals for your child that they like. Offer them what the whole family will eat.

Note: Always talk to a registered dietician or your doctor about picky eating concerns.

  
In the next article, I will be talking about refusal to eating meat, drinking or not drinking enough milk, juice drinking craze, and slow eater.

To be continued....
Annie