Feeding a Picky Eater

Is family mealtime a chaotic experience in your household? Don’t know how to handle that picky eater of yours? Well, many young children go through periods of being fussy eaters and this is a normal part of growing up. Let Truestar show you how you can better deal with some common childhood feeding issues.

If your child wants the same food every day…
You can let your child have their favorite food as long as it is nutritious. Be sure to continue to offer other healthy food choices at each meal. When this situation is not made into a big deal, usually the child will move on to another food choice.

If your child refuses to eat…
A child’s appetite can vary from meal to meal and their refusal to eat may mean they are not hungry. As long as your child is growing normally, a skipped meal once in a while won’t harm them. Try serving smaller amounts of food and make sure snacks are served at least 1-2 hours before meal times and no closer.

If your child refuses to try new foods…
When a child refuses to eat a new food, expect to present the new food on average 14 times before it’s accepted. Encourage your child to take a small bite. Do not force your child to eat a new food as this can lead to reduced acceptance of the food. Teach your child to explore the new food by touching it, smelling it and helping to prepare it.

If your child takes too long to eat…
It is best to be patient and give your child time to explore their food. Allow them to touch and taste their food for a reasonable amount of time such as 20-30 minutes. After that time, remove the food without causing a fuss.

If your child does not eat vegetables…
Try serving vegetables when they are really hungry such as at snack time. Accompany vegetables with a healthy dip as kids love to dip their foods. Offer a variety of vegetables and let your child choose which ones they want to eat. You can also puree or chop them finely and add them to dishes such as pasta sauce or soups.

Kids also love to be involved in what they eat so let them choose vegetables at the grocery store and have them help you prepare them. For more information, see “Making Fruits and Veggies Fun.”

The Truestar Kids plan incorporates all the elements of healthy living for kids, such as delicious meal plans, easy exercises, healthy supplements for kids, sleep tips and healthy attitude tips. Get them started today!