FEEDING A FUSSY EATER!!!
Got a child that will happily have nothing but Milk and biscuits for a week? Worried about his nutritional status? Here are some signs your salad dodger is doing fine and a few tips for coping with fussy eaters.
Mealtimes are the best moments to have an uninterrupted and peaceful time with children. But most often than not, meal times don’t turn out as planned, one day its clean plates and angel faces while other days are full of tantrums and half-filled tummies.
Fussy eating is normal. Whether it’s an aversion to food that’s green or a vegetable that needs chewing or hatred for fruits in general. It’s normal for children to dislike certain shapes, colour or texture. Fussy eating is a part of a child’s development. Children might enjoy certain food one day and dislike the same the next day. It’s their way of exploring the environment and asserting their independence. And it’s also because their appetites go up and down depending on their growth pattern and their activity.
Parents of fussy eaters can deal with this debacle of mealtime in two ways; either they accept that the child won’t eat any greens and move on or demand them to sit at the table until they finish their plate completely.
It’s quite simpler for us adults! If we dislike certain food, we just don’t eat it. But for children, it’s a bit difficult, as they are unable to articulate the reason for their disliking.
Putting ourselves in their shoes is the only way to understand how to deal with their food fussiness.
Research says, 90% of children go through at least one lengthy stage of fussy eating.
The good news is, as children get older they are likely to get less fussy. So, one day your child will probably eat and enjoy a whole range of different foods.
Some tips for dealing with fussy eaters:
Start early – Introduce different food at an early age. Start with different fruits and mashed vegetables or vegetable soups from 6 months onwards. This will add variety to the child’s diet in terms of both taste and nourishment.
One meal for all -DO NOT cook separately for the child. Many of us have a habit of cooking bland/boiled food for children. By 1 year of age, the child should be able to eat what the rest of the family eats.
Eat together – Meal times are most important for children as this is the only time when the child gets to bond with both the parents. So, try to have at least one meal of the day together.
Watch the quantity – Give small portions initially and gradually increase the quantity. Praise them for even tasting the food.
Don’t Stress – If the child refuses to eat something, do not show your frustration rather just take the food away from him. Offer him the same food after a few days.
Trick them – Try changing the texture, consistency of the food. Example, carrot may be liked grated or sliced rather than cooked. Spinach can be pureed in a soup or ate as a salad. Or you can mix them all in parathas or soup.
Say “NO” to Junk – Avoid giving junk food in between meals or instead of a meal. This will provide them with empty calories without any nutrients and will fill their bellies. Junk food includes biscuits, chips, fries, cakes, pastries, etc. If you want, you can give these after a meal or as a reward to the child for having his/her meal.
Limit the drinks – Like junk food, avoid giving them too many liquids before a meal. Drinks including fruit juices, milk, buttermilk, etc. will fill them up and will take place of good food in their tummies. Give them drinks in between meals.
Keep a Food Diary -In case you are very worried, maintain a food diary and note down whatever your kid eats during the day. Check it once a week, often what they eat in a day may seem little, but if seen over a period of a week you will be surprised as to how much variety they have managed over a week.
Despite the concerns they cause, it seems most children thrive well despite strange eating habits.
So, how does one know their child is doing well.
A healthy child will look healthy, will be physically active and gaining weight as per age, have good colour of skin, normal body growth and a functioning immune system (will fall sick less often). Equally important, he will have good brain function – concentration, alertness, mood and comprehension. Food is a brain fuel for their growing and developing brains.
